Bicycling Road Trips:
McDowell Mountain Loop

Unlike other parts of the US, Arizona doesn't have a great deal of paved country roads. Fountain Hills is blessed to have McDowell Mountain Road at its back door. This stretch of highway leaves North out Fountain Hills on Fountain Hills Boulevard. The road twists and turns as it passes by McDowell Mountain Park and the Pecan Fields of the Fort McDowell Indian Community.

After a few miles the road takes a sharp curve East and drops steadily down to Rio Verde, a community situated on the banks of the Verde River. Here McDowell Mountain Road ends. Turn left onto Forest Road making your way through Rio Verde. Follow the road out of the community until Forest Road intersects Rio Verde Drive. Turn Left again and follow Rio Verde Drive up the long slope.

After several miles and about a thousand Saguaros you will arrive upon the intersection of Alma School Parkway. Turn left here and ride down to Happy Valley Road, passing Pinnacle Peak on your right side. Turn right on Happy Valley Road and follow it to Pima Road. At Pima road turn left and follow it down to Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. Turn left again following Frank Lloyd Wright to Via Linda Drive. Turn left here following Via Linda Drive to 136th Street. Make a right turn following 136th Street to Shea Boulevard. Make a left turn and chug back up the mountain to Fountain Hills.

1.) Bicyclist on Forest Drive......... 2.) McDowell Park entrance sign.

1.) A windy road off of Rio Verde Drive. .....2.) Pinnacle Peak.

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