The Lookout–Bell Pass, 8 sights
13.6 mi · ▲ 3,529 ft · 6 hr 18 min
The Lookout–Bell Pass, 8 sights is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ. The route passes Bell Pass before reaching The Lookout at the turnaround, 6.8 miles in. It climbs 3,529 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 56/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
The Lookout–Bell Pass, 8 sights
13.6 mi · ▲ 3,529 ft · 6 hr 18 min
Elevation 1,688–3,896 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 104th Street Spur · 33.64016, -111.85674
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 99°F / low 83° · precip 2% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:49 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on 104th Street Spur, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Levee trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left onto Crossover Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Bell Pass Trail, heading E.
- 1.7 miTurn right onto Bell Pass Trail (Alternate), heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right onto Bell Pass Trail (Alternate), heading E.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail, heading E.
- 400 ftPass Bell Pass.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Windgate Pass, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto East End Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Tom's Thumb, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Lookout Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miReach The Lookout, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Tom's Thumb, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto East End Trail, heading NE.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Windgate Pass, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Bell Pass Trail, heading S.
- 1.4 miContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail (Alternate), heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left onto Bell Pass Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Bell Pass Trail (Alternate), heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Bell Pass Trail, heading NW.
- 1.7 miBear left onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Crossover Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Levee trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto 104th Street Spur, heading SW.
- 0.2 miArrive 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 6:29 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:49 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:15 PM.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from 104th Street Spur Trailhead
- Very Large Cactus–104th Street Spur, 4 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Desert Spring Park Lake–104th Street Spur, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 241 ft
- Gateway Saddle–104th Street Spur Loop, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 683 ft
- 104th Street Spur–Levee trail, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 496 ft
- Windgate Pass Viewpoint–104th Street Spur, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 646 ft
- Bell Pass–104th Street Spur, 6 sights 11.3 mi · ▲ 2,343 ft
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