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Browns Head trail is located in the Northeast portion of the Scottsdale, Arizona valley. It's located near the intersection of Alma School Road and Dynamite Road. It is part of the McDowell Sonoran Desert hiking trail system.
The History of the Area
Brown's Ranch was founded in 1917 by E.O. Brown, a Scottsdale Entrepreneur. At its peak, the ranch encompassed 44,000 acres and maintained between 3000-5000 cattle. Descendants of E.O. Brown lived on the property until 1970 when the property was sold. The property changed hands a few times until the City of Scottsdale purchased the land in 1999 to become part of the Sonoran Preserve.
About the Trail System
This trail system offers plenty of flat trails that can take you as far into the desert as your feet will want to go. The trails connect to other preserve trails systems for long and winding walks/rides. The trails are open to bikers, horseback riders as well as dogs, but you must clean up after your pooch. No motorized vehicles are allowed on these trails.
There is also an incline portion if you are looking for a harder workout and great views. There are two summits and heading up to the top peak is fairly steep and can be slippery on the way down, so make sure to wear the right gear (see hiking tips link).
At the trailhead, you'll find full facilities including bathrooms, water fountains, shaded sitting areas, trail maps, and some historical info about the area. Sometimes you'll see a guide or two in the area. There is enough parking for 200 cars as well as for 24 spots for horse trailers. If you have any more questions about fun things in the area see my contact information, I'd love to connect with you and share some of my favorite spots and things to do!