more stats
3.4 miles
Distance
278 ft
Climb
-318 ft
Descent
00:21:17
Avg time
-38 ft
Altitude change
1,741 ft
Altitude min
2,011 ft
Altitude max
1,901 ft
Altitude start
1,864 ft
Altitude end
-0.2%
Grade
-17.2%
Grade max
12.5%
Grade min
2 miles
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
1,857 ft
Distance flat
00:21:17
Avg time

Scenic Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    McDowell Mountain Regional Park
    Fountain Hills, Arizona
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    75 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 65 in E-Biking
    • 80 in Trail Running
    • 90 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #22314 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #11941 in E-Biking
    • #38067 in Trail Running
    • #25972 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Land Owner
    Maricopa County Parks

The Cinch Trail is a great moderate loop off of the Pemberton trail. The northeast part (to right if you come in from Cinch) is some of the rockiest trail in the park, but offers punchy climbs and fun descents. The southwestern part (to the left off of Cinch) is relatively smooth, wide and flowy, with some sandy areas, much like Cinch. The trail is named appropriately, the views along the entire route are fantastic Best ridden clockwise.

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 71 rides
  • 20 miles avg distance
All
  • 829 rides
  • Last: Aug 22, 2026
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Scenic Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Aug 19, 2026 @ 7:06pm (America/Phoenix)
Aug 19, 2026
Mar 10, 2026 @ 11:22am (America/Phoenix)
Mar 10, 2026
 The southern 1/3 of this trail is wide, flat and flowing. It should be rated as green. If you want to avoid the blue portion (rocky climb) of the...
Mar 3, 2026 @ 10:03am (America/Phoenix)
Mar 3, 2026
 Some sections are very rocky.
Oct 28, 2024 @ 8:44am
Oct 28, 2024
May 10, 2024 @ 7:41am
May 10, 2024
more »
Status:
on Aug 19, 2026
Very Dry
Avg: 3.78 (13 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
  • > 50%
  • < 50%
  • bi-directional trail
  • no data
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  • > 6 months
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  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
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  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
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Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to scenic trailhead (33.700980, -111.718630)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        19 more »
        mtb
        203 |
        Jan 20, 2021 @ 5:25pm
        Jan 20, 2021
        mtb
        165 |
        Sep 15, 2019 @ 7:32pm
        Sep 15, 2019
        mtb
        38 |
        Dec 8, 2024 @ 8:13am
        Dec 8, 2024
        mtb
        38 |
        Dec 8, 2024 @ 8:13am
        Dec 8, 2024

        Videos

        3 more »
        2020 Specialized Cactus Cup | Enduro Course |...
        mtb
        5:57 | 359 | Nov 14, 2020 , Fountain Hills
        Scenic Trail
        mtb
        13:05 | 32 | Nov 25, 2023 , Fountain Hills
        Scenic trail
        ebike
        2:57 | 97 | Feb 6, 2022 , Fountain Hills

        Routes with this trail

        93
        Dawn to Dusk 2020 Race Route CCW, Zia Rides
        16 miles • 864 ft • 11 •
        This is the posted route for the Zia Rides Dawn to Dusk 2020 Race at the McDowells Regional Park. Route...
        205
        Fountain 50 - The Important Parts
        ★ 5.0 • 46 miles • 3,874 ft • 36 • Loop •
        Off-road portions of the Fountain 50 Race.
        146
        McDowell/Browns 50 mile
        44 miles • 2,499 ft • 21 •
        An easy, but through McDowell Mountain and Browns Ranch.
        3.7 ★★★★★
        13 Ratings
        5 ★ 8%
        4 ★ 62%
        3 ★ 23%
        2 ★ 8%
        1 ★

        5 Reviews & Comments


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        Nearby Trails

        McDowell Mountain Regional Park

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        Frequently Asked Questions About Scenic

        ▼ Where is Scenic located?
        Scenic is located in McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Fountain Hills, Arizona, United States. It is part of the McDowell Mountain Regional Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 33.70098, -111.71863.
        ▼ How hard is Scenic?
        Scenic is rated as Blue difficulty. The average grade is 0.2%.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Scenic?
        Scenic has 278 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 318 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,741 ft to 2,011 ft.
        ▼ Is Scenic a point to point trail?
        Scenic is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Scenic?
        Scenic is 3.4 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Scenic?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Scenic. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Scenic?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Scenic are:
        • February (75 activities)
        • January (56 activities)
        • December (44 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Scenic? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Scenic are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Scenic?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 22 minutes to ride Scenic. The trail is 3.4 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Scenic?
        Scenic is a very popular trail. There have been 3,907 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 3,894 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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