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Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve is like no other place in the Valley. It is unique geologically. It is home to stunning geography, lush cacti forests and diverse wildlife. It features award-winning trails and facilities.
See for yourself. Now is a great time to explore the preserve, stretched across 14,000 scenic acres of Scottsdale.
The preserve encompasses the McDowell Mountains, where recent discoveries are causing geologists to rethink how this region formed and evolved. This fall, new trails and amenities are bringing Scottsdale’s “mountains of discovery” closer to residents and visitors.
TRAIL MAPS
There are 3 ways to acquire a trails map of Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve:
~ You can pickup fold-out, full color, detailed maps at the following locations:
| Community Services Office 7447 E. Indian School Rd. Ste 300 Scottsdale, AZ 85251 |
| McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Office 16435 N. Scottsdale Rd. Ste 110 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 |
~ The full color maps can also be mailed to you by calling (480) 312-7013.
~ You can download basic, printer-friendly maps at home:
Overview (pdf/362kb/1p)
Northern Mountain Region (pdf/325kb/1p)
Central Mountain Region (pdf/391kb/1p)
Southern Mountain Region (pdf/341kb/1p)
HOT TOPICS
Gateway Access Area receives "Platinum" leed certification
The Gateway Trailhead at Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve is the entrance to one of Arizona’s most picturesque environments. The building and grounds of the Gateway, themselves, are also environmentally special.
The Gateway recently received a “platinum” designation, the highest certification possible through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership Energy and Environmental Design program.
Only six Arizona structures are certified platinum through the LEED program. Two are in Scottsdale: the Preserve Gateway and the Downtown Scottsdale Fire Station, 7522 E. Indian School Road.
LEED is a national standard for “green” buildings that use environmental techniques to conserve materials, resources and reduce energy consumption while contributing to the health of its occupants.
There are four progressively higher and more demanding levels of certification (from lowest to highest): Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
The Gateway Trailhead is designed to have a minimal impact on our desert. It features public restrooms, a staff office, 200 parking spaces, an educational amphitheater, shade ramadas, multi-use trails and an accessible interpretative trail loop.
The Gateway’s green building elements include solar power generation, rainwater harvesting, rammed earth walls constructed of native soil from on-site excavation, structural steel made of high recycled content, native landscaping and parking lot and path surfaces made of stabilized, decomposed granite.
The Gateway is a “net zero” energy facility, meaning in a given year it generates more energy than it consumes from the utility grid.
For more information on the Gateway Access Area, visit: Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve Gateway.
For information on other Trail Access areas, click here.
Scottsdale launches campaign against invasive weeds
The City of Scottsdale has created a new brochure that outlines the top eight Invasive Weeds (pdf/973kb/2pp) identified to exist in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve. For a printed copy, please call the Scottsdale Fire Department at (480) 312-FIRE or (480) 312-3111 or click here for more information.
You can also watch a video by clicking on the Invasive Weeds button in the video links on the top right portion of this page.
You can also watch a video by clicking on the Invasive Weeds button in the video links on the top right portion of this page.
Rare Crested Saguaro Cactus
Have you spotted the rare crested saguaro cactus in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve? This unique plant specimen is located near the small amphitheater at the Lost Dog Wash Access Area.
While the exact cause of this unusual form is unknown, Botanists theorize it may result from genetic mutation or damage from a lightning strike or freezing temperatures.
The majestic plant, prohibited by state law from commercial sale, was seized by the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Preserve staff worked with the Department to find a safe and permanent home in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve for this unusual giant. The crested saguaro is now standing watch along the Lost Dog Wash Trail.
While the exact cause of this unusual form is unknown, Botanists theorize it may result from genetic mutation or damage from a lightning strike or freezing temperatures.
The majestic plant, prohibited by state law from commercial sale, was seized by the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Preserve staff worked with the Department to find a safe and permanent home in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve for this unusual giant. The crested saguaro is now standing watch along the Lost Dog Wash Trail.
State Land Reform
For a number of years a broad based, diverse consortium of interests from around the State have been meeting to achieve State Land reform. This effort is important to Scottsdale because 16,100 acres of State Trust Land in the planned Preserve Boundary has been reclassified as suitable for conservation by the State (State Trust Land Status). Numerous strategies have been attempted including working through the state Legislature and submitting a proposition to Arizona voters.
There is general consensus that the rules and regulations controling the use of the millions of acres of State Trust Land need updating. Existing State Land laws were put in place at the time of statehood in 1912. Most agree the Arizona of today is much different than the Arizona back then. Laws pertaining to State Land need to be modified to address the needs of the State today. This is particularly urgent and necessary in Arizona's urban areas.
Currently, the State is required by law to sell State Trust land at its highest and best use value. Proceeds go to aid State institutions, primarily the public schools. The State Constitution does not recognize conservation as a possible use of State Trust land. In 1996, then Governor Symington signed into law the Arizona Preserve Initiative (API). The API provided a tool for appropriate State Land in urban areas to be conserved. Strict criteria relating to biological, scenic, and intrinsic values were used to determine whether proposed State Land was eligible for conservation consideration. Eligible land would still need to be sold at the highest and best use price. Recently, issues with the legality of the API have surfaced. This is all the more reason many have been advocating State Land reform.
Proposed Desert Discovery Center at the Gateway to scottsdale's Preserve
A joint committee of the Tourism Development Commission and Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission has been appointed to manage Phase 2 planning to establish a Desert Discovery Center (DDC) at the Gateway to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The discovery center is envisioned to provide opportunities for residents and visitors to discover the story of the Upper Sonoran Desert. Through exhibits and environmental experiences presented in a natural setting, the center will inspire learning about the desert through its programs designed to encourage preservation and instill a sense of harmony with and respect for the desert environment in which we live.
Phase 1
Planning was completed by a team comprised of ConsultEcon, Inc. and Exhibit Design Associates, who were hired to develop concepts for the DDC through a public involvement process.
View the Report (PDF/16MB/205pp) The report is a big file and may take time to download.
Phase 2
Planning will focus on concept refinements, conducting a statistically significant target market survey to determine the character and content of the DDC preferred by residents, visitors and business interests and identifying preliminary building configuration and design opportunities. A preliminary business plan will be prepared based on the results of these tasks.
Contact
The Preservation Division coordinates all activities involving Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve for the City of Scottsdale. For more information on the City's preservation program you may call Scott Hamilton at (480) 312-7722. For questions on Preserve management, please call Claire Miller at (480) 312-2504. You may also reach us at Preservation@scottsdaleaz.gov.
