Phoenix, AZ – McDowell Mountain Regional Park is another jewel in the Maricopa County Park System. Located northeast of Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, the park offers 21,099 acres of Sonora Desert open space in the lower Verde River basin. Elevations in the park rise to 3,000 feet along the western boundary at the base of the McDowell Mountains. Hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians have access to over 50 miles of multi-use trails, and spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges. We accessed the park through the town of Fountain Hills, where we were able to see the fountain at Fountain Hills Park, which sprays water for 15 minutes of every hour and is one of the tallest with heights of up to 560 feet.
Fountain Hills Park’s fountain
A splash of desert color
There is a $6/day per vehicle day use fee. The Visitor Center offers exhibits and programs. There is a 78 site campground which can accommodate tent campers and RV’s up to 45 feet. For RV’s, the campground offers electric and water at the sites. There is a campground dump station, but no sewer at sites. There are picnic areas and multiple vault toilets located throughout the park.
North Trail at McDowell Mountain Regional Park
We hiked the 3.0 mile North Trail interpretive loop. You can pick up a guide at the entrance station, visitor center, or at the trailhead (if available). On the drive to our trailhead, we saw our first western diamondback rattlesnake laying on the road. The weather over the prior week had been unseasonably warm and the snakes were out of hibernation. We saw our first Gambel’s quail in the wild. There were numerous lizards and many birds throughout the hike. In addition to lizards, birds, and snakes, one might see deer, javelina, or coyotes.
This western diamondback was crossing the road
Our first Gambel’s Quail spotted in the wild
One of many lizards along the trail
A short distance into our hike, I was walking in the center of the trail which was about about 3 feet wide, when I stepped adjacent to a bush and immediately heard a noise I had never heard before while hiking, but I knew immediately what it was. Mike says I jumped. I know I quickly took a few steps forward. It was my first rattlesnake warning buzz! From a safe distance, Mike and I spotted the rattler, a western diamondback, curled up under a bush. We had stepped about 4-5 feet from him and he thought it was a little too close. We passed several hikers and bikers who warned us of snakes they had seen, but we did not spot anymore on this hike.
My first rattlesnake buzz came from this bush, there is a rattlesnake curled up underneath it
A closer look at the rattlesnake
The Interpretive Trail Guide informed us about the plants along the hike. It highlighted the saguaro, buckhorn and teddy bear cholla, mequite tree, fishhook pincushion cactus, ocatillo, palo verde tree, hedgehog cactus, creosote, ironwood, and jojoba. We also got to view the Mazatzal Mountains and the Four Peaks.
Buckhorn Cholla
Desert flora: Saguaro, mesquite, cholla, barrel cactus, and palo verde
Cacti along the North Trail
We combined this with our trip to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park and the Apache Trail. We were staying in our RV at the Monte Vista RV Resort in Mesa. We would definitely return here to hike and would camp at this park. We also enjoyed hikes at two other excellent Maricopa County Regional Parks: Estrella Mountain and Cave Creek Recreation Area.
A view of the Mazatzal Mountains
The Four Peaks in the distance
