Take a Hike and Be Amazed at the Sonoran Desert in Arizona

Story, photos by Jason Nugent

Often when people think of deserts, the image that comes to mind is one of a vast, barren landscape with nothing but sand for as far as the eye can see. As someone who has spent time in deserts around the world and has seen that specific view first hand, I’ll be the first to admit that I thought that the landscape surrounding Phoenix would be similar.

Boy was I wrong.

The Sonoran desert surrounding Phoenix is home to one of the most vibrant, lush landscapes in the Southwest United States. If getting out and appreciating that appeals to you, then I urge you to explore the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, dedicated to preserving the area and making access to it easy. With 225 miles of trails in an area of more than 30 thousand acres, there is certain to be something for everyone.

Since I am so interested in hiking, landscape photography and native flora, I wanted to find something in the conservancy that provided an intersection of those things. The Gateway Loop provided exactly what I was looking for. As with any hike in the desert, I recommend you start early in the day to avoid most of the heat, bring plenty of water with you… and remember to drink it. Because the landscape is so beautiful, it’s easy to get caught up in the view and not realize how dehydrated you are.

When you begin hiking on the Gateway Trail, one of the first things that you’ll notice is just how much life there is around you. From 200-year-old saguaros towering above you, to fields of cholla cacti lining the sides of the trail, to large barrel cactus, the diversity present in the Sonoran desert is astounding. While it’s certainly possible to see these plants at the Desert Botanical Garden, I much prefer seeing them out in the wild. If you take my advice and get an early start on your hike, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful early morning light coming over the McDowell mountains, which will give everything a soft, golden glow. As you stop to take photos, be sure to appreciate the silence of being out in the desert so early in the day. Even though many of the trailheads are within easy driving distance of Phoenix, I was amazed at how quiet the area is.

As the day progresses, you’ll definitely meet others on the trail. The hikes are popular, and I’ve noticed that people from the area take full advantage of the fact that these areas exist so close to home. As I hiked, I met many trail runners and mountain bikers, and as we passed each other we’d share eye contact or a brief nod acknowledging how lucky and fortunate we all were to have such an awesome experience so close by.

When I visited the Sonoran desert, the winter season was about to begin. I’ve been told that many of the plants bloom in the Spring, and I can only really imagine what that must look like. Seeing fields of flowers across the desert sounds like a “must do” for me, and I very much look forward to my return.

For other hikes around Arizona, please visit and follow ExplorewithCassie’s YouTube page and make sure to leave a comment on which are your favorites!

The Chola hiking trail on Camelback Mountain is very popular in Phoenix, AZ!