Home > About > Destinations > McDowell Mountain Regional Park

McDowell Mountain Regional Park

Amid the stunning peaks and canyons of Arizona’s McDowell Mountains is a regional park with over 21,000 acres, 50 miles of multi-use trails, and 76 designated camping areas. McDowell Mountain Regional Park is the perfect outdoor escape from Scottsdale and Phoenix, and, with its proximity to Fountain Hills, a great outdoor adventure destination when you’re looking for an immersive but convenient Sonoran Desert experience.

With your seasonal pass or day pass with Maricopa County Parks, explore McDowell Mountain Regional Parks’ sights on horseback, with your hiking books, through off-roading vehicles, or mountain bikes. Expect stunning views of the mountains and surrounding desert landscape, dark skies, and local wildlife.

📍 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264

📞 +1 (480) 471-0173

Get Directions

Quicklinks:

Park Entrance Fees | Book a Tour | Book a Camping Site | Download the Park Map

{left}

You Choose: Off Road Tour, Horseback Riding with a Group, or Mountain Biking

McDowell Mountain Regional Park’s trails offer amazing solo and self-guided escapes, but when you want an adventure of a lifetime with experienced guide to show you the way, sign up for one of these experiences:

Desert Dog Off Road Tours & Jeep Rentals
Wayward Wind Jeep Tours
Saguaro Lake Ranch Trail Rides (Horseback)
Bike Rentals with McDowell Mountain Cycles (MMC)

{right}

Check Out This Top Desert Park for Families

Did you know that McDowell Mountain Regional Park in AZ offers 88 picnic sites made with families in mind? Bring the whole crew to enjoy lunch, hiking, the park’s nature center, and exploration in the colorful and natural settings of the McDowell Mountains
✅ Picnic tables (first come, first serve)
✅ Flush restrooms
✅ Playgrounds
✅ Barbecue grills
✅ Trash cans
Learn More

Visitor Information

McDowell Mountain Regional Park is open year-round with different hours for May-October and November-May. Bring plenty of water and pack out all belongings, trash, and equipment to follow LEAVE NO TRACE rules. At the park entrance, you will be required to pay per vehicle or per person. Rates for Annual Day-Use Entry Passes, school buses, and commercial buses can be found on Maricopa County Park’s fee page. Public restrooms, horse staging areas, and reserved camping grounds are available at McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

🗓️ Park hours

May 1 to October 31: 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM daily.
November 1 to April 30: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.

📍 Located at 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264

💰 Park entrance fees range from $5 to $110/day

Tent and RV camping fees start at $20 per night (requires advanced reservations).
Primitive, semi-developed, and developed camping sites are available.
Shaded RV sites are available.
Special rates are available for youth and group camping.

👶 Family-friendly
🦮 Dog-friendly (leash and waste cleanup are required by law)
💧 Bring a reusable water bottle
🥾 Wear closed-toe shoes or appropriate gear for your outdoor activity
🐦‍⬛ For birding and night sky exploration, bring binoculars
🌵 Follow trail etiquette
📜 Follow all posted rules, including LEAVE NO TRACE
Get Directions
The closest gas station is Chevron Fountain Hills.

Explore Before You Go

About McDowell Mountain Regional Park

What can you do at McDowell Mountain Regional Park?

McDowell Mountain Regional Park offers over 50 miles of maintained trails to explore unmatched desert views, historical landmarks, and the Sonoran Desert’s plant life and wildlife. If you’re visiting and staying in Fountain Hills, you can accomplish many of these outdoor adventures in four days.

Ride on horseback: Over 40 miles of trails, ranging from 0.5 miles to 15.3 miles. A horse staging area is available, but riders must bring their own water supply. Sign up for a group horseback riding adventure with Saguaro Lake Ranch Trail Rides for an immersive and easy horseback riding experience.
Hike: McDowell Mountain Regional Park's hiking options are unmatched. Find 40 miles of curated desert trails, ranging from easy to challenging. Use AllTrails to find a trail best suited to your needs, or use Maricopa County's interactive map for the McDowell Mountains to find specific trails around park amenities.
Birdwatch: Throughout the regional park, a large quantity of birds as well as Sonoran Desert-specific species, can be sighted using your phone or binoculars. Preserved through the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills, the McDowell Mountain Conservancy, and park rangers, the McDowell Mountains are a desired destination for birding. Popular bird sightings include the Gambel's Quail, Loggerhead Shrike, and Curve-billed Trasher.
Mountain bike: Take on the challenge of the Sonoran Desert through smooth singletrack trails and challenging rocky trails. The 40+ miles of mountain biking trails are known to be beautiful and dreamy. Rent a bike near the as you're headed to McDowell Mountain Regional Park (at MMC in Fountain Hills) or call and ask for delivery to the park.
Go off-roading: Explore the rugged canyons and wide-open views of McDowell Mountain Regional Park through an off-roading adventure. Desert Dog Off Road Tours and Wayward Wind Tours offer guided tours and off-roading rentals.
Stargaze: Virtually everywhere in this mountainscape are stunning views of the night sky. Try an evening hike to indulge in stargazing or moonbathing. If you're camping in McDowell Mountain Regional Park, all that's needed is your cell phone, binoculars, or a telescope to see the universe above! Get our recommendations for dark sky viewpoints and camping spots.
Camp: In McDowell Mountain Regional Park, solo campers and groups can choose between 76 individual camping sites. Choose between rugged, primitive camping and more modern spots with designated RV areas, flush restrooms, and showers.

Get the Four-Day Itinerary

What Visitors Are Saying

Online Reviews

“This is a hidden gem for those who want to feel seclusion but still close enough to civilization. McDowell Mountain Regional Park offers beautiful views from just about every site. The sites are spacious and there’s plenty of room between your neighbors. The restrooms and showers are clean and well maintained. It’s definitely off the beaten path but well worth the visit.” - Pat G., Google Maps ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The Campground was very clean. Everyone who worked at the party were nice. The sites are level and the views are beautiful. The trails are fun for hiking and biking.’ - James O., Google Maps ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Absolute must stop for off pavement cyclists. many miles of beautiful trails from relatively easy to difficult. Government campsite with water and electricity hookups, showers and toilets (and sani dump)” - W., Trip Advisor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“My 10-yr old nephew and I came to the park on a Friday morning. Short/easy (~35 minute ) drive from Scottsdale (Holiday Inn Club Vacations area). The place was pretty quiet which was nice. The entry was easy, $7/day and the man at the gate was very informative. We stopped at the nature center and checked out the snakes before doing the Tortoise Trail. Great views, easy 0.8 mile out and 0.8 mile back trail, with options for longer loops at the end. We saw a couple lizards which was really neat, and the cacti were just about to bloom. We then went to the campground playground and checked out the snake slide which was very cool. After that we drove around and did the Nursery-Tank Trail which also had great views and large cacti. Overall great experience, highly recommend for people travelling in the area.” - R., Trip Advisor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This is a really nice park. Very big lots of trails. We went to the north trail which was nicely maintained. The huge plus here is the fact that sprinkled through this huge park are actual running water bathrooms!! SO NICE!! Clean bright. Superb” - Debbie O., Yelp ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

FAQs

When is the best time to visit McDowell Mountain Regional Park?

Are there restrooms on-site?

Are dogs allowed at the park?

What is the cost to enter McDowell Mountain Regional Park?

What are my gas and lodging options?