Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake Loop, 5 sights
5.2 mi · ▲ 606 ft · 2 hr 2 min
Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake Loop, 5 sights is a 5.2-mile loop in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near DC Ranch, AZ. The route passes Desert Spring Park Lake and Windgate Pass Viewpoint. It climbs 606 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 15/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake Loop, 5 sights
5.2 mi · ▲ 606 ft · 2 hr 2 min
Elevation 1,685–2,307 ft
Loop · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.64938, -111.85914
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 98°F / low 82° · precip 4% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:49 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Desert Park Trail, heading NW.
- 1.5 miPass Desert Spring Park Lake.
- 1.5 miTurn right onto Windgate Pass, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Windgate Pass Viewpoint.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading SW.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Saguaro Loop Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Saguaro Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 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 1.2 mi in (~32 min). Leave by 5:57 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
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
- Mesquite Tree–Javelina Trail, 5 sights 8.7 mi · ▲ 635 ft
- Inspiration Viewpoint–Windgate Pass Viewpoint Loop, 8 sights 8.9 mi · ▲ 2,030 ft
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