Stoner 
Which trailheads have what
This is the table worth saving. It comes from the city's preserve page, and amenities can change, so treat water as a bonus and carry your own either way.
| Trailhead | Restrooms | Drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| Brown's Ranch | Yes | Yes |
| Gateway | Yes | Yes |
| Lost Dog Wash | Yes | Yes |
| Pima Dynamite | Yes | Yes |
| Fraesfield | Yes | No |
| Granite Mountain | Yes | No |
| Tom's Thumb | Yes | No |
| WestWorld | Yes | Horse trough only |
| Sunrise | None listed | Yes |
| Quartz | None listed | None listed |
| Ringtail | None listed | None listed |
Where to start
Gateway, at 18333 N. Thompson Peak Parkway, is the front door. The Gateway Loop is 4.5 miles with about 690 feet of climbing, so it's a real hike and not a stroll. It gets packed on cool weekend mornings. If you live in McDowell Mountain Ranch or DC Ranch, it's basically your backyard.
Lost Dog Wash, at 12601 N. 124th Street, is the mellow southern entry, and the easy pick from central Scottsdale. Sunrise, at 12101 N. 145th Way, is the opposite: a steep climb with a big view and no restrooms listed.
Tom's Thumb, at 23015 N. 128th Street, sits in the boulder country up north. The climb to the rock is switchbacks and loose footing, and there's no drinking water at the trailhead. Fill up before you leave home.
Brown's Ranch, at 30301 N. Alma School Parkway, is the big northern network, with wide trails, boulder piles and long, easy loops. It's close to Pinnacle Peak and Troon, and it's one of the better dog options since Pinnacle Peak Park doesn't allow them.
Hours and rules
The preserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and it's free. Exact trailhead times shift by season, so check the city's page before a dawn start or a sunset run. So no, a trailhead isn't the place to hang out after dark.
The rules are short. No smoking, no alcohol and no fires. Electric bikes and scooters aren't allowed on the trails, with an exception for motorized wheelchairs. Dogs stay on a handheld leash of six feet or less, and you pack out what they leave.
The city's smoking ban sits on top of state law, which doesn't allow smoking in a public place or open space. It doesn't matter how far from the parking lot you've walked. Sesh at home after. See where you can sesh.
Heat, the part that matters
Start early. The city suggests drinking water the night before and again before you go, then steadily along the way. Its best single rule: turn around when half your water is gone. If it'll be over 90 degrees at any point, leave the dog home. In summer, go at first light and keep it short, or wait for October.
Confused, hot skin, or someone passing out? That can be heat stroke. Call 911, get them into shade and cool them down. Don't wait to see if it passes.
Weed changes how you read heat, thirst and footing, so hike with a clear head and make the couch the reward. Watch for rattlesnakes too, especially in spring and fall, and stay on the trail. The desert outdoors guide covers Pinnacle Peak and Camelback as well.