Description for Windgate and Bell Passes
McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Windgate then Bell Pass.
Directions to Windgate and Bell Passes Trailhead
The ride starts at the small lot at 104th Street and Bell, you can park at the nearby Basha's.
Comments/Reviews for Windgate and Bell Passes
1. Challenging ride
by Trail Slayer, Monday, November 28, 2011 3:26 PM
| Overall Review: | 3 of 5 |
| Technical Difficulty: | 5 of 5 |
| Aerobic Difficulty: | 5 of 5 |
This was a tough, technical ride with stunning views. I'm a sport level rider and rode the whole loop, but not without stopping to catch my breath a few times and spinning out a few more. The loop took me two hours.
The trail system is well marked and there are free maps at the trailhead. I parked at the main trailhead off of Thompson Peak Parkway.
I began the ride at 7 AM on Saturday morning after Thanksgiving and even at that hour there were a lot of hikers on the trail. By the end of the ride, there were even more which made it difficult to get into a rhythm. The closer you get to the western end of the trail the more users there will be. I encountered very few hikers east of the passes.
2. Windgate & Bell
by akaktm, Saturday, February 11, 2012 6:04 PM
| Overall Review: | 4 of 5 |
| Technical Difficulty: | 4 of 5 |
| Aerobic Difficulty: | 4 of 5 |
I live in CA and was in AZ for business. Decided to try a more challenging area ride. Windgate & Bell were more than I had expected. I made it and cleared all but two or three show rock sections.
The climb up Windgate is not for the beginner. The entire area is very rocky with sharp rocks and very challenging climbs. I often do 1500 - 3000ft climbs and this 1400 foot initial ascent up Windgate was more challenging than any of the 10 = 15 trails I ride in So. Cal. A strong climber can make them all. I'd advise against trying to climb Bell or Tom's Thumb. Those are over the top technical climbs with large rock step-ups and hike-a-bike sections. Ultimately, the loop was about 10 miles, really fun, and keeps you on your toes. It is rough and tough on tires. My riding buddy learned the hard way to watch the cactus, as he samples several varieties going up. He said the cholla were particularly painful.
If you don't want a lung busting climb with serious technical challenge, I suggest you find another area trail. Kudos to AZ for putting in such incredible and challenging trails. The new state trails are excellent and are shared by all. Please be kind to hikers and equestrians. The hikers were very kind to me and you don't want what happens in CA (bikes get kicked off trails) to happen here.
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