Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake Loop, 9 sights
7.1 mi · ▲ 804 ft · 2 hr 46 min
Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake Loop, 9 sights is a 7.1-mile loop in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near DC Ranch, AZ. The route passes Gateway Saddle, Windgate Pass Viewpoint and Desert Spring Park Lake. It climbs 804 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake Loop, 9 sights
7.1 mi · ▲ 804 ft · 2 hr 46 min
Elevation 1,685–2,380 ft
Loop · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.66708, -111.86293
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 98°F / low 82° · precip 4% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Desert Park Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Horseshoe Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 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.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Crossover Trail, heading SE.
- 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Levee trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Paradise Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miPass Gateway Saddle.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Windgate Pass, heading NW.
- 0.4 miPass Windgate Pass Viewpoint.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Desert Park Trail, heading NE.
- 1.5 miPass Desert Spring Park Lake.
- 0.5 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 0.2 mi in (~7 min). Leave by 6:24 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:11 PM — 5 min before dark.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Desert Park Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 134 ft
- Horseshoe Trail via Desert Park Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 214 ft
- Desert Park Trail & Saguaro Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 165 ft
- 104th Street Spur & Desert Park Trail 4.5 mi · ▲ 165 ft
- Inspiration Viewpoint–Windgate Pass Viewpoint, 7 sights 10.6 mi · ▲ 1,920 ft
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