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ANDREWS-KINSEY TRAIL
McDowell Sonoran Preserve
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| Complex geological features are highlights of the hike |
Opened in 2014, the
Andrews-Kinsey Trail acts as a connector route between Scottsdale's
McDowell Sonoran Preserve and adjacent Fountain Hills Preserve. The
trail pays tribute to the efforts of Chet Andrews and Roy Kinsey who
have given over 40 years of service to the McDowell Mountain
Conservancy stewardship programs. The two-mile preserve section of the route runs along
foothills overlooking a green valley bolstered by the distinctive
profiles of Four Peaks, Mount Ord and Weaver's Needle. At the top of
each hour, the Fountain Hills geyser can be seen from the high ridges
spewing one of the tallest water spouts in the world. The mostly
exposed trail begins across from a junction located beneath Sunrise
Peak. Rolling out in a curvy single track, it clings to the edge of
cactus cloaked slopes, rock escarpments and patches of cholla
sprouting from clearings littered with glinting slabs of broken
quartz. These beautiful specimens are just a tiny part of the complex
geology of the surrounding terrain. Both the rocks underfoot and
those visible on the horizon chronicle many cataclysmic chapters of earth's history. During high hiking season (October-April), stewards occasionally
offer guided geology hikes and talks that give insight into the
volcanism, faulting and erosion that continues to shape this stretch
of basin and range topography. For a primer, check out the resources
available on the Arizona Geological Survey website.
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| Overlooking Fountain Hills |
LENGTH: 8.4 miles (as described here)
RATING: moderate-difficult
ELEVATION: 1,923'-2,962'
GETTING THERE:
Sunrise Trailhead, 12101 N. 145th Way,
Scottsdale.
From Loop 101 in Scottsdale, exit onto
Shea Blvd. and go 5.8 east to 136th St. Turn left, go 0.4 mile north
to Via Linda, turn right and continue 1.75 miles to the
overflow/horse lot on the right or continue to the 2-mile point and
the main trailhead on the left. Begin on the Sunrise Trail and hike
2.2 miles to the Andrews-Kinsey junction. From here, the trail goes 2
miles to the border with Fountain Hills Preserve, where you can
continue on or return the way you came.
INFO: McDowell Sonoran
Preserve, 480-312-7013
MAP:
GEOLOGY INFO: Arizona
Geological Survey
MORE PHOTOS:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10202643308042617.1073742013.1795269672&type=1&l=e9e00487be
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