Photos & Directions: Watchtower Hike, McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale

“North Scottsdale Sonoran Desert” by Howard Myers

The January-February 2014 issue of A Peek at the Peak included an article by Bobby Alpert entitled “The Watchtower Hike.”  Howard Myers, past chairman of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, has hiked in this area on numerous occasions and provided photographs that were published as an online supplement to the article. This updated article incorporates both Alpert’s article and the photos. Editor

“All along the watchtower, the princes kept the view.” Bob Dylan

By Bobby Alpert, Photographs by Howard Myers

There are new adventures in Scottsdale’s McDowell Preserve, thanks to the steadfast support of Scottsdale voters, city staff, and the trail marking and trail work being done by the volunteer McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Stewards. I know because, as a volunteer myself, I am experiencing new wonders every week as I explore our new trails in the north.

Here is an adventure that I have taken the liberty of naming “The Watchtower Hike.” During this hike you’ll experience “WOW” moments as you pass stands of some of the most remarkable saguaros in the preserve, hike behind Granite and Cholla Mountains, and along winding trails that take you to three of the North Preserve’s most unusual landmarks, Cathedral Rock, the Amphitheater, and Balanced Rock.

The first half of the hike follows the northern edge of the preserve as we know it today (the northern border of the preserve will change two more times before the northern edge of the preserve is completed). This hike is there for your enjoyment now. The beauty and serenity of the area is remarkable.

The hike is 9.6 miles, has about a 450-foot elevation change, and took me almost five hours, and I stopped to enjoy Cathedral Rock, the Ampitheater and Balanced Rock along the way.

This hike isn’t for everyone. It’s long. You need to read the trail signs carefully, and you shouldn’t go alone. Take at least five liters of water and a sandwich. Stop at the landmarks and learn about them. Go at your own pace and try to start out as early as possible in order to see the coyotes, jackrabbits, mule deer, and bobcats that I have enjoyed on my patrols in the north.

Still interested? Get a map of the Northern Region, which includes Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, Granite Mountain Trailhead, and Fraesfield Mountain Trailhead. There are pamphlets titled “Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve Trails, Northern Region, May 2013” at the trailheads. You will also find maps online at scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve/maps.

Ready? Here we go! Park at the 136th Street Granite Mountain Trailhead. Then take the following trails: 1) 136th Street Express Trail to the … 2) Dove Valley Trail to the… 3) Cow Poke Trail to the… 4) Granite Mountain Loop Trail to the… 5) Branding Iron Trail to the … 6) Cholla Mountain Loop Trail to the… 7) Balanced Rock Trail to the… 8) Granite Mountain Loop Trail to the … 9) Saddlehorn Trail to the… 10) Bootlegger Trail to the … 11) Granite Mountain Trailhead. Wasn’t that terrific!

I hope to see you all soon enjoying the blessing named The McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The preserve has many interconnected trails with varying lengths and degrees of difficulty. Incidentally, the conservancy welcomes new volunteers.             Photo Credit. The photographs used in this article are courtesy of Howard Myers. For additional photographs, see “The Watchtower Hike Photo Supplement” by Howard Myers at gppaaz.org (click The Peak).