If you like sunny and 80 degrees, then you’ll love Arizona this time of year. My wife and I, on a recent trip, took a great hike in Northern Scottsdale. Brown’s Mountain is an ancient volcano located in the Sonoran Reserve. The mountain is named for the family who owned the surrounding lands in the early part of the 20th century. Edwin Orpheus Brown, a cattle rancher, was also involved with the initial development of the town of Scottsdale. Over the years he had multiple businesses and held local government positions. His son, Elsworth Edwin Brown, followed in his father’s footsteps and continued to contribute to the growth of Scottsdale. The ranch eventually grew to approximately 44,000 acres and was one of the leading cattle ranches in the state.
The summit offers 360 degree views of the surrounding valley and several mountains, including another nearby volcano, Cone Mountain. Parking and restrooms are available at the trailhead. The area has many miles of single track trails for mountain biking, hiking, and running. From the trailhead, you climb about 600 feet to the summit at 3,253 feet. If you decide to hike down the back side and loop back to the trailhead, the total distance is about 4 miles. If you are in the area, I highly recommend checking out Brown’s Mountain.
You can click here for the link to the Google Maps trailhead marker.
