Mountain Spring–Windgate Pass Viewpoint Loop, 11 sights
10.9 mi · ▲ 2,074 ft · 4 hr 40 min
Mountain Spring–Windgate Pass Viewpoint Loop, 11 sights is a 10.9-mile loop in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Troon, AZ. The route passes Tom's Thumb Viewpoint, Mountain Spring, Windgate Pass and 2 more. It climbs 2,074 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 77/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Mountain Spring–Windgate Pass Viewpoint Loop, 11 sights
10.9 mi · ▲ 2,074 ft · 4 hr 40 min
Elevation 2,174–3,801 ft
Loop · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.69498, -111.80118
Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 92°F / low 76° · precip 4% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:50 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Feldspar Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.5 miPass Tom's Thumb Viewpoint.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Tom's Thumb, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading NW.
- 1.8 miPass Mountain Spring.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.6 miPass Windgate Pass.
- 50 ftPass Windgate Pass Viewpoint.
- 250 ftBear left onto Windgate Pass, heading SE.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Bell Pass Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Windgate Pass, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Windmill Trail, heading E.
- 1 miTurn left onto Coachwhip Trail, heading E.
- 1.7 miTurn left onto Pemberton Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Boulder Trail, heading N.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Marcus Landslide Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miPass Mushroom Rock Scenic Point.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftThe 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 1.3 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 5:32 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Sven Slab–Mushroom Rock Scenic Point, 3 cliffs 1.2 mi · ▲ 226 ft
- Sven Slab & Marcus Landslide Trail 1.2 mi · ▲ 213 ft
- Mesquite Canyon–Feldspar Trail, 3 sights 1.3 mi · ▲ 136 ft
- Mesquite Canyon–Caballo Trail, 4 sights 1.3 mi · ▲ 138 ft
- Morrell's Boulder via Tom's Thumb Trail 1.4 mi · ▲ 219 ft
- Morrell's Boulder–Caballo Trail, 3 sights 1.4 mi · ▲ 262 ft
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Hikes near Troon, Arizona