The Sonoran Preserve in North Phoenix spans over 9,600 acres with more than 36 miles of trails to explore. Phoenix began acquiring mountain lands for parks as early as the 1920s, laying the foundation for today’s Sonoran preserve.
Each path in the preserve carries its own story-woven from ancient history, desert ecology, and the efforts to preserve these mountains for generations to come.
This article serves as the study guide for this month’s #geminichallenge trivia- researched in collaboration with AI. History is everywhere, even in the rugged ridgelines and quiet washes, and here we’ll uncover the facts behind some of the preserve’s most fascinating trails. 
1. Windgate Trail @ Scottsdale
: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YcGkyrDCSGhAJmhs9
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Along the trail is a petroglyph marked with “1842,” though its true origins are still debated.
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The trail climbs to Windgate Pass, once an important crossing through the McDowell Mountains.
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Just past the TT17 junction, a short detour leads to Inspiration Point, a lookout with a natural rock bench.
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The land here became part of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in 1994, after Scottsdale residents voted to protect it.
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Early ranchers once used nearby passes for moving cattle, adding a layer of local history to today’s hiking path.
2. Gateway Loop @ Scottsdale
: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7pSrekK23DSq9XTZ8
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The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is the largest urban preserve in the U.S., protecting over 30,500 acres.
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The Gateway Saddle viewpoint recalls the area’s long role as a natural “gateway” into the McDowell range. It stands at 2,378 feet tall.
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Ancient Archaic peoples (5000 BCE–500 CE) and the Hohokam (100–1450 CE) once lived in these foothills.
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Voters in 1994 and 2004 approved a sales tax to fund the land purchases, showing the community’s dedication.
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The trail network here reflects the balance between recreation and conservation that defines the preserve today.
3. Tom’s Thumb Trail @ Scottsdale
: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HWFBLwrTfvmiWzY36
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Tom’s Thumb was named in the 1970s by climbers, honoring Tom Kreuser, who first scaled the spire.
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The massive granite outcrop formed from rock over 1.7 billion years old, uplifted and exposed by erosion.
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Nearby is the Marcus Landslide, which crashed down more than 500,000 years ago, reshaping the canyon.
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The trail became a popular climbing hub in the 1980s, drawing mountaineers from across Arizona.
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Today the trailhead offers restrooms and shaded ramadas, but no water—reminding hikers of the desert’s harshness.
4. Feldspar Trail @ Scottsdale, AZ
: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hdViT8W6hrVPKLoM6
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The trail is a 0.73 one-mile hike, winding past weathered granite boulders, and is accessible from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead.
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In 2013, birders spotted a rare clay-colored sparrow here, unusual for Arizona.
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The name “Feldspar” refers to the common mineral found in the granite rock throughout the McDowells.
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These boulder formations date back over 1 billion years, shaped by heat, pressure, and erosion.
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The trail links into the larger preserve system, connecting to lands stretching toward Tonto National Forest.
5. Caballo Trail @ Scottsdale, AZ
: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sDsYP1QhQYvM3w5r6
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The name “Caballo” means horse in Spanish, a nod to the trail’s history as an equestrian route.
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The trail is built for easy use by hikers, bikers, and riders.
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Its location connects to the southern edge of the McDowell Mountains, once ranching land.
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Ranchers and horse riders used this area well before it was added to the Preserve in the 1990s.
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The trail today reflects the shift from working ranchland to protected desert for recreation and wildlife.
6. Desert Hills and Desert Vista @ Scottsdale, AZ
: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4KFxcA4cqUEgyGst8
: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6QE8fsXaN8nXkqfQ6
- The community of Desert Hills was established in 1955, originally carved from ranch land.
- There, you can also find The Desert Hills Trailhead- which opened in 2012 as one of three main access points into the Sonoran Preserve, alongside Desert Vista Trailhead.
#HistoryInArizona
