Ridgeline Trail

RIDGELINE TRAIL

View from the new Ridgeline Trail

The latest addition to the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve trail system delivers a great workout over its compact, sinuous course.  Aptly dubbed the Ridgeline Trail, the path which debuted in Fall 2020, traces the spine of a chain of hills in the preserve’s southeast sector.

A steep section of the Ridgeline Trail

The trail’s ingenious build, ample directional signage and meticulously groomed tread glides through the mountainous terrain like a knife through buttah.
While the trail is rated as difficult, it lacks the precipitous traverses, confusing junctions, insanely steep inclines and slippery descents typically associated with the rating. 

Ridgeline Trail hugs the spine of a chain of peaks

Fountain Hills viewed from the Overlook Trail

But don’t be fooled by its tame appearance and deceptively effortless 226 feet of elevation change from low point to high point. The route is a grinding rollercoaster of twisting descents and false summits that add up to over 900 feet of gain-and-loss over the 3.8-mile trek.

The route follows a lumpy ridgeline

 From the Adero Canyon trailhead in the foothills above Fountain Hills, the hike begins with a mild walk on the Overlook Trail.  This short connecting trail has several scenic viewpoints and is perfect for those looking for a quick up-and-back with great vistas. But for a full dose of mountain exposure, follow Overlook 0.6-mile to its end and continue on the Ridgeline Trail. 

Switchbacks ease the climbs on Ridgeline Trail

The slim path is not open to bikes so you won’t encounter speeding traffic that could be dangerous where the trail hangs on the edge of stony outcroppings.  Within a quarter mile, an unobstructed view of the full length of the lumpy ridge shows what lies ahead. 

Hike begins on the Overlook Trail

The trail stays high on the backbone of a series of mounds, clefts strewn with chipped quartz and cholla-embellished flats with views that grow and change throughout.  Early in, the McDowell and Cave Creek Mountains to the northwest soar above an expansive valley dotted with homes.

Distance Four Peaks seen from Ridgeline Trail

Quartz specimens line the route

Midway through the hike, views of the familiar Weaver’s Needle and Flatiron formations in the Superstition Wilderness, Mazatzal Mountains, Four Peaks, Red Mountain and the distant conical form of Mount Ord take over.  After what feels like a dozen or more ascents and descents, a final climb lands hikers on the craggy nose of the ridge.  Although the terminus is not the highest elevation of the hike, the isolated nub stands clear of view-blocking cliffs and ravines that characterized the hike up to this point opening up 360-degree vistas.  From this dizzying spot, the importance of preserving natural environments is visually apparent. 

The route has over 900 feet of elevation change

View from the end of Ridgeline Trail

In the distance, hazy layers of wilderness mountains fade into a sprawling river basin at the confluence of the Verde and Salt Rivers.  Directly below, golf greens, subdivisions, shopping centers and highways lap at the cusp of this little jetty of saved space.  It’s something to be thankful for in a tumultuous 2020.

An edge-hugging section of Ridgeline Trail

LENGTH:  3.8 miles roundtrip

RATING: difficult

ELEVATION: 2,364 – 2,590 feet (950 feet of accumulated elevation change)

GETTING THERE:

Adero Canyon Trailhead

14800 N. Eagle Ridge Drive, Fountain Hills.

From State Route 87 in Fountain Hills, go 3.2 miles west on Shea Blvd. to N. Palisades Blvd. Turn right (north) and continue 1mile to Eagle Ridge Drive, turn left and go 2.3 miles to the trailhead.

PRESERVE HOURS: Sunrise to sunset daily. No fee.

INFO:

Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve

https://www.fh.az.gov/295/McDowell-Mountain-Preserve-Trails

Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills

https://www.scfh.org/

P.A. Seitts Preserve at Go John Canyon

P.A. Seitts Preserve at Go John Canyon

Golden cottonwoods along Cave Creek in P.A. Seitts Preserve

Tucked between Cave Creek Regional Park and horsey suburban neighborhoods, the P.A. Seitts Preserve at Go John Canyon is a tiny buffer zone of beauty. The site is owned and managed by the Desert Foothills Land Trust, a nonprofit organization that works to conserve Sonoran Desert open spaces, sensitive plants and native animal species in the north Valley.  While some of the organization’s 23 properties that protect 680 acres are off limits or viewable only by guided tours, P.A. Seitts is open to the public.

The Overlook Trail

The 271-acre site preserves an important wildlife corridor, riparian habitat and historical elements along Cave Creek. Several hiking trails and nature paths explore the property’s various points of interest. To get to the trails, hike 0.2 mile on the access path to a gate and the main trail junction. 

Craggy outcroppings on Overlook Trail

A good way to begin is to take the right fork and knock off the moderate Overlook Trail first. 

Black Mountain in distance

This 0.6-mile one-way path climbs along a slim, craggy path to the preserve’s highpoint, making a loop around the summit for an exceptional overview of the area.  The dark silhouette of Black Mountain looms in the east while the colorful gorge of Cave Creek, hazy urban contours and the hills of Tonto National Forest complete the panorama. Once done exploring, descend back to the gate and continue north on the wide Jeep Trail (a.k.a Military Road). Just over a half-mile from the gate, veer right at a two-way junction. Although it’s not signed, this short road is the Cemetery Trail. Hike 0.3 mile to a “T” junction, and head left to an historic graveyard where several early Cave Creek settlers are buried.  The burial ground has a reverent, yet wild west feel to it.  A random collection of dusty stone circles and wooden planks mark a few resting places, but mostly the dead lie in blissful secrecy.  To continue, retrace your steps back to the Jeep Trail and continue north. You’ll notice signs stating that permits are required to enter the State Trust land that’s part of a patchwork of preserve, park and private properties in the area. No worries, though. If you stay on the designated trails, you do not need a permit.

View from the top of the Overlook Trail

The Jeep Trail continues for 1.1 mile, paralleling the creek and its avenue of cottonwoods, mesquite and willows. In late fall and winter, the trees display canopies of golden leaves. Enormous saguaros, contorted ironwood trees and a smattering of dilapidated barbed wire fences populate the foothills complementing an already visually-rich trek. 

Jeep Trail

Along this stretch, you’ll encounter two rusty metal posts that mark spur paths that go into Cave Creek Regional Park. The second post denotes the preserve boundary and the turnaround point for the hike.

Jeep (aka Military) Trail

LENGTH: 2.3 miles total

RATING: easy-moderate

ELEVATION: 1960’ – 2120’

GETTING THERE;

P.A. Seitts trailhead:

From the intersection of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road in Cave Creek, go 0.6 mile north to East New River Road. Turn left, go 0.3 mile to 54^th Street, turn right and continue 0.4 mile to the parking area on the right near the intersection of E. Cloud Road and 52^nd Street. No fees. Preserve hours are the same as the park’s.

https://www.dflt.org/pa-seitts-preserve