Legend Trail

Legend Trail, Scottsdale AZ: An Honest Community Overview

Legend Trail is a golf course community in far north Scottsdale, off Pima Road along Legend Trail Parkway, near Carefree and Cave Creek. Built mostly between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s by builders including Toll Brothers, Avron, and Presley, it wraps around a Rees Jones-designed public golf course with views of the Continental Mountains, Black Mountain, and Pinnacle Peak. It offers high-desert scenery and a full community center for surprisingly low HOA dues. Some things to consider are the golf course is open to the public (expect it to be harder to grab a tee-time in season), homes are 20 to 30 years old, and you’re in wildfire country a long way from central Scottsdale.

The Homes

Legend Trail has a range of options:

• Condos: The Mirage Trail enclave has single-level condos, recently listed around $475,000 to $525,000. Many come with a detached one-car garage.
• Single-family homes: The bulk of the community, with recent listings from about $700,000 for smaller two-bedroom homes to $1.2 million or more for golf course homes.
• Larger golf course homes: Fairway homes with casitas, pools, and mountain views reach $1.6 million and up.
• Gated enclaves: Some sections, like The Preserve Summit, are gated, but the community as a whole is not.

Most homes were built between about 1995 and 2006, so roofs, HVAC systems, and water heaters are at or past replacement age in many of them. Listings that mention a recently redone roof or newer HVAC are worth paying attention to. Ask for both ages before you make an offer.

HOA Dues

This is Legend Trail’s biggest selling point. The Master HOA dues are about $300 a quarter, or roughly $100 a month. That includes full access to the community center, which is unusual at this price in North Scottsdale. Some sub-associations, including condo enclaves and gated sections, charge additional dues. There is a $1,200 capital improvement fee, as well as a $400 disclosure fee, and $300 Prepaid HOA Dues at purchase.

The Community Center

The community center includes two heated pools, a spa, tennis and pickleball courts, a large fitness center, a banquet room, a card room, and a regular calendar of social activities, all covered by the HOA.

Golf: Public Rees Jones Course

Legend Trail Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-72 championship course designed by Rees Jones and opened in 1995. It’s a true desert course with forced carries, granite boulders, and big views, and it’s well regarded for its scenery and playability. There’s also a restaurant.

The key point: it’s a public course. You don’t need a membership, and there’s no initiation fee, so you pay per round. But anyone can book a tee time, and you’re sharing the course with visitors and other golfers from around the Valley. If you want a private, member-only experience, Desert Mountain next door is the comparison, at a much higher price.

Wildfire Risk

Legend Trail sits in the same high-desert, wildland-urban interface as Desert Mountain and the rest of far north Scottsdale. North Scottsdale has had several major brush fires in recent years, including the 2024 Boulder View and Gate fires. Scottsdale’s fire marshal has warned that the area’s desert and dry climate make it especially vulnerable.

Ask about defensible space around the home, and check homeowners insurance cost and availability during your inspection period.

Location

The location is part of the appeal and part of the tradeoff. You’re surrounded by open desert and mountain views, and Carefree and Cave Creek have restaurants and shopping nearby. But central Scottsdale, Old Town, and Sky Harbor are a long drive, and most bigger errands mean heading south on Pima or Scottsdale Road.

Who It’s Best For

Legend Trail is a great fit for buyers who want north Scottsdale’s desert scenery and a championship golf course nearby without paying private club prices. It works well for retirees, part-time residents, and casual golfers. It may not be best for the buyers who want a gated community throughout, a private club, newer construction, or a short commute.