McDowell Sonoran Preserve: Accessible Bajada Nature Trail & Gateway Trailhead

Visit on your scheduleOpen daily sunrise to sunset (approx. 6:00 AM–5:30 PM in winter)

McDowell Sonoran Preserve (Gateway Trailhead)18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 · 18.5 mi approx. from PhoenixDirections

All ages; fully ADA-accessible and stroller-friendly hard-packed 0.5-mile Bajada loop with interactive children's sensory displays

FreeFree admission and free parking at Gateway Trailhead; interpretive trail guides available at trailhead pavilion

About this adventure

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve encompasses over 30,000 acres of protected desert wilderness in Scottsdale, with Gateway Trailhead serving as the crown jewel for family exploration. Here, the half-mile Bajada Nature Trail offers a smooth, barrier-free, hard-packed loop specifically designed for families pushing strollers, young toddlers taking their first desert steps, and wheelchair users. The Bajada trail is lined with mature saguaro cacti, ocotillos, and interactive sensory displays that teach children how to recognize desert animal tracks and plant adaptations. The LEED-certified Gateway Trailhead pavilion features shaded amphitheaters, drinking water bottle refill stations, clean restrooms, and volunteer preserve stewards providing educational discovery kits for young junior hikers.

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