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North Scottsdale: big desert, bigger sky

Up here the city thins out into boulders, saguaros and gated golf communities. Come for the trails and the sunsets, stay for a Western saloon down the road.

North Scottsdale is everything up past the Loop 101, stretching toward Pinnacle Peak, DC Ranch and the McDowell Mountains. It's the part of town on the postcards: granite boulders, saguaros everywhere, golf courses carved into the desert and houses with views you'd pay a lot to sit in front of.

It's also the quietest part of the city after dark, and the stars are actually visible. For a stoner the play is simple. Hike early, eat well, watch the sunset from a private patio, and let somebody else drive. When you miss neon, Old Town is a long ride south.

North Scottsdale's vibe and a little history

This was open desert not that long ago. In 1995 Scottsdale residents voted to set aside land that became the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, now about 30,000 acres and one of the largest urban preserves in the country. Development grew up around it, which is why so many neighborhoods here back right onto trailheads.

DC Ranch sits on the Gateway side of the preserve, a planned community with its own Market Street shopping and dining. Pinnacle Peak, farther north, is the granite spike that gives the whole area its name. Western heritage shows up everywhere, from street names to the saloons just over the line in Cave Creek.

Things to do in North Scottsdale

Most of what's great here is a trail. Go early. Earlier than that.

  • DC Ranch

    McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Gateway Trailhead

    18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

    The most popular door into the preserve, right next to DC Ranch. From here you can hike, bike or climb, and the trails range from the half-mile Bajada Trail to long loops into the McDowells.

    The Saguaro Loop is a good middle option if you want real desert without a sufferfest. Wildlife is most active early and late in the day, which is also when the light is best.

    TipStart at sunrise in summer and be back at the car before the rocks start radiating heat.

  • Pinnacle Peak

    Pinnacle Peak Park

    26802 N 102nd Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85262

    A 150 acre city park built around the area's namesake granite peak. The main trail runs 2 miles one way with about 1,300 feet of cumulative elevation gain as it rolls up and down, so the hike back is not a free ride.

    No dogs and no bikes on the trail. Experienced climbers can rope up in designated areas, and the park runs sunset and full moon hikes plus astronomy talks.

    TipWatch for rattlesnakes in the warm months. Stay on the trail.

  • Town of Cave Creek, north of Scottsdale

    Cave Creek

    A small Western town, population nearly 6,000, that started as a mining camp around 1880. Ranchers followed, then dude ranches, and the town didn't bother with a local government until 1986. It still has that energy: dirt lots, horse trailers and saloons.

    Spur Cross, an old dude ranch north of town, is now a conservation area with hiking and horse trails. Past that you're into the Tonto National Forest.

    TipGo for dinner, not a quick drink. It's a drive, so assign a driver or book a ride.

Where to eat and drink in North Scottsdale and Cave Creek

Dining up here leans upscale, with a lot of special-occasion rooms. Then there's Cave Creek, which goes the other way entirely. More picks citywide on our munchies guide.

  • DC Ranch

    Elvira's DC Ranch

    20825 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

    Upscale Mexican from chef Rubén Monroy and restaurateur Thomas Kaufman, mixing traditional Mexican flavors with Arizona ingredients. Plates are pretty, and the tequila list is deep.

    This is the date night or birthday dinner pick for North Scottsdale. Dress a notch up from trail clothes.

    TipBook ahead on weekends and make a night of it with a ride home.

  • Cave Creek

    Harold's Cave Creek Corral

    6895 E Cave Creek Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331

    One of Arizona's oldest saloon-style restaurants. It opened in 1935 as the Corral Bar, feeding workers building Bartlett Dam, and Harold Gavagan bought it and renamed it in 1950. It even shows up in a 1970s movie.

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner in a big, rowdy Western room. It's also home base for a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan club, so on game days expect a lot of black and gold.

    TipSteelers Sundays are a scene. Pick your side carefully.

Questions about North Scottsdale

Can you smoke weed in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve?

No. The preserve is public land, and smoking cannabis in public is a petty offense in Arizona. The desert brush is also a real fire risk, so save your sesh for a private place before or after the hike.

How long is the Pinnacle Peak trail?

The main trail is 2 miles one way, with about 1,300 feet of cumulative elevation gain because it climbs and drops along the way. Dogs and bikes aren't allowed on it.

Is weed legal in the Tonto National Forest?

No. The Tonto National Forest is federal land, and cannabis is still illegal under federal law even though Arizona legalized it. Leave it at home when you head out past Cave Creek.

Where is the best trailhead in North Scottsdale?

The Gateway Trailhead on Thompson Peak Parkway is the most popular entry to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, with trails from a half-mile loop to long climbs. Pinnacle Peak Park is the other classic.

Is Cave Creek worth the drive from Scottsdale?

For a Western saloon night, yes. Harold's Cave Creek Corral has been pouring since 1935, and the whole town keeps its old mining and ranch character. Just plan a sober driver or a ride.

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