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1.9 miles
Distance
-1,175 ft
Descent
00:17:01
Avg time
-1,173 ft
Altitude change
2,023 ft
Altitude min
3,199 ft
Altitude max
3,199 ft
Altitude start
2,028 ft
Altitude end
-12%
Grade
-59.6%
Grade max
3.7%
Grade min
230 ft
Distance climb
2 miles
Distance down
144 ft
Distance flat
00:17:01
Avg time
Bell Pass Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaMcDowell Sonoran Preserve
Scottsdale, Arizona -
AKABell Pass Trail
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Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlack Diamond (2 votes)
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Local Popularity50 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 100 in Trail Running
- 100 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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Climb DifficultyDouble Black Diamond
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Physical RatingHard
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SeasonYear round
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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Land Owner
Not for the timid, Bell Pass offers a steep and very rocky descent. There are very few drops of more than a foot, but the upper half of the trail is relentlessly rocky making a good full suspension bike almost a necessity. There is no smooth line through it, and the best you can do is minimize the beating until the pitch gradually lessens and the rocks begin to space out some. The upper portion has some switchbacks, and most are rideable with skill and practice. No one rides this trail uphill. The trail is popular with hikers, especially on weekends.
Update 12/2021 - trail is eroded and largely unmaintained up high, with switchbacks having very loose lines of baby head rocks with significant exposure. Still rideable downhill, but the level of difficulty has increased in the past year or two.
Access Info
To ride this trail as a downhill, you are going to need to summit the pass from the east side of the McDowells. The most common route to Bell Pass is by first climbing Windgate Pass Trail, starting down the east side, and then turning right onto Bell Pass Trail for the climb up to the pass. You can also access the trail from Prospector Trail, which is often tied together with Dixie Mine Trail and Sonoran Trail when circumnavigating the McDowells.
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 4 rides
- 35.5 km avg distance
All
- 78 rides
- Last: Jun 5, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Bell Pass Trail Reports
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Directions to bell-pass trailhead
(33.654950, -111.813440)
Photos
10 more »
Videos
3 more »
17:05 |
700 |
Apr 7, 2022 , Scottsdale
7:54 |
1997 |
Apr 12, 2019 , Scottsdale
6:41 |
52 |
Jan 29, 2016 , Scottsdale
Routes with this trail
★ 4.0 • 47 miles • 9,391 ft • 14 • Loop •
This route goes over all the passes & saddles in the McDowell Mtns. including all 3 trails to Tom's...
★ 4.5 • 9 miles • 2,021 ft • 7 •
Hike-a-bike to a little downhill to steep uphill to a lotta downhill.
21 miles • 4,419 ft • 7 • Out & Back •
From McDowell Mountain Ranch, get warmed up at dowhill, get into chunks of and . Enjoy the view at...
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Nearby Trails
- Bell Pass (less Steep Option) 781 ft
- Prospector 3,123 ft
- Bell Pass (north Side) 2 miles
- East End 2 miles
- Windgate Pass 2 miles
McDowell Sonoran Preserve
- By schillingsworth
TRAILFORKS HTA & contributors - #17632 - 6,073 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bell Pass
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Where is Bell Pass located?
Bell Pass is located in McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. It is part of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 33.65495, -111.81344.
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How hard is Bell Pass?
Bell Pass is rated as Double Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 12%. The climb difficulty is rated Double Black Diamond.
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What is the elevation gain for Bell Pass?
The trail has 358 m of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 617 m to 975 m.
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How long is Bell Pass?
Bell Pass is 3.0 km long. The trail type is singletrack.
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