Gateway Trailhead - McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Love doing the Gateway Loop Trail every year. I went early because of the heat. Helpful person at trailhead that recommended to not hike past 10am, plus sign. Nice bathrooms and trail well maintained.

This place is fantastic. The preserve staff is so helpful and knowledgeable about the trails. This mountain preserve provides so many beautiful trails for all skill levels. Multiple trails with varying elevation gain and distances. It’s a magical place. It is fairly busy but never too busy to where I don’t enjoy it.

Easy parking. Nice pavilion at the trailhead with helpful maps and a friendly guide to help us choose a hike. The Saguaro trail(.3 mile)seemed too easy. So we ended up with the gateway saddle trail(3.7 mile) which seemed hard but if it got too hard we could just turn back. The trail was beautiful. Very rocky but not too steep. We brought three big bottles of water for 2 adults and three teens but it wasn't quite enough. We thought about turning back about 300 feet from the top so it was too late and we pushed on. My wife slipped and fell on some rocks on the way back. It was very difficult for us but the kids loved it.

Gateway Loop is one of my favorite trails. Just over 4 miles and absolutely gorgeous scenery.

Very nice trailhead, hadn't hike out of this one in a while. Good shade, water, and restrooms. Parking lot has plenty of spaces .