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BLACK HILL-GRANITE MOUNTAIN LOOP
McDowell Sonoran Preserve
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| Granite Mountain Loop |
Sandwiched between palm-tree-caressed swaths of upscale
homes, sprawling ranches and a wall of 7000-foot-high mountains rising over the Verde
River Valley, Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a refuge for marauding
herds of javalina, deer and city dwelling hikers, bikers and equestrians
looking to unwind. It's an open, airy place reminiscent of Montana's "big
sky county" replete with far-reaching views and western character. The
Black Hill Trail delves into the guts of this natural sanctuary, following a
wide, decommissioned dirt road lined with jumbo saguaros and thickets of yucca.
Smothered in desert plant life, the area's myriad
wildflowers and blooming shrubs erupt in brilliant waves beginning in January when blood-red chuparosa flowers and shock-yellow clusters of desert rock peas serve as opening acts for a riot of color that ends with the annual show-stopping blast of creamy white saguaro blossoms in May.
Black Hill Trail ends at Powerline Road where a battalion of
electrical towers strung together over the desert reminds that civilization shares this space. At this point, a
network of connecting trails makes for endless hiking combinations. One to try
is the 4.2-mile Granite Mountain Loop, which begins directly across the road.
The trail's highest point is 2,780-foot "Scenic Overlook". Here, a
patchwork of homes in the valley below mingles with pristine desert and the muted silhouettes of
the Superstition Mountains on the southern horizon. Added goodies on the loop
include a noble crested saguaro near the Branding Iron trail junction and an
optional side trip to geological wonder, Balanced Rock.
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| Black Hill Trail |
LENGTH: 8.8 miles (9.6 miles with Balanced Rock)
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION:
2540' - 2780'
HOURS: open daily sunrise to sunset
GETTING THERE: Fraesfield Trailhead.
From Loop 101 in Scottsdale, take the Princess/Pima exit 36
and go 6.5 miles north on Pima to Dynamite Blvd./Rio Verde Dr. Turn right and go 5.6 miles to the
trailhead on the left. There's a restroom but no water at the trailhead.
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| Desert Rock Pea |
INFO & MAP: McDowell Sonoran Preserve
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