Fountain Hills is an outdoor recreation enthusiast’s paradise. Do you love to hike? There are many options in Fountain Hills and nearby communities.
Lake Overlook Trail
This is a favorite for all ages located in the heart of Fountain Hills. Park along Panorama Blvd. and jump on the trail right across from the parking lot on the back side of the fountain. This trail is an easy to moderate 1.5-mile hike that takes you up to beautiful views of the fountain, the downtown area and even the farm of Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
Fountain Hills Desert Botanical Garden
This short, easy hike starts from a small parking lot along Fountain Hills Blvd. Although the trail is barely more than half a mile long, it has much to offer in views with its enormous rock outcrops and an old dam that was created by the ranchers of the old P-Bar Ranch. The fountain Hills botanical Garden Society maintains the area and they have labeled dozens of trees and plants to familiarize people with the native desert flora.
Adero Canyon Trailhead
The newest trailhead in Fountain Hills opened at the end of 2019 and serves as the gateway to the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain preserve. The preserve has more than 11 miles of non-motorized trails that range from very easy to extremely challenging. Once exceptional feature is the connectivity to other trails that meander from one end of the McDowell Mountains to the other beyond the borders of the preserve, providing endless hiking options.
Dixie Mine Trail
Located at the end of Golden Eagle Blvd., hikers walk through part of the Eagle’s Nest neighborhood, a gated community, to reach the trail. This 5.6-mile trek takes you through lush vegetation and a variety of rock formations. The mine itself has two grated openings, one at the top of the hill and one that can be found by picking your way through a nearby wash. Continue up the wash past the mine entrance and you’ll find petroglyphs.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Located just a few miles north of fountain Hills, McDowell Mountain Regional park has more than 50 miles of multi-use trails. Some of these trails connect with the hundreds of miles of trails that meander all over the McDowell Mountains, including nearby Marcus Landslide and Tom’s Thumb.
Sunrise Trail
Reward yourself with breath-taking views on this difficult-rated trail, located at the eastern end of Via Linda Drive in Scottsdale. This popular 3.6-mile hike ascends 1,112 feet in elevation to provide stunning views of Scottsdale, Camelback Mountain, Mesa and Tempe, Fountain Hills, Rio Verde, Fort McDowell and the Verde River, and the soaring Four Peaks. Please note: parking is limited and fills up quickly.
For more information on our local hiking trails, visit Experience Fountain Hills hiking and biking web page.
