McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Nature preserve
32,695 acres265 mi of trail
Hawknest TrailStagecoach Trail136th Street ExpressGooseneck Trail+1
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0AOutdoors
Outdoors in Scottsdale
Scottsdale has 442 miles of mapped trails, 2.4 for every square mile of land
30% of Scottsdale’s land is conserved, about 35,903 acres. The biggest trail networks: McDowell Sonoran Preserve (265 mi), Pinnacle Peak Park (2.5 mi), Scottsdale Civic Center Mall (1.8 mi). 3,659 acres are parks and preserves, 15 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 89% of U.S. towns · #27 of 140 in Arizona. What drives it
Conserved land
30%
35,903 acres · of 184.0 sq mi of land
Trails
442 mi
2.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,659 ac
15 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
71%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
359 mi
303 mi lanes · 55 mi paths
Highest peak
4,823 ft
Butte Peak
Lakes & rivers
19
4 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Scottsdale?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Scottsdale have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Scottsdale is ahead of 89% of U.S. towns, #27 of 140 in Arizona. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; trail miles rank highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Scottsdale’s overall grade.
Conserved land30% of the land · typical AZ town 14% · U.S. 4%ATrails2.4 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (442 mi) · AZ 1.1 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land15 acres of park per 1,000 residents (3,659 acres) · AZ 8 · U.S. 13BParks close to home71% of residents within a half mile of a park · AZ 56% · U.S. 72%B
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 89%
LessMore
Arizona towns of 2,500+ (140)Ahead of 81%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Scottsdale ranks #98 on Outdoors.
Arizona towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 14%; the U.S., 4%), so Scottsdale’s 30% is ahead of 65% of Arizona towns, while its trails per square mile lead 86% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is McDowell Sonoran Preserve, with 265 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Pinnacle Peak Park
Nature preserve
151 acres2.5 mi of trail
Pinacle Peak Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Scottsdale Civic Center Mall
Park
37 acres1.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Bell94 Sports Complex
Park
49 acres1.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Eldorado Park
Managed by City of Scottsdale
62 acres1.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Indian School Park
Park
63 acres1.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
George "Doc" Cavalliere Park
Managed by City of Scottsdale
39 acres1.1 mi of trail
Hillside Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Thompson Peak Park
Park
55 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 54 parks & preserves
McDowell Sonoran Preserve32,695 acres · 265 mi of trail
DirectionsPinnacle Peak Park151 acres · 2.5 mi of trail
DirectionsScottsdale Civic Center Mall37 acres · 1.8 mi of trail
DirectionsBell94 Sports Complex49 acres · 1.7 mi of trail
DirectionsEldorado Park62 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsIndian School Park63 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsGeorge "Doc" Cavalliere Park39 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsThompson Peak Park55 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsCactus Park19 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsChaparral Park89 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsTom's Thumb Trailhead24 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsDC Ranch Park15 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
Paiute Park14 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsMescal Park10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
Vista del Camino Park84 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsLost Dog Trailhead10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsFlorence Ely Nelson Desert Park10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsCamelback Walk40 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMcCormick Stillman Railroad Park25 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsStonegate Equestrian Park15 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Chesnutt Park8 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsCholla Park13 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsGateway Trailhead10 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsColony Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsThomas Road Rest Stop3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsScottsdale Sports Complex77 acres
DirectionsCamelback Park26 acres · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsHorizon Park24 acres · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsMountain View Greenbelt16 acres
Grayhawk Park16 acres · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsMountain View Park15 acres · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsThunderbird/Redfield Park15 acres
DirectionsComanche Park11 acres · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsSonoran Hills Park11 acres
Northsight Park9 acres
DirectionsAztec Park9 acres · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsScottsdale Rotary Park9 acres
DirectionsApache Park7 acres · City of Scottsdale
Rio Montana Park7 acres
DirectionsPERA Club6 acres
DirectionsPima Park6 acres · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsAgua Linda Park5 acres · City of Scottsdale
Zuni Park5 acres
Osborn Park5 acres
Shoshone Park4 acres
Sweetwater Park3 acres
Homestead Park2 acres
Lafayette Parkway1 acres
DirectionsSunrise Trailhead1 acres
DirectionsPapago Rotary Park1 acres · City of Scottsdale
DirectionsEthel's Garden1 acres
Neighborhood Park1 acres
136th Street Trailhead1 acres
Arroyo Park1 acres · Silverleaf Club
Who protects it
35,903 conserved acres
30% of Scottsdale’s land. Who manages Scottsdale’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State Department of Land20,967 ac
County11,242 ac
Town or city3,431 ac
Bureau of Reclamation303 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits83 ac
U.S. Forest Service60 ac
Regional agency4 ac
State Resource Management Area · 20,967 acLocal Conservation Area · 11,229 acLocal Other or Unknown · 1,908 acLocal Park · 1,266 acFederal Other or Unknown · 303 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. Public access isn’t recorded for 1 of 177 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Trust Land State Resource Management Area | State Department of Land | 20,967 | Restricted |
| Mcdowell Sonoran Preserve Local Conservation Area | County | 11,631 | Restricted |
| Usbr Federal Other or Unknown | Bureau of Reclamation | 303 | Unknown |
| Nature Park Local Park | Town or city | 229 | Open |
| Pinnacle Peak Park Local Park | Town or city | 151 | Open |
| Silverado Golf Course Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 138 | Open |
| Desert Foothills Land Trust Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 83 | Closed |
| Chaparral Park Local Park | Town or city | 79 | Open |
| Continental Golf Course Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 75 | Open |
| 217-09-012A,B&C, 217-09-015 Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 74 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
175 places to go in Scottsdale
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Public pools in Scottsdale
Adult Pool
DirectionsChildren's Pool
DirectionsLifetime Rooftop Pool
DirectionsPrincess Pool
DirectionsPrivado Villas Pool
DirectionsSonoran Landing Pool
DirectionsSonoran Splash Pool
DirectionsTroon Country Club Swimming Pool
DirectionsPlus 9 public pools without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Scottsdale
Colony Park playgroundIn Colony Park
DirectionsIndian School Park PlaygroundIn Indian School Park
DirectionsLa Vista Park
DirectionsRotary Park PlaygroundIn Scottsdale Rotary Park
DirectionsSpray PadIn Chesnutt Park
Directions63 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Scottsdale
Chaparral Dog ParkIn Chaparral Park
DirectionsOptima Scottsdale Dog Run
DirectionsThompson Peak Dog ParkIn Thompson Peak Park
DirectionsPlus 6 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Scottsdale
4 boat launches without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Scottsdale
Basalt Ridge OverlookIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsGrandviewIn Pinnacle Peak Park
DirectionsHarris's Hawk VistaIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsHigh Point(2889')In Pinnacle Peak Park
DirectionsInspiration ViewpointIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsLost Dog OverlookIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsMushroom Rock Scenic PointIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsOwl's RestIn Pinnacle Peak Park
Directions10 more scenic views
Prairie Falcon OverlookIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsProspector Scenic ViewIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsRaven Roost Scenic ViewIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsScenic ViewIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsSidewinder OverlookIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsSunset VistaIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsTaliesin OverlookIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsThe AmphitheaterIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsThe LookoutIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsVulture View Scenic PointIn McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Directions32 scenic views are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Peaks in Scottsdale
Butte Peak4,823 ft elevation
DirectionsGold Hill4,544 ft elevation
DirectionsApache Peak4,511 ft elevation
DirectionsEast End4,068 ft elevation · In McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsMcDowell Peak4,035 ft elevation · In McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsThompson Peak3,983 ft elevation · In McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsTom's Thumb3,924 ft elevation · In McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsDrinkwater Peak3,911 ft elevation · In McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Directions10 more peaks
Granite Mountain3,517 ft elevation · In McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsTroon Mountain3,478 ft elevation
DirectionsCholla Mountain3,406 ft elevation · In McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsLone Mountain3,353 ft elevation
DirectionsBrown's Mountain3,251 ft elevation · In McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsWildcat Hill3,232 ft elevation
DirectionsSunrise Peak3,068 ft elevation · In McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsCone Mountain3,058 ft elevation · In McDowell Sonoran Preserve
DirectionsFraesfield Mountain3,048 ft elevation
DirectionsPinnacle Peak2,969 ft elevation · In Pinnacle Peak Park
Directions50 peaks are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 19 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 202.6 miHorses · 190.1 miUnpaved · 253.9 mi
Hawknest Trail11.6 mi
Stagecoach Trail7.8 mi
136th Street Express6.8 mi
Gooseneck Trail6.6 mi
Powerline Road #26.3 mi
Latigo Trail5.8 mi
Quartz Trail4.9 mi
Tom's Thumb Trail4.7 mi
Axle Grease4.5 mi
Dove Valley Trail4.5 mi
15 more trails
High Desert Trail
4.2 miSunrise Trail
4.0 miGateway Loop Trail
3.5 miBell Pass Trail
3.2 miDesert Park Trail
3.1 miWindgate Pass
3.1 miWhiskey Bottle Trail
3.0 miCholla Mtn Loop Trail
2.9 miLost Dog Wash Trail
2.8 miOld Trail 20
2.8 miScorpion Trail
2.6 miOld Trail 23 - West Express
2.4 miBlack Hill Trail
2.4 miWhisper Rockk access
2.4 miGranite Mtn Loop
2.4 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Black Hill TankreservoirBootlegger TankreservoirChaparral LakelakeDesert Spring Park LakelakeDixie MinereservoirEldorado North LakelakeEldorado South LakelakeGooseneck TankKiva FountainMarguerite LakeMarguerite Lake P.2McKellips LakelakeProw PoolRock TankRoosevelt LakelakeSchrader's PondpondVista North LakelakeVista South LakelakeGalloway Wash
Biking & sports
359 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
303 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
55 mi
off-road bike paths
0.8 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Sun Circle TrailBike route
4.6 miCourts & fields
527Tennis
448Basketball
206Pickleball
93Baseball
81Golf
78Equestrian
49Beach volleyball
41Soccer
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →11 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 7 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Frank Titus HouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itScottsdale Grammar SchoolBuilding · listed 1994
About itGeorge Ellis HouseBuilding · listed 1999
About itValley Field Riding and Polo ClubBuilding · listed 2009
About itRoald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad CarStructure · listed 2009
About itTown and Country Scottsdale Residential Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2009
About itVillage Grove 1-6 Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2010
About itOur Lady of Perpetual Help Mission ChurchBuilding · listed 2018
About itKiva Craft CenterBuilding · listed 2022
About itSands North Townhouses Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2022
About itWhen to get out
April is the best month for walking in Scottsdale
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 10.1 | 10.9 | 11.9 | 13.0 | 13.9 | 14.4 | 14.2 | 13.4 | 12.3 | 11.3 | 10.4 | 9.9 |
| High (°F) | 65 | 68 | 74 | 81 | 91 | 100 | 103 | 102 | 97 | 86 | 74 | 64 |
| Rain (in) | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
June is the driest month (0.1 in) and July the warmest (highs of 103 °F). 1.7 inches fall in February, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 103 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Scottsdale →
Next door
Scottsdale and its neighbors
Scottsdale has the second most mapped trails of the 7 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Phoenix847 miScottsdale442 miCave Creek78 miFountain Hills48 miTempe41 miCarefree3.1 miParadise Valley2.7 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale | 30% | 2.4 | 15 | 71% | A |
| Phoenix | 33% | 1.6 | 26 | 84% | A |
| Carefree | 4% | 0.4 | 2 | 36% | C |
| Fountain Hills | 13% | 2.4 | 6 | 63% | B+ |
| Paradise Valley | 3% | 0.2 | 12 | 15% | C |
| Tempe | 5% | 1.0 | 9 | 98% | A− |
| Cave Creek | 55% | 2.1 | 557 | 37% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Scottsdale
Where can I hike in Scottsdale?
The longest trail networks: McDowell Sonoran Preserve, 265 miles; Pinnacle Peak Park, 2.5 miles; Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, 1.8 miles; Bell94 Sports Complex, 1.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Scottsdale is conserved land?
30% of its land, against a typical 14% for an Arizona town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Scottsdale’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at McDowell Sonoran Preserve (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Scottsdale?
359 miles of bike routes are on the map: 303 of painted or protected lanes, 55 of off-road paths and 0.8 of shoulders and shared lanes. Named routes: Sun Circle Trail.
Is there public land near Scottsdale?
243,662 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Scottsdale or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 3,725 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Scottsdale have?
Ahead of 89% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #27 of 140 in Arizona. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Scottsdale neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →