The Town Council has approved a proposal by the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission and Sonoran Conservancy for a new trail within the Fountain Hills Preserve.

Bill Craig outlined the planned route to the Town Council at its April 16 regular session. Craig is a member of the MMPC, the conservancy board and leader of the Trailblazers volunteers who build and maintain trails in town.

The new trail would begin where the existing Overlook Trail in the Preserve ends and continue south along the ridge to a peak just north of CopperWynd Resort.

This provides additional trail mileage out of the Adero Canyon Trailhead. Craig said it is designed to offer hikers loop options for outings. He said trail stacking is popular for the options it provides hikers.

The plan adds approximately 2.1 miles to the Preserve trails.

Bill Hinz, who owns the CopperWynd Resort and has an interest in the proposed trail for what it offers guests, asked Craig for a tour.

Hinz told the council Craig took him “bushwhacking” across the ridge and he found it was an amazing experience.

“We are 100 percent in support of this,” Hinz said.

A woman also spoke to the council and expressed her concerns with night time abuse of the trails and noise disturbing neighbors.

The council voted unanimously in support of the plan.