Mount McDowell, more commonly referred to as Red Mountain, is located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation, just north of Mesa, Arizona. It is named after General Irvin McDowell, a Union officer in the Civil War. Its elevation is 2,832 feet. It is not the same landmark as the McDowell Peak, which is 11 miles away to the northwest.
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Mount McDowell is often called “Red Mountain” or “FireRock”, due to its composition of sandstone conglomerate which gives it a distinctive red color that glows during sunset. The deep cleft on its western side is known as “Gunsight” because of its resemblance to the narrow slot in a fort used for firing at attackers.
The mountain is very photogenic but it’s difficult to photograph up close. The mountain is located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation, and has been declared off-limits to hikers, climbers and photographers since the early 1980s, due to vandalism. The eastern side, along Power Road/Bush Highway, has areas where you can pull off the road, and there’s a picnic area just north of Granite Reef Dam.
The western side of the mountain is along SR 87, which is a busy four-lane road with narrow shoulders.
Mount McDowell, more commonly referred to as Red Mountain, is located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation, just north of Mesa, Arizona. It is named after General Irvin McDowell, a Union officer in the Civil War. Its elevation is 2,832 feet.