Lost Dog Trail (McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale)

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On Thursday, February 08, 2008 I hiked the Lost Dog Trail in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.  To get to the Trail Head take Shea Blvd. into Scottsdale to 124th St.  Turn North and go to the parking area at the end of 124th.  I started the hike at about 7:45 AM after realizing that I hadn't replaced the batteries in my GPS.  Oh well, I'd just have to estimate distance.  The thing that surprised me was how cold it was.  When I parked in the lot the outside temperature was about 45 degrees, but as I hiked along the trail the temperature dropped very rapidly.  It wasn't long before it got well down into the thirties.  The trail itself was very easy though.  It was wide, well graded and not steep.

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Lost Dog Trail Head	Park Regulations
Trail Maps	Start of Trail

Gentle Trail	Firs / Last Junction

As I started at the beginning of the Lost Dog Wash trail I quickly came to a junction.  The Lost Dog trail was to the left and the Sunrise trail went off to the right.  I opted for the Lost Dog trail.  At that time I also realized that the preserve had done a wonderful job of identifying and posting the trail.  I continued for an easy half a mile and come upon a trail off to the right that was named the Ringtail trail.  The sign also stated that it connected to the Sunrise trail.  Since I didn't have my GPS, I decided to take the Ringtail / Sunrise trail loop.  Continuing along Ringtail trail I found the steepest part if the trails just before arriving at the Lost Dog overlook..  This was about the highest point on the trail and I had only gone up about 300 feet in elevation.

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Second Fork	Looking Toward the East
The Steepest Part of the Trail	Good Scenery
Easy Trail	Another Fork
Through the Wash	Back to the Trailhead

I continued along the Ringtail trail to the Junction with the Sunrise trail and then returned along the route to where I originated the hike.  The entire hiking time was just over 1 hour and 30minutes so I figure at my pace, I covered about three miles.

Although this trail is scenic, it is very easy.  I would definitely classify this trail as a #1, or easy trail.  It might be all right for jogging but wouldn't considerate at all as a training trail for any major hike.

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Larry Wayt (larry@live2hike.org)