The McDowell Mountain Range (Yavapai: Wi:kajasa) is located about twenty miles north-east of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, and may be seen from most places throughout the city. The range is composed of miocene deposits left nearly five million years ago. The McDowells share borders with the cities of Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, and Maricopa County. The city of Scottsdale has made its share of the McDowells a preserve, and has set up a wide trail network in partnership with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy was established in 1991. The highest peak in the McDowells is East End, at 4,069 feet (1,240 m). This mountain range also serves as a sacred marker to the Yavapai people. The boundaries of the range are generally defined by Saddleback Mountain in the South and Granite Mountain as the Northern boundary. The McDowells also comprise popular landmarks such as Pinnacle Peak and Tom's Thumb. Although technically a stand-alone, Mt. McDowell (referred to as Red Mountain by Phoenix residents), not to be confused with McDowell Peak, is sometimes listed on maps as a part of the McDowell Mountains.

McDowell Mountains
Thompson Peak and foothills – a wash with Palo Verde trees and Saguaros
Highest point
Peak	East End
Elevation	4,057 ft (1,237 m)
Coordinates	33°40′47″N 111°48′01″W
Dimensions
Length	25 mi (40 km) (NNW x SSE)-curves to southeast
Geography
McDowell Mountains in Arizona
Country	United States
State	Arizona
Regions	(south perimeter)-Arizona transition zone (northeast perimeter)-Sonoran Desert
County	Maricopa
Range coordinates	33°39′N 111°49′W
Borders on	New River Mountains-NNW Mazatzal Mountains-NNE & E Verde River-E Salt River (Arizona)-SE & S Phoenix metro region-W, SW & S

Summits

• East End (Arizona)
• Thompson Peak (Arizona)
• McDowell Peak
• Sunrise Peak
• Rock Knob

The McDowell Mountain Range at sunset

References

• Thompson, C. (2004), Valley 101.

Additional Reading

• McDowell Rock – A Climber’s Guide. Erik Filsinger and Cheryl Beaver (2016) 134 pages.

External links

• McDowell Mountain Regional Park
• Pictures and information about hike to natural spring and petroglyphs in the McDowell Mountains
• Media related to McDowell Mountains at Wikimedia Commons