Tom’s Thumb Trail, located in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, has always been one of our favorite hikes. However, other excellent trails exist in this vast, protected area. Gateway Loop Trail might become a new favorite.

There’s something pretty special about the McDowell mountains. It could be the boulders gracing the landscape or the lush, iridescent cholla tucked within saguaros and hedgehog cacti. Yep, that’s it.

Dave, our friend Margaret and I hiked Gateway (thanks to Margaret’s suggestion) on a cloudy, misty day just before New Year’s. The preserve was pristine and beautifully maintained, thanks to  McDowell Sonoran Conservancy and its vast corp of volunteers. The modern facilities blended seamlessly with the environment, and detailed trail maps were available at cost.

We found the Gateway Loop Trail perfect for a morning outing. The loop, measuring about 4.4 miles, with 750 feet of elevation, took us gradually to Gateway saddle and back. 

We hiked counterclockwise—to mix it up a bit.

Fiesta Bowl fans were in mass that day. For the record, Michigan outnumbered TCU fans—but who’s counting? I recall hearing the phrase GO BLUE—A LOT.

Margaret provided clementines at the saddle as we took a moment to admire our surroundings before heading down.

With easy access to trails like these within 25 minutes from Central Phoenix, I have a feeling that we’ll be coming back again—and again.