Inspiration Viewpoint–Windgate Pass Viewpoint Loop, 8 sights
8.9 mi · ▲ 2,030 ft · 3 hr 59 min
Inspiration Viewpoint–Windgate Pass Viewpoint Loop, 8 sights is an 8.9-mile loop in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near DC Ranch, AZ. The route passes Windgate Pass Viewpoint, Inspiration Viewpoint, Windgate Pass and 2 more. It climbs 2,030 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 48/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Inspiration Viewpoint–Windgate Pass Viewpoint Loop, 8 sights
8.9 mi · ▲ 2,030 ft · 3 hr 59 min
Elevation 1,712–3,211 ft
Loop · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.64938, -111.85914
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 98°F / low 82° · precip 4% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Saguaro Trail, heading NE.
- 400 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Saguaro Loop Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading E.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Windgate Pass, heading N.
- 0.4 miPass Windgate Pass Viewpoint.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Windgate Pass, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Inspiration Viewpoint.
- 0.8 miPass Windgate Pass.
- 50 ftPass Windgate Pass Viewpoint.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail, heading E.
- 1.3 miPass Bell Pass.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail (Alternate), heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left onto Bell Pass Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail (Alternate), heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Bell Pass Trail, heading SW.
- 1.7 miBear left onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading W.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Saguaro Loop Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Saguaro Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:31 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:51 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:16 PM.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- 104th Street Spur–Levee trail, 3 sights 2.4 mi · ▲ 134 ft
- Levee trail–Paradise Trail, 3 sights 2.8 mi · ▲ 249 ft
- Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Saguaro Trail, 3 sights 4.3 mi · ▲ 639 ft
- Gateway Saddle–Gateway Loop Trail, 5 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 659 ft
- Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake Loop, 5 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 606 ft
- Mesquite Tree–Javelina Trail, 5 sights 8.7 mi · ▲ 635 ft
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