Home/Phoenix homes for sale/Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
Preserve or park · Phoenix, Arizona
Homes near the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve in Phoenix
Phoenix's northern desert preserve, spread across the foothills and washes north of the Loop 101 area toward Carefree Highway, with trailheads such as Desert Vista and Apache Wash.
The Phoenix Sonoran Preserve at a glance
The Phoenix City Council unanimously approved the Sonoran Preserve Master Plan on February 17, 1998, after a 1994 preliminary plan and 1996 concepts. It envisioned about 21,500 acres of preserve in a 110 square mile north study area bounded by the CAP Canal, Carefree Highway, Scottsdale Road and 67th Avenue, mostly state trust land to be acquired over time. Maricopa County records show about 7,810 homes within about half a mile of the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve.
Official boundary, from the City of Phoenix park boundary map.
Where the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve is
The boundary on county street centerlines.
Phoenix's northern desert preserve, spread across the foothills and washes north of the Loop 101 area toward Carefree Highway, with trailheads such as Desert Vista and Apache Wash.
Official boundary, from the City of Phoenix park boundary map.
Search homes near the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
Updated continuously from the MLS. Filter, save, and tour any home.
Homes near the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
Within about half a mile, from county records.
Source: Maricopa County Assessor residential parcel records, pulled November 3, 2026. These are county figures for every home, not MLS statistics, and recorded sale prices come from deed records.
The story of the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
How the area came to be.
The Phoenix City Council unanimously approved the Sonoran Preserve Master Plan on February 17, 1998, after a 1994 preliminary plan and 1996 concepts. It envisioned about 21,500 acres of preserve in a 110 square mile north study area bounded by the CAP Canal, Carefree Highway, Scottsdale Road and 67th Avenue, mostly state trust land to be acquired over time. Today the preserve exceeds 9,600 acres with about 36 miles of trails from three trailheads.
Homes around the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
Eras, styles, lots and home types.
- School districts (county records)
- Deer Valley Unified School District (92%), Cave Creek Unified School District (8%)
Living in and around the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
What is inside, what is close, and what to check.
Inside the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve: Trails for hiking, biking and riding; washes such as Apache Wash and Cave Creek.
Nearby: Desert Hills, Norterra, Desert View Village neighborhoods.
Before you buy
Preserve land not developable; neighboring state land may still be auctioned.
Related areas and communities
Keep exploring the Northeast Valley.
The Phoenix Sonoran Preserve questions, answered
Where is the Sonoran Preserve?
Far north Phoenix, in the foothills between I-17 and Cave Creek Road south of Carefree Highway.
How big is it?
More than 9,600 acres with about 36 miles of trails, and the plan calls for more.
Is it the same as Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve?
No. That is a separate Scottsdale preserve in the McDowell Mountains.
What are the exact boundaries of the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve?
Phoenix's northern desert preserve, spread across the foothills and washes north of the Loop 101 area toward Carefree Highway, with trailheads such as Desert Vista and Apache Wash.
How many homes are near the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve?
Maricopa County Assessor records show about 7,810 homes within about half a mile of the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, 92% of them single-family, with a median year built of 2006.
Which school districts serve the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve?
By county parcel records, homes near the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve are mostly in Deer Valley Unified School District and Cave Creek Unified School District. School assignment is address specific, so confirm with the district before you buy.
How does the home search on this page work?
The search shows homes listed in the MLS within about half a mile of the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, using an outline drawn around it. Official boundary, from the City of Phoenix park boundary map. Listings update continuously. Housing figures on this page come from Maricopa County Assessor records pulled on November 3, 2026, not from the MLS.
Thinking about the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve?
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Sources
- Maricopa County Assessor parcel records (residential parcels inside the search area), pulled November 3, 2026. Recorded sale figures use each parcel's most recent recorded sale since November 1, 2024, at $50,000 or more.
- Street centerlines on the map: Maricopa County GIS. Listings: ARMLS via Flexmls.
- City of Phoenix GIS, ParksOpenData Park Boundaries layer, accessed November 3, 2026.
- City of Phoenix Parks, Sonoran Preserve, accessed November 3, 2026.
- City of Phoenix, Sonoran Preserve Master Plan (approved Feb 17, 1998), accessed November 3, 2026.
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Listing information is provided by the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Area boundaries on this page are for orientation only and do not follow school, HOA or service boundaries, so confirm the city, zoning, HOA, water service and assigned schools for a specific address. Housing figures come from Maricopa County Assessor records and are not MLS statistics. This page is for general information only and is not financial, lending, legal, or tax advice. Arizona Luxury Partners | Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Fine Properties, 21020 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Office 480.766.1515. Brokerage License LC629808000. Equal Housing Opportunity.
