Scenic Trail

You’ll either love me or hate me for this article.

I’m going to tell you about a wonderful hike. But making the outing memorable was the area’s temporary surroundings.

Wildflowers – and lots of ‘em.

If they’re still around when you read this, you’ll love me for sharing this secret.

If the flowers have faded away for another season, you’ll hate me for not spilling the beans sooner.

It’s not my fault. Blame it on the folly of wildflower season. You never know if it’ll be a boon or a bust, and once it gets here, it might not last long.

But if the flowers are still in bloom when you read this, make a point to head out to McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

(Come to think of it, the hike, even sans flowers, would make an enjoyable afternoon. Forget what I said about hating me.)

That’s where we headed on a paradise-like mid-March Saturday afternoon.

Perhaps the most aptly named path in Arizona, McDowell Mountain Park’s Scenic Trail gives hikers ever-changing views, each one more striking than the last.

It begins just off the Trailhead Group Area. It leaves civilization behind soon, as it turns into a valley.

The trail follows a soft, sandy wash for a mile or more. In the afternoon, the hill on the right will cast long shadows, while the slope of the left hill will glow in sunlight.

The trail leads up the hill to the east, taking hikers up to about 2,000 feet from the floor of the valley (about 1,800 feet).

The Scenic Trail earns a “difficult” rating for this elevation change. Its distance is around 3.5 miles.

Trudging up the hill, hikers get an eyeful of towering saguaros and Red Rock Mountain in the distance. Once atop, the trail loops north to show Four Peaks, Rio Verde and the surrounding mountains.

The trail passes a few saguaro skeletons – victims of the 1995 Rio Fire. One Saguaro is fighting to survive. Its west side is gray and ashy, while its east side is green and healthy.

Hikers enjoy hilltop views for half the trip, as the trail follows a ridgeline for about half its distance. For fun, it occasionally dips down one side and then the other.

The Scenic Trail connects with the Pemberton Trail, heading back to the parking lot for a full loop. Full facilities are available.

During our mid-March hike, the hills were awash in color. The yellow Brittlebush was thick, showing off millions of yellow daisy-like flowers. The hillside glowed in the sun.

Patches of fuzzy, violet Owl’s Clover and bursting orange Globemallows also gave a brilliant spring show. Under it all was a mixture of deep greens and gray-green sage.

If you go, bring a camera and allow for about two hours of hiking time.

To get there, follow McDowell Mountain Park Drive from the main entrance and take a right on Shallmo Drive. The lot is at the end of the road.

The park charges a $5 per vehicle entry fee.

This hike was first featured April 2001 and revised February 2007.