Tom's Thumb Trail South
Scottsdale, Arizona
| Address: | ~E McDowell Foothills Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, USA |
| GPS: |
33°38'56.8"N 111°51'32.9"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Arizona |
| Trail Length: | 12.40 miles |
| Elevation Gain: | 2992.00 feet |
| Hike Difficulty: | Advanced |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
Pet Friendly
Hike
More Information
Add ResourceBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Scottsdale, Arizona
- Head north on N Scottsdale Rd toward E Indian School Rd (276 ft)
- Turn right at the 1st cross street onto E Indian School Rd (2.2 mi)
- Turn left to merge onto AZ-101 Loop N (10.5 mi)
- Take exit 36 to merge onto N Pima Rd toward Princess Dr (0.5 mi)
- Turn right to stay on N Pima Rd (0.6 mi)
- Turn right onto Legacy Blvd (1.2 mi)
- Turn right onto N Thompson Peak Pkwy (0.6 mi)
- Slight left toward E McDowell Foothills Dr (328 ft)
- Turn left at the 1st cross street onto E McDowell Foothills DrDestination will be on the right(0.3 mi)
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Tom's Thumb to Bell Pass
Scottsdale, Arizona
0.0 miles NEHike and Mountain Bike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike, Mountain Bike
Saguaro Loop and Nature Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
0.0 miles NWThe Saguaro Loop and Nature Trail is one of the friendliest introductions to the Sonoran Desert anywhere in the Phoenix area, an easy loop in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve that packs classic...
Hike
Horseshoe Loop Hike
Scottsdale, Arizona
0.0 miles NThe Horseshoe Loop is one of the easiest and most rewarding walks in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a gentle 1.7-mile circuit from the Gateway Trailhead that delivers proper Sonoran Desert...
Hike
Gateway and Tom's Thumb Loop Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
0.0 miles NEA roughly 10.5-mile loop linking Gateway, Bell Pass, and Windgate trails in Scottsdale — featuring a steep Bell Pass climb with views described simply as amazing.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
Gatewa-Prospector-Thompson Peak Road Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
0.0 miles NEHike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike
Inspiration Point
Scottsdale, Arizona
0.0 miles NEA wooded canyon with mixed trail and campground options — take it as a loop or a top-to-bottom shuttle mountain bike ride through beautiful scenery near Logan, Utah.
Hike, Mountain Bike 0.6 mi
Horseshoe Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
0.3 miles NEA short, fun singletrack full of quick turns shaped by washes and rocks — javelinas, deer, and the occasional bobcat add wildlife thrills near Scottsdale.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
Tom's Thumb, Feldspar, and Marcus Landslide Loop
Scottsdale, Arizona
4.6 miles NEHike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike
Tom's Thumb Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
4.6 miles NEA 4.7-mile out-and-back hike in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve with 1,200 feet of elevation gain to a unique thumb-shaped granite rock formation — pet friendly, but no water on trail.
Hike, Mountain Bike, Rock Climb 2.2 mi
Marcus Landslide Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
4.6 miles NENamed for geographer Melvin Marcus, this trail winds through an ancient McDowell Mountain landslide with sweeping Superstition and Mazatzal mountain views and boulder-filled formations.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike, Rock Climb
Indian Bend Bike Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
4.6 miles SAn 11-mile paved urban greenway past parks, lakes, and golf courses — lush, green, and surprisingly scenic for Scottsdale's desert setting, wheelchair-accessible and pet-friendly.
Hike, Mountain Bike
Thompsons Peak
Fountain Hills, Arizona
5.3 miles EHike near Fountain Hills, Arizona
Hike
Dixie Mine
Fountain Hills, Arizona
5.3 miles EA McDowell Mountain Regional Park trail near Fountain Hills accessible from multiple trailheads — reach the park at 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr, AZ 85255.
Hike
Sonoran Trail Fountain Hills
Fountain Hills, Arizona
5.3 miles EHike near Fountain Hills, Arizona
Hike
Pinnacle Peak Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
5.4 miles NA 3.5-mile out-and-back through Sonoran Desert switchbacks with 1,300 feet of elevation gain, panoramic mountain views, and abundant wildlife including quail, javelina, and mountain lions.
Hike, Horseback, Rock Climb
Sunrise Peak via Sunrise Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
6.4 miles SEHike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike
Pima and Dynamite Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
7.8 miles NA 100-plus-mile singletrack network in North Scottsdale rolls through fast Sonoran desert terrain with variety for beginners to advanced without serious gnarly descents.
Hike, Mountain Bike
Jane Rau Brown's Canyon Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
7.8 miles NA wide, semi-paved half-mile loop honors a McDowell Sonoran Conservancy pioneer with interpretive plaques, desert views, and a shaded picnic area — perfect for all ages.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
Brown Ranch Trail to Cone Mountain Trail
Scottsdale, Arizona
7.9 miles NHike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike
Wagner-Granite-Bluff Trails
Scottsdale, Arizona
8.0 miles NEHike and Mountain Bike near Scottsdale, Arizona
Hike, Mountain BikeNearby Campsites
Lower Salt River Nature Trail
Fort McDowell, Arizona
13.5 miles SEA 2-mile beginner loop alongside the Salt River in Tonto National Forest, with worn markers that keep things adventurous — watch for wild horses and spring cactus blooms.
Camp, Hike
Buckhorn Campground Nature Trail
Apache Junction, Arizona
18.4 miles SECamp and Hike near Apache Junction, Arizona
Camp, Hike
Verde Hot Springs
Camp Verde, Arizona
49.2 miles NNatural hot spring pools beside the Verde River — the remnants of an old resort — reached by wading upstream from a dispersed camping area with no amenities near Sedona.
Camp, Hike, Hot Springs
