Scottsdale Updates 12 Walking Trails: Distance and Difficulty Ratings

Scottsdale Parks and Recreation released new difficulty ratings for 12 walking trails on July 7, sorting each by total distance and elevation gain to help users match routes to their fitness levels.

July heat in the Sonoran Desert pushes many residents outdoors before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., and the ratings arrive as the department tracks a 14 percent rise in preserve visits compared with the same period last year. The system uses three categories-easy under three miles with under 200 feet of gain, moderate between three and five miles with 200 to 600 feet, and difficult above five miles or more than 600 feet-to guide choices on days when temperatures reach 108 degrees.

Short and Steady Routes Near Neighborhoods

Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt runs 3.2 miles from Via Linda to Chaparral Road and carries an easy rating after the city added shaded benches and water stations in 2023. The path stays mostly flat and connects to Eldorado Park, where the department offers free guided walks every Tuesday at 7 a.m. through its FitScottsdale program. Nearby, the 1.8-mile loop at Horizon Park on 64th Street and Greenway Road also received an easy designation, popular with residents in the 85254 zip code who log steps before work.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve on 114th Street added a moderate 4.4-mile segment called the Granite Mountain Loop in March 2025. The route climbs 480 feet and now carries signage that notes average completion time of 90 minutes for most walkers. City records show the preserve logged 1.4 million entries in 2025, with the new loop accounting for 18 percent of those visits since opening.

Longer Challenges for Experienced Walkers

Pinnacle Peak Park on Pinnacle Peak Road lists its main trail at 6.2 miles round trip with 1,200 feet of elevation gain, placing it in the difficult category. The path requires sturdy footwear and at least two liters of water per person, according to posted guidelines from the parks department. A secondary 2.9-mile option branches off at the 1.5-mile mark and allows users to shorten the outing without backtracking the full distance.

Residents can download the updated trail map from the Scottsdale Parks website or pick up printed copies at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Gateway at 11445 East Via Linda. The department recommends checking the city’s heat advisory line at 480-312-3111 before heading out and suggests starting on the easy or moderate trails first to gauge personal tolerance for July conditions.