Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Saguaro Trail, 3 sights
4.3 mi · ▲ 639 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Saguaro Trail, 3 sights is a 4.3-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near McDowell Mountain Ranch, AZ. The route reaches Windgate Pass Viewpoint at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It climbs 639 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 23/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Saguaro Trail, 3 sights
4.3 mi · ▲ 639 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Elevation 1,705–2,307 ft
Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Trailhead: 33.64777, -111.85812
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 N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Bajada Nature Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Saguaro Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Saguaro Loop Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading E.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Windgate Pass, heading N.
- 0.4 miPass Windgate Pass Viewpoint.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miReach Windgate Pass Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Gateway Loop Trail, heading SW.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Saguaro Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Saguaro Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Bajada Nature Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftArrive 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 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:06 PM — 9 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
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
- Gateway Saddle–Gateway Loop Trail, 5 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 659 ft
- Windgate Pass Viewpoint–Desert Spring Park Lake Loop, 5 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 606 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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