Tortoise and Hilltop Trails
Fort McDowell, Arizona
| Address: | ~Tortoise Trail, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264, USA |
| GPS: |
33°41'35.5"N 111°43'44.5"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Arizona |
| Trail Length: | 2.00 miles |
| Elevation Gain: | 173.00 feet |
| Hike Difficulty: | Beginner |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
Pet Friendly
Hike
Be on the lookout for wildlife like jackrabbits and lizards on the initial stretch of trail (Tortoise Trail) and for mountain bikers as this trail joins the Pemberton Trail for a bit as it crosses a parking area. Head across the parking area and climb the hill to the hiker-only Hilltop Trail loop. Courtesy of AllTrails.com
More Information
Add ResourceBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read MoreDirections
From Fort McDowell, Arizona
- Head west on Ba Hon Nah Rd toward N Ft McDowell Rd (72 ft)
- Turn left at the 1st cross street onto N Ft McDowell Rd (1.1 mi)
- Turn right onto E Yavapai Rd (1.2 mi)
- Continue onto E San Marcus Dr (390 ft)
- Turn right onto N El Pueblo Blvd (1.2 mi)
- Turn right onto N Fountain Hills Blvd (0.3 mi)
- Continue onto E McDowell Mountain Rd (3.6 mi)
- Turn left onto McDowell Mountain Park DrDestination will be on the right(2.8 mi)
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Wagner Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
0.1 miles NWA 2.2-mile beginner-to-intermediate loop trail in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, winding through a hoodoo canyon to a vantage point with views of Weaver's Needle at Fremont Saddle.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
Wagner-Granite-Bluff Trails
Scottsdale, Arizona
0.1 miles NWHike and Mountain Bike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike, Mountain Bike 2.2 mi
Marcus Landslide Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
4.2 miles WNamed for geographer Melvin Marcus, this trail winds through an ancient McDowell Mountain landslide with sweeping Superstition and Mazatzal mountain views and boulder-filled formations.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike, Rock Climb
Tom's Thumb Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
4.2 miles WA 4.7-mile out-and-back hike in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve with 1,200 feet of elevation gain to a unique thumb-shaped granite rock formation — pet friendly, but no water on trail.
Hike, Mountain Bike, Rock Climb
Tom's Thumb, Feldspar, and Marcus Landslide Loop
Scottsdale, Arizona
4.2 miles WHike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike
Thompsons Peak
Fountain Hills, Arizona
4.6 miles SWHike near Fountain Hills, Arizona
Hike
Dixie Mine
Fountain Hills, Arizona
4.6 miles SWA McDowell Mountain Regional Park trail near Fountain Hills accessible from multiple trailheads — reach the park at 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr, AZ 85255.
Hike
Sonoran Trail Fountain Hills
Fountain Hills, Arizona
4.6 miles SWHike near Fountain Hills, Arizona
Hike
Fountain Park Trail
Fountain Hills, Arizona
6.1 miles SA well-groomed ridge trail in Fountain Hills with Fountain Park views to the west and Four Peaks to the northeast — great for family hikes.
Hike, Mountain Bike
Fountain Hills Park
Fountain Hills, Arizona
6.4 miles SA 1.3-mile loop trail at Fountain Hills Park near Phoenix accessible year-round for all skill levels — a pleasant hike through a well-known community park.
Hike
Sunrise Peak via Sunrise Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
7.1 miles SHike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike 0.6 mi
Horseshoe Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
7.8 miles WA short, fun singletrack full of quick turns shaped by washes and rocks — javelinas, deer, and the occasional bobcat add wildlife thrills near Scottsdale.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
Pinnacle Peak Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
7.9 miles WA 3.5-mile out-and-back through Sonoran Desert switchbacks with 1,300 feet of elevation gain, panoramic mountain views, and abundant wildlife including quail, javelina, and mountain lions.
Hike, Horseback, Rock Climb
Jane Rau Brown's Canyon Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
8.0 miles NWA wide, semi-paved half-mile loop honors a McDowell Sonoran Conservancy pioneer with interpretive plaques, desert views, and a shaded picnic area — perfect for all ages.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
Pima and Dynamite Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
8.0 miles NWA 100-plus-mile singletrack network in North Scottsdale rolls through fast Sonoran desert terrain with variety for beginners to advanced without serious gnarly descents.
Hike, Mountain Bike
Inspiration Point
Scottsdale, Arizona
8.1 miles WA wooded canyon with mixed trail and campground options — take it as a loop or a top-to-bottom shuttle mountain bike ride through beautiful scenery near Logan, Utah.
Hike, Mountain Bike
Gatewa-Prospector-Thompson Peak Road Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
8.1 miles WHike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike
Gateway and Tom's Thumb Loop Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
8.1 miles WA roughly 10.5-mile loop linking Gateway, Bell Pass, and Windgate trails in Scottsdale — featuring a steep Bell Pass climb with views described simply as amazing.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
Brown Ranch Trail to Cone Mountain Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
8.1 miles NWHike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike
Tom's Thumb to Bell Pass
Scottsdale, Arizona
8.1 miles WHike and Mountain Bike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike, Mountain BikeNearby Campsites
Lower Salt River Nature Trail
Fort McDowell, Arizona
10.9 miles SA 2-mile beginner loop alongside the Salt River in Tonto National Forest, with worn markers that keep things adventurous — watch for wild horses and spring cactus blooms.
Camp, Hike
Buckhorn Campground Nature Trail
Apache Junction, Arizona
16.4 miles SCamp and Hike near Apache Junction, Arizona
Camp, Hike
Verde Hot Springs
Camp Verde, Arizona
45.3 miles NNatural hot spring pools beside the Verde River — the remnants of an old resort — reached by wading upstream from a dispersed camping area with no amenities near Sedona.
Camp, Hike, Hot Springs