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To the NE of Phoenix and just north of Fountain Hills, 2,099 acre McDowell Mountain Regional Park offers picnicking, camping and multi-use trails that are open to hiking, horseback riding and biking.
The park lies within the Sonoran Desert, and backs up to the Tonto National Forest to the east. The McDowell Mountains stand to the west, where park elevations reach over 3,000 feet. Several mammals, reptiles and insects make this park their home. Mammals include badger, mule deer, beaver, bighorn sheep, Desert Cottontail (rabbit), javelina, coyote, black bear plus many others.
Several types of stinging insects, such as the Bark Scorpion, Harvester Ant and Arizona Blister Beetle reside in Maricopa County. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes when hiking and camping. You will also be sharing the area with several varieties of toads, snakes and lizards.
The desert is a favorite place for bird watchers and star gazers. Biking competitions and other activities are held throughout the year.
Stop by the Visitor's Center in the park for a full list of desert critters and park activities, plus maps, snacks and souvenirs. See the live snake!
Photo above: Ocotillo after a rain. Usually resembling dead sticks, this ocotillo is a brilliant green due to recent rains.
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Above left: Scenic area along Pemberton Trail. Above right: Pemberton trail cutting through a wash.
Warning: Do not use this trail when raining. This area was a raging "river" a few days before our visit. Uprooted trees and shrubs were abundant.
See photos below.
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McDowell Mountain Park Drive
background is Tonto National Forest
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McDowell Mtn Park Drive is the main road through the park. This paved road provides a very scenic drive. Several picnic areas, trails, restrooms and a camping area can be reached from this road.
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Above and left: Nursery Tank Trail
Barrier free, accessible trail. Wheelchair accessible picnic area and trail. Perfect for strollers. Resting benches line the trail, which is 7 feet wide with sand/gravel over compact dirt.
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Fountain Park in Fountain Hills is a fabulous place to stop on the way to or from McDowell Mountain Regional Park.
The fountain shoots to a height of over 300 feet, for 10 minutes on the hour.
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Special Tips
Traveling with children, pets or special needs
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Accessibility
Nursery Tank Trail is barrier free (see photos above). An accessible picnic and parking area is located next to the trail.
The Visitor's Center has an accessible restroom. It is a 2 stall facility; the accessible stall is large with the toilet positioned in the left hand corner. There is a bar on the back wall and on the wall next
to the toilet.
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There are several other accessible restrooms in the park, but the accessible stalls are not much wider than regular stalls.
Fountain Park in Fountain Hills has a very nice 2 stall restroom with a large accessible stall. The toilet is in the right corner; a bar is next to the toilet and on the wall
behind the toilet.
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Play area in Fountain Park
Fountain Hills
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 Traveling with children
Restrooms are provided throughout McDowell Mountain park. Nursery Tank Trail is barrier free, making it a good choice for strollers or baby buggies.
A children's play area, complete with playground equipment, is near Nursery Tank Trail.
Nearby Fountain Park in Fountain Hills has a very nice 2 stall restroom with a large accessible stall that is equipped with a baby changing table.
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 Traveling with pets
Dogs must be kept on a 6 foot leash while in McDowell Mountain Regional Park. This is for the pet's protection, as well as that of other trail users and the environment.
Fountain Park in Fountain Hills provides trails for walking leashed dogs, plus doggie bag stations for picking up after your pet.
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Directions & Resources
Located just NE of the Phoenix area, north of Fountain Hills. From the east loop of Hwy 101, take Shea Blvd exit. Go
east on Shea. Turn left (north) on Fountain Hills Blvd. It will take you on a scenic drive through Fountain Hills. Turn right on Palisades to go to Fountain Park or continue north on
Fountain Hills Blvd., which will become McDowell Mountain Road. Turn left on McDowell Mountain Park Drive to enter park. Stop at the self serve fee station to pay park fee.
Resources:
maricopa.gov/parks/mcdowell Maricopa County Parks: McDowell
maricopa.gov/parks/Wildlife List of mammals, reptiles, insects and other desert critters
fh.az.gov Town of Fountain Hills
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