LANDMARKS
Mount McDowell - Rugged Red Rock
a.k.a. Red Mountain
a.k.a. FireRock
One of the most prominent landmarks near Fountain Hills and Fort McDowell is the jagged outline of Red Mountain, at 2,830 feet high. Some people see a bearded face in the tallest knob. The deep cleft on its western flank is known as “Gunsight” because of its resemblance to the narrow slot in a fort used for firing at attackers. The mountain is composed of sandstone conglomerate which gives it a distinctive red color that glows dramatically in the last rays of day. Some call it FireRock. The mountain was officially named Mount McDowell after General Irvin McDowell, who was responsible for the creation of a nearby military post in 1865. It, too, bore his name as Camp McDowell and later Fort McDowell. The mountain is sacred to Indian tribes, including the local Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
Four Peaks - Purple Mountain Majesty
The lyrics “purple mountains’ majesty” could have been written for these peaks. They change with the light from lavender to violet to deep purple. Fittingly, the world’s finest amethyst is found high on its slopes. The wilderness area surrounding the peaks is prime habitat for black bear and various wildlife.
Visible from much of the Phoenix Metro area, this mountain is one of the area’s highest points at 7,657 feet. Visitors and residents of Fountain Hills and Fort McDowell have grandstand seats for the daily spectacle of the sun rising dramatically behind Four Peaks. And when lightning plays about the peaks, it is not hard to imagine the mountain spirits of Yavapai lore.
McDowell Mountains - Ancient Roots
Some of the oldest rock in Arizona makes up the McDowell Mountain Range to the west of Fountain Hills and Fort McDowell. The range’s highest is McDowell Peak, at 4,034 feet. The rounded mountain to the south is Fire Necklace Mountain, named when a fire burned down its slopes, encircling it. Indians found shelter here, as evidenced by petroglyphs and artifacts. Prospectors sought mineral wealth, but discovered only limited amounts of gold, silver and copper. The real wealth of these mountains is their beauty and wildlife.
Mazatzal Mountains - “Land of the Deer”
North and northeast of the area are the Mazatzal Mountains, some of the most inaccessible country in Arizona. The Mazatzal Wilderness contains over 252,500 acres and extends north to the Mogollon Rim, near Payson. Geologists believe the range was once as high as the present-day Himalaya Mountains. Erosion and mountain-building events created a tortured landscape. Mazatzal is from an old Indian culture in Mexico, and is sometimes pronounced “Mah-zaht-zahl,” meaning “land of the deer.” Deer still roam there, along with javelina, coyotes, bears and mountain lions. Locals often say “Matt’-uh-zal, which sounds like “Mad as Hell,“ the name of a local ranch – probably given after the owner chased his cows through the wilderness.
The Verde River - Wild and Scenic
The Verde is Arizona’s only “Wild and Scenic” river. It was given the designation by Congress in 1984. Canoers, kayakers and fishermen pit themselves against the river’s challenges between Camp Verde and Horseshoe Lake. For much of those 58 miles, the river flows through the Mazatzal Wilderness with level I, II, and III rapids. Shortly after passing through Fort McDowell, the Verde joins the Salt River near Red Mountain.
The Salt River - Nurturing the Valley of the Sun
The Salt River was a challenge for early settlers, with either too much or too little water. But, after Roosevelt Dam and four other dams were built, it became a source of both water and power for the Phoenix metro area. Today, it also provides water recreation. Saguaro Lake is the closest of its four scenic lakes. Upstream from it are Canyon Lake, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake.