ScottsdaleMountain.
Gated luxury where your front gate opens to a 30,000-acre desert preserve. The trails start where the cul-de-sacs end.
$1.7M+
Median Sale Price
~500
Total Homes
0.5–1+ ac
Typical Lot Size
30,000 ac
Preserve Access
Welcome to Scottsdale Mountain.
A guard-gated hillside enclave with some of the longest, most uninterrupted Valley views in Scottsdale — sunsets that are quite literally the point.
Inside Scottsdale Mountain.
Selected scenes from around Scottsdale Mountain — the homes, the amenities, and the everyday details that define the neighborhood.
Living at the Mountain
The trail starts where the cul-de-sac ends.
Scottsdale Mountain was master-planned in the early 1990s with a single defining premise: build a community that doesn't compete with the McDowell Sonoran Preserve — it connects to it. The Lost Dog Wash trailhead sits half a mile from the community gate, and the streets are intentionally designed to channel residents to the trails rather than to a central amenity center.
Approximately 500 custom homes sit across roughly 760 acres, with most properties on 0.5 to 1+ acre lots. Architectural styles range from 1990s Southwest contemporary to fully renovated modern desert estates — strict community guidelines preserve the earth-tone palette and low-impact desert aesthetic that defines the area.
For buyers exploring luxury Scottsdale homes, Scottsdale Mountain represents one of the most compelling price-to-Preserve-access ratios in North Scottsdale — meaningful value relative to the trophy enclaves while delivering many of the same lifestyle benefits.
What You'll Find
Three home styles. One vocabulary.
$1.2M – $2.0M
Original Custom Homes
1990s-era custom builds on 0.5–1+ acre lots, often with mature desert landscaping and territorial Southwest architecture. Many priced for renovation upside.
$1.8M – $3.0M
Renovated Estates
Fully modernized original homes with updated kitchens, expanded master suites, and contemporary desert aesthetic — turn-key for buyers who don't want to renovate.
$2.5M – $5M+
Hillside View Lots
Premium lots with unobstructed McDowell Mountain or city-light views command the highest prices and the fewest available listings in any given year.
Trail Guide from the Gate
Four trails to know.
Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
0.5 mi from gate
The closest McDowell Sonoran Preserve trailhead to Scottsdale Mountain — popular Pemberton loop, Granite Mountain, and the Sunrise Trail connection all access here.
Sunrise Trail to Sunrise Peak
3.6 mi RT, moderate
A classic North Scottsdale hike with sunrise views over Camelback Mountain and the Phoenix valley. Best done at first light or sunset.
Tom's Thumb
4 mi RT, challenging
Iconic granite formation rising 600 feet above the surrounding desert. The trail to its base is one of the most photographed in Scottsdale.
Pemberton Trail Loop
15.4 mi loop, advanced
The Preserve's signature long-distance loop — moderate elevation, technical sections, and unmatched solitude. A favorite of serious mountain bikers and trail runners.
Why Scottsdale Mountain
Trail-access value others can't match.
Scottsdale Mountain offers the rare combination of gated privacy, direct Preserve access, and meaningfully more attainable pricing than its ultra-luxury neighbors — without sacrificing the lifestyle benefits.
Quick Compare vs Neighbors
Median sale price · early 2025
"We wanted Preserve access, gated privacy, and to not pay $5M to get them. Pamela showed us Scottsdale Mountain — same trail system, same views, half the price. We've been here three years and we hike the McDowells every morning."
— K. & R. Owens, Scottsdale Mountain residents
Frequently Asked
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Find Your Home at the Mountain.
Walk the streets, hike the trails, see how Scottsdale Mountain compares to the trophy communities at half the entry point.