With the recent opening of the Gateway entrance, adventure lovers have a new way to enjoy the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Ariz. The preserve, a protected area consisting of Scottsdale’s McDowell Mountains and Sonoran Desert, provides a place for tourists to connect with the city’s desert attractions like Saguaro cacti and roadrunners.
As the main entrance into the preserve, the Gateway welcomes hikers of every physical ability level, and in the fall an interpretive trail allowing people with disabilities to enjoy the park will be created. The Gateway incorporates eco-friendly architecture, using rock and soil excavated from the area for the walls of its administration building. It is awaiting approval for the United States Green Building Council’s LEED certification.
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is expected to house the proposed Desert Discovery Center, which will educate visitors on the Sonoran Desert. Once complete, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve will total more than 36,000 acres of permanently protected land, making it larger than the cities of Tempe and Paradise Valley, Ariz. combined. (www.mcdowellsonoran.org)
Courtesy of leisuregrouptravel.com
