Quartz Trail

Quartz Trail is a long-distance, multi-use hiking route in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve on the Scottsdale side. It’s on dirt (path) terrain and is signed well enough that you can stay on the Quartz line instead of dropping into adjacent washes or connector routes.

The route is known for quartz outcrops and desert landscaping as you work your way out from the trailhead areas. Expect long stretches through Sonoran Desert terrain with saguaros and wash crossings that can look like wide, shallow channels.

One commonly used approach is to start from the Quartz Trailhead at 10215 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road for an out-and-back outing, or to extend toward Lost Dog Wash for a longer round trip. Distances commonly run about 5.8 miles out-and-back from the Quartz Trailhead, stretching to roughly 9.3+ miles when connecting to Lost Dog Wash.

Terrain-wise, the difficulty is generally described as easy to moderate with a steady elevation gain, and the route includes a short spur/climb option that leads up to a prominent quartz formation. Footing can get rocky, and there’s little shade, so plan for direct sun.

As a dirt trail used by hikers, it’s also open to horses and bicycles; dogs are typically allowed on leash under preserve rules. The preserve is managed on a sunrise-to-sunset schedule, so plan your start time around daylight.

For conditions, the washes can flood quickly in monsoon weather, so treat wet-day crossings as a separate planning decision. Starting earlier in the day is also a recurring best practice on this route because of the exposed, low-shade character.

More information: Map, Our Top 5 Scottsdale Hikes ... So Far, Quartz Trail, McDowell Sonoran Preserve - Scottsdale, Arizona