Popular Scottsdale Trailhead Closes Through Fall For Major Upgrades

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Brown's Ranch Trailhead, one of the busiest gateways to Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve, is now closed through fall while the city completes a $1.17 million improvement project.

The project, at 30301 N. Alma School Parkway, began July 13 and is expected to wrap up by fall 2026. The closure includes the trailhead building, parking lot and portions of the surrounding trail system.

Funded through Scottsdale's 2004 Preservation Sales Tax, the project is designed to improve safety, reduce congestion and enhance the visitor experience.

Planned upgrades include a redesigned parking lot with better drainage, durability and traffic flow, along with new lighting and roofing for the trailhead building.

The city also plans to create a new trail dispersal area and reroute five trail segments to help protect sensitive desert habitat while improving access.

During construction, the parking lot and trailhead will remain closed, and the city is asking visitors not to park on nearby streets or in surrounding neighborhoods.

Hikers looking to access the Preserve while Brown's Ranch is closed are encouraged to use nearby trailheads, including Pima Dynamite Trailhead, Fraesfield Trailhead, Granite Mountain Trailhead and Tom's Thumb Trailhead. Visitors using Tom's Thumb, Fraesfield or Granite Mountain should plan ahead, as those locations do not have drinking water available.

Construction crews will follow an approved dust-control plan, use an on-site water wagon and keep fire suppression equipment at the site throughout the project to help reduce dust and minimize wildfire risk.

With triple-digit temperatures continuing across the Valley, city officials are also reminding hikers to carry plenty of water, hit the trails during the cooler morning hours, wear sun protection and know their limits before heading into the Preserve. The city said any temporary trail detours or alternate access routes during construction will be clearly marked and communicated to visitors.