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Gateway Loop Trail


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Gateway Loop Trail
Hiking Trail

Gateway Loop Trail

by: Honza
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Location:  Scottsdale, AZ          Longitude:  -111.8586    Latitude:  33.6495
A popular daily hiking loop hike through the scenic McDowell mountains.
Flora/Fauna on this Trail:
  Bird's-foot Trefoil/Deervetch  Bird's-foot Trefoil/Deervetch
  Caliche Globemallow  Caliche Globemallow
  California Poppy  California Poppy
  Desert Rosemallow  Desert Rosemallow
  Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus  Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
  Mojave Lupine  Mojave Lupine
  Saguaro  Saguaro
  Shrubby Deervetch  Shrubby Deervetch
  Wild Hyacinth  Wild Hyacinth
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Starting at the Gateway Trailhead, you will begin a gentle elevation gain and connect to the Gateway Loop trail in about 1/2 mile. Taking the Gateway Loop right will lead you to the Bell Pass Trail branch off and taking a left goes to the Windgate Pass Trail.

Either way you take, you will reach the Gateway Loop turn-offs in about a mile. The middle mile/portion of this loop is the connection of the Bell and Gateway Pass trails and offers the highest point of elevation on this loop.
Trail Distance:  4.39 miles round-trip
Elevation:  1720ft - 2413ft   (change 693ft)
Trail Difficutly:  Moderate - requires some endurance, elevation changes
How Crowded:  Often frequented trail
Season:  September to June
Accomodations: (on site)   Toilets  WaterLocated in northern Scottsdale off the Thompson Peak Parkway: 18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255Paved road or trail to the trailhead
Bell Pass Trail via Gateway Loop   -   Moderate : 7 miles long : 1720ft to 3218ft (change 1498ft)
Windgate Pass Trail via Gateway Loop   -   Difficult : 7.7 miles long : 1721ft to 3045ft (change 1324ft)
Bell Pass and Windgate Pass Loop Trail   -   Difficult : 9.7 miles long : 1720ft to 3218ft (change 1498ft)
Tom's Thumb   -   Moderate : 5 miles long : 2700ft to 3800ft (change 1100ft)
Pinnacle Peak Trail   -   Moderate : 3.55 miles long : 2380ft to 2889ft (change 509ft)
Trail Ratings and Comments