McDowell Sonoran Preserve
The Arizona Game and Fish Department considers the McDowell Mountains and surrounding Sonoran desert the most significant wildlife habitat in the Valley outside the Tonto National Forest. Completion of the Preserve is important because it will provide an uninterrupted wildlife corridor from the McDowell Mountains to the Tonto National Forest, and is key to the survival of many of our diverse desert species. Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve offers an array of fabulous desert trails and award-winning facilities. The Preserve is unique geologically and home to stunning geography, lush cacti forests and diverse wildlife. Now is a great time to explore the 30,500 acres of Sonoran Desert.