Wagner Long Loop Trail

by Chris 5/30/2000

Here's a trail that is both gentle, yet long and scenic enough to let you feel like you accomplished something. The 4-mile Wagner Long Loop makes a wide loop around the McDowell Mountain Park, and offers superb scenery, excellent terrain, and a little bit of peace-and-quiet. What it doesn't offer, though, is any shade whatsoever, so bring plenty of water and 2 hours of time.

Wagner Long Loop starts along with its "Short" counterpart on the north side of the group campground parking area. Go north for a half mile and just past Palisades Road you will fork right away from Wagner Short Loop. Our trail heads west and bumps up next to broad wash. Throughout this area you will see patches of wildlife untouched by the Rio brush fire of 1995. (To read how happy I am with the regrowth, click here.) A payoff comes after 2 miles when you near the McDowell Mountains and the trail dips into a wide wash and a beautiful, boulder-filled canyon. Get yourself to the top of these boulders and you'll have yourself a great view of the mountains.

The trail hooks 180 degrees back east and pass a tank smack down the middle of the wash. The wash will bend southeast but this trail continues straight the the junction of Wagner Short Loop again. Soon after you will cross Granite Trail so stay to the left and go toward the campground. You will come at at Campsite 21, and walk one-half mile north on the road back the hiker parking area.

Getting There: McDowell Mountain Regional Park is north of Fountain Hills. From Mesa, drive north on Beeline Highway and turn west on Shea Boulevard, then take Fountain Hills Boulevard north to the park. You'll have to cough up $3 per car to get in.