WINDGATE-BELL PASS LOOP
WINDGATE-BELL PASS LOOP McDowell Sonoran Preserve Windgate Pass In the highly competitive, (oft embellished) sphere of hiking lore, there are precisely two loop circuits in Scottsdale�s McDowell Sonoran Preserve that have earned the title of �epic�. They are the Tom�s Thumb-East End-Bell Pass Loop and the Windgate-Bell Pass Loop. Both are beautiful. Both will kick your butt. Before tackling the 13-mile, 2,205-foot Tom�s Thumb slog, you might want to do a warm up trek on the later. From a strictly mathematical perspective, the �measly� 1,484 feet from the circuit�s base to its highest point bellies the fact that the mountain�s dips and dives reclaim much of what you gain, multiple times. There�s a 600- foot loss between the two passes alone. These two ambitious circuits are staples on the training programs of hikers preparing for Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim trips or long distance hauls on the Arizona Trail. Bell Pass Whether you have eyes on bigger prizes or are just loo...