Gateway Loop Trail

Gateway Loop Trail is a moderate loop hike in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve (Scottsdale). It’s built around steady climbing up toward Gateway Saddle and then returning downhill back to the Gateway Trailhead area.

The loop is about 4.4 miles with roughly 718 ft of elevation gain, typically taking around 2 to 2.5 hours at a hiking pace.

The trail surface is described as dirt, with rocky terrain and steeper sections concentrated on the climbing side of the loop. The grade increases as you work up toward the saddle before easing on the descent.

This is a heavily used route that’s generally straightforward to follow once you commit to the signed loop direction; plan for at least one trail-junction decision point near where Gateway Loop meets other routes.

The Gateway Trailhead at 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy provides the practical on-ramp: parking, restrooms, shade ramadas, and water access at/near the trailhead, making the loop convenient for a half-day outing.

Gateway Loop Trail is also used by mountain bikers and horseback riders in the Preserve’s trail system, so expect shared-trail etiquette on busy days.

More information: McDowell Sonoran Preserve | City of Scottsdale, Hiking Guide To The Gateway Loop Trail Scottsdale | SWSS, Gateway Trailhead