Windgate Pass Viewpoint–104th Street Spur, 3 sights
4.9 mi · ▲ 646 ft · 1 hr 57 min
Windgate Pass Viewpoint–104th Street Spur, 3 sights is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ. The route reaches Windgate Pass Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It climbs 646 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 14/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Windgate Pass Viewpoint–104th Street Spur, 3 sights
4.9 mi · ▲ 646 ft · 1 hr 57 min
Elevation 1,686–2,307 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 104th Street Spur · 33.64016, -111.85674
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 99°F / low 83° · precip 4% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route · Horses allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on 104th Street Spur, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Saguaro Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Windgate Pass, heading NE.
- 0.4 miReach Windgate Pass Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading SW.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Saguaro Loop Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto 104th Street Spur, heading S.
- 0.7 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 6:31 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
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Horses allowed on the whole route
- 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
- Bell Pass–104th Street Spur, 6 sights 11.3 mi · ▲ 2,343 ft
- Prairie Falcon Overlook–Bell Pass, 7 sights 12.4 mi · ▲ 3,264 ft
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