Easy hike with 1200 feet elevation. Can be done in 2 hours or less. 4.3 miles round trip. Gates open at 5:20am and this is a good spot to see the sunrise. You can run pass some rattlesnakes near the trail but its easy to go around as the trail is large enough.All in all, nice hikes with plenty of boulders all the way.

One of the most scenic hikes in Scottsdale. Its a very strenuous climb for the first 3/4 of the hike, but worth it for the views. You should definitely check out the Lookout Point out trail after you get to the top of Toms Thumb. It will add about 1 mile (half a mile out then back), but its not too difficult and definitely worth it for the views.

Challenging enough for a workout but easily done. Trail is highly trafficked, but it is very smooth and the views are spectacular. Dogs friendly too.

This was a great hike. Little challenging for 3rd hike after knee surgery. Looking forward to going back next month to see if I can beat my time.

Tom’s Thumb is a popular trail in the greater Phoenix area. This trail is located in the McDowell Mountains 30 minutes north of central Scottsdale. When we looked up the trailhead on google maps it didn’t send us to the main area. Since there are many residential areas here there are several private trail entrances in neighborhoods which is where the directions sent us. We suggest getting the directions and following them until you start seeing signs directing you to the trail and the main parking lot. When we went they were rebuilding the road to the parking lot so they had a bumpy dirt road in the meantime but nothing that you can’t access with any form of vehicle. Since there are many trails that start at this main lot there is plenty of space to park with well over 100 spaces. However, since there are several trails and spaces available it is very popular and can fill up very quickly so it’s best to get in very early or wait until the first wave dies down around 12 or so. There are some restrooms at the entrance along with water but aside from that there are no other amenities along the way. The trail is 2.5 MI (4 KM) and ascends over 1,300 ft (396 M). Along the way there are also areas for rock climbing for those who enjoy that as well and the area is also accessible to mountain biking. The hike is in the sun for a majority of the time and can be difficult on the way up before evening out as youre near the top. From the top you can get panoramic views of the city and get some great photos. Overall, this hike is a good one to complete with any skill level so long as you take your time and come prepared!- @wanderingwithustwo

Toms Thumb is one of the most beautiful trails Ive hiked. The scenery is amazing and it has a beautiful view from the top. No matter when I hike this trail, a cool breeze always seems to greet me while heading up the trail. This trail is not recommended for beginners, as it is rated hard/difficult. I would not recommend it for individuals with bad joints (hip, knee, ankle). Dogs are allowed but must be leashed. This trail is not wide, has many switchbacks, and has blind spots as you increase in elevation. This trail has many shaded spots, so you may be able to get away with hiking a little later in the morning (I wouldnt chance this during the summer months though, May-September). Overall, this hike is worth it and I highly recommend! :)

Just went on a scouting trip for some climbing. Seems like a fun place for the winter.

Lots of wildlife, summer is way too hot but late fall and early winter is beautiful, and the hike is level and a gradual climb at first but turns into moderate grade switch backs with some steep and rocky parts. Dry this season but views are extraordinary.

Great hike and the views are worth it. Lots of switchbacks so it makes it a little challenging but doable. Brings lots of water if you plan on starting after 9am. Expect crowds as this trail is popular.

There are several trails to choose from here and Toms Thumb trail is challenging and fun. Highly recommend this area. There are also trail markers giving a little education. Bring water.

A pleasant hike, not so hard and not so easy.

Fun hike, not crowded and treated to spectacular views! Thats a niiiiiice boulder :)

Very hard but fun trail, definitely not for kid

Fun hike! Uphill but if you are decently in shape this hike should not be a problem!

Always a great hike at this location. You can find a moderate hike to Toms Thumb, easy family hikes or very long trail runs through the mountain. One of the few places on McDowell Mtn that my 4-year old son loves. Wish they had running water at this location, but not a big deal.

The climb can be brutal but you will be well rewarded.

Loved that there is so much shade going up. Lots of little corners to rest as you hike. Start as early as possible. Totally worth hiking for the sunrise views. Parking doesnt seem to be a problem as there is ample parking near the trailhead.

Great hike here, bring plenty of water and snacks! Also bring trekking poles for the way down. Lots of steep switchbacks, take it easy on your knees! Moderate hike for the average hiker and Id rate it hard for kids! Spectacular views the whole way!

Good little hike to the thumb, east end loop was a great workout!

Nice, well-maintained parking and trail head that is remote enough to avoid huge crowds. Easiest access to Toms Thumb, but also connects to several other trails in the Sonoran Preserve. Which ever trail you choose, be prepared for a pretty steep climb until youre in the hills.

Love hiking out in this preserve. For the novice, the Tom’s thumb hike can be a bit strenuous and you spend a lot of your hike at a steep angle on switchbacks. If you take it slow and steady you will make it without issue. For the seasoned hiker, this is a great trail to get the heart rate up and is a great run on the downhill side of things. The trails out here are well groomed and well taken care of. The view are amazing and from on side you can see the entire Phx metro area and the east view is the Superstitions, 4 Peaks, and more. For a longer hike, try the Gateway trail head.

Easy to get to and you get to drive through some beautiful areas. Parking area and public restrooms were very clean - best I have seen. Optional paper maps for navigation but the trails were very well marked. Easy at first but at times the trail turns to moderate/difficult - please be prepared. Rock climbing is available and trails to that area are clearly marked. Overall, high praise for the cleanliness and maintenance of this trailhead! :-)

First timers beware, very beautiful, also a reminder that you have calves and quads. Ouch. Quick steep up the first mile.-Happy trails

A great trail for hiking. Rather steep at points but I enjoy that. Beautiful view and even rock climbing off a small trail. Be careful though. We encountered several snakes along the trail like a ground snake shown in my pictures and a rattle snake just off the trail that I didnt get a picture of. Overall though its a beautiful trail with a lot of nice views and places to take pictures of.

Amazing trail system that is well maintained. It has the perfect mix of marking vs natural. Miles and miles of choices in distance and elevation gain. Once you’ve done pinnacle peak and camelback, this is a great place to go next.Bring your own water. It gets hot and dry very quickly. The desert can fool someone who is not in good shape.The restroom facilities are very nice, in a modern building. They DO not have running water in any way.The trailhead has maps available to carry with you if you want to see where you are going. However, you don’t really need them because every fork in the trail is clearly marked with your choice of direction and distance.If you are lucky, you will see real climbers working their way up the face of some serious rock. Stop and watch them and enjoy.

Toms thumb is a really pretty hike. It isnt too long or difficult but the peak is nothing like youve ever seen.

Good local trail for easy hiking and rock climbing. Trails are well marked and well manicured. Good trails for mountain biking as well.Facilities are well maintained, and there is plenty of parking even on weekends. The views from the top are very good. One can see Fountain Hills fountain when it is on.

Very nice but strenuous hike. Need to start out before 9 AM and bring water. 1300 vertical feet and 5 miles round trip.

This is a very beautiful but challenging trail. Busy with all levels of hikers and a wonderful trail to take the dogs along too!! Parking is easy, should be on the bucket list for those that love the outdoors in Arizona!!

We went to the trailhead Sunday night to experience the moonrise. We hiked a short distance and enjoyed the desert surroundings. As we waited patiently we enjoyed the sunset and how the terrain changed colors. The vantage point we had of the moonrise was perfect as the moon appeared over the mountain. There are different trails to take based on your level of ability. As always take plenty of water and scan the path for the animals that call this area home. A great place get out and hike

Amazing trail system! Will also connect to Maricopa county trail system. Beautiful!!!

Great hiking trails, m ost if which are also great for MTB. Lots of parking. Restroom, but no water.

The hiking area is beautiful. While the first mile is very step and can be tricky, it is well worth the trek. Once you get up there, the views are just stunning. Even more so if you can get up there after a rainstorm. I made it up there a week after we got rain and the flower all over were just starting to bloom.

Great trail! You start off with Bathrooms and info about the rock formations and plant life. The trail is well groomed so easily doable in normal tennis shoes. No water anywhere on the trail or even at the start so bring water. The trail has a lot of traffic on it but the trail is wider then a normal single track so it is easy to pass or be passed. And there is a lot of signage on the trail so I dont get lost. Also there are maps at the start! Oh, if ur a rock climber in will enjoy this trail. There are a lot of places to climb here.

Great hiking but exposed so bring sunscreen, water and a hat!

Beautifully maintained trail and trailhead. Plenty of parking, restrooms were clean, trail is in excellent condition. Plenty of hikers enjoying this trail, but all were friendly and courteous. The wildflowers were really blooming now!

Great hike, but it is truly a difficult hike. Be prepared and take plenty of water. Great views when you make it up to Toms Thumb. Was cool that a pair of falcons made their nest on it.

One of the nicest trailheads Ive seen since moving to the area a year ago. The road and parking lot are fully paved which is something to be aware of of you are hiking a trail for the first time. Ad others have mentioned, there are nice bathrooms and trail maps available.This is an excellent place for trail runners and beginner hikers.Toms Thumb trail is very nicely maintained and had signs to help you stay in the trail. Signs directing hikers to scenic overlooks are also helpful. The hike up, while steep in some places, is never scary.If you like peace and quiet, plan to arrive as early as possible on the weekend or go during the week. Because this is an easy trail and is readily accessible, it can get busy.

Paved road to the trail head and restroom facilities at the start of it.The trail itself had a pretty hefty incline during the first half. Definitely caught myself taking more breaks than usual, but it was a great workout. I’m thankful I had my trekking poles with me, especially going downhill because the path had a lot of loose gravel where it’s easy to slip on.I went early on a Friday morning and it wasn’t very crowded at all. Definitely recommend!

Well kept, plenty of parking. Great trial access.

Great facilities though there is no water. Very well kept and marked trails. Beautiful views. Highly recommend.

Awesome hike. Moderate intensity. Lots of beautiful scenery and boulders.

Great hike with lots of trails to explore. We saw a Gila monster while we were there. It was a really awesome experience. The flowers were beautiful as well. Im happy I made time to visit while on my trip.

Its a beautiful and popular trail with a lof of immediate steep incline. The 270 view of the mountain ranges and the neighborhoods was very beautiful.

I took about a five mile round trip hike on Toms Thumb Trail directly to Toms Thumb, a landmark feature of the mountain range. The trail is probably one of the best graded pathways Ive followed anywhere for such a steep ascent. Where it did get rocky, I saw construction material nearby, so there must be a plan to grade the whole route. The scenery along the way is filled with massive granite rock surfaces shaped into fanciful forms and faces.

Fun hike with a break in between the long inclines

It was my first visit. A friend told me that is was a beautiful place to hike. Hes been their more then a few times already and were going back again.

Great hiking for all levels! Toms thumb trailhead also has amazing rock climbing, bouldering and mountain bike trails throughout as well! Beautiful scenery !

This is an amazing park. My biggest regret is that I visited it on the last day of my trip, and thus was only able to see less than 10%. It would be easy to spend at least a day here, the park is massive and there are both flat and elevation trails - your choice which youd like to explore.

Great hike, take lots of water because there isnt any there. if there is a water fountain please let me know so I can edit my review. Otherwise, my friend was thirsty and couldnt find water after he ran out of water. This place is pretty crowded given that its out far. I love they have rangers on the very top of the mountain to the educate and protect the Hawks nest when its time for them to lay an egg/s. Fun place to hike.

Challenging hike but alot of fun and great views throughout and at the top. Great workout!

Great little hike. Definitely gets the heart rate going. Beautiful views.

Beautiful spot with well maintained and well marked trails. Went on a monday so not crowded.

Great hike. Not too long and not too challenging. Lots of others on the trail, but most are friendly and make a one feel good on the trail!

Well maintained and scenic trail. Round trip is just over 4 miles. There are long sections that are streep so may not be for everyone Gets very busy mid morning. We started around 8 in February and that was perfect. Bathrooms are in good condition and a good amount of parking. No water available on site. Highly recommended for many reasons.

Great quick 2 hour hike. Nice view of the valley.

Tons of folks on the trail, but the view and pictures made up for it!

Great scenery. Nice hike. Huge parking area and facilities. Gets crowded when the weather is nice. We encountered a pair of Bobcats on our last hike.

I only drove hikers to the trailhead and did not hike it yet. Judging from the smiling faces of hikers coming off the trail, it was a good one to take. Many were not youngsters but more senior citizens.

Im nowhere near being an avid hiker, and I found this trail to be pretty easy. Amazing views the entire way up, as well as some great lookout points along the way. The trail is well kept and easy to follow, which makes getting all the way to the top even easier.Definitely a recommended trail if youre looking for something with great views that provides little challenge.

I leisurely hiked to the Lookout and back to the trail head in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The first couple switch-backs are difficult but once you get past them, the hiking is great! Nice views and giant rocks.

Fun up and down hike. Well maintained trail. Lots of critters to see.

Great hike! Not too challenging but you can speed it up for a great workout! Trail is well maintained & was not too too crowded on a Sunday.

Great hiking trail. Im a beginner at Hiking. Great trail for all levels.

It was very nice to hike there. People are so polite, the trail isnt hard at all and when you cross over the first rim of the mountain you see the beauty of the internal cup and other mountains in the valley. It worth going.

Awesome hike beautiful sites to see the whole way up and down .

What a great hike. Wish they had water on site. However beautiful views and this is not a beginners trail. Four stars for great but missing water.

Fun hike, great views of the valley. It’s nice having options for side lookouts along the way up. You can summit to the thumb from a few different routes.

It was a good well kept trail!! The only thing I didnt like how busy it was. Wayyy too many people but overall awesome views! I will definitely go back and do some of the other trails!

Great hiking trail! Use a ton of caution coming back down as the pitch in steep and it is mostly loose gravel.

Come back again

Challenging hike for sure, but its worth it. Come early because it gets heavily traffic later in the morning.

Beautiful trails. Amazing views.

Decently strenuous hike with a good amount of uphill climbing during the first half. Busy on a Saturday but not overly crowded. The panoramic views and the cool breeze at the top make it worth it.

Great scenery, great views from the top. I would say an intermediate hike with moments of steeper climbs which make you feel like its way harder.

Great views. Great hike.

Nice hike on an easy terrain with beautiful views!

Nice hike up a beautiful mtn. Great views to North.

We decided to defer on Toms think trail. The ladies trail was less intense. It did have many excellent views. There were a few spots to do some bouldering too. The trail had minimal elevation gain and it was not too long.

Its an uphill challenge- but nothing like Camelback Mnt. Less crowded and enjoyable. Be sure to bring plenty of H20!!!

Great place for a quick or long challenging hike. I was in PHX on a business trip and really enjoyed walking the trails. Awesome place to disconnect from the mayhem of the city and the stress from work. Be sure to bring a bottle of water. Know that mobile phone signal is weak.

Great hike that has multiple places you can stop and turn around and still make you feel like you accomplished a great hike. Easy to follow trail. Lots of dogs.

Great place for a moderate 4.5 mile hike

Loved it. You must be mindful of natures habitat. Nesting Falcons, must keep your voice down.

If you’re looking for a quiet hike in the Phoenix area, you’ll love Tom’s Thumb. Excellent alternative to the crowded Camelback! Gentle ascent for the first half mile, then steep for 1-1.5 miles and gentle for the last half mile. Come in spring or fall (Mar-May or Oct-Nov) and stock up with plenty of water (at least 2L per person) because you’ll be sweating! After 1pm there is sporadic shading from the rocks and 4 viewpoints on the way up for quick pit stops.There’s no running water here - for drinking or toilets so prepare before you come.The road into the parking is a fun one - lots of dips, like a roller coaster. It becomes a little confusing to drive to the trailhead but if you stick to the left on the way in and to the right on the way out, you’ll end up in the closest parking lot (which has disabled parking as well).You’ll find printed trail maps you can take with you and a gorgeous viewpoint at the trailhead, including labelled frames to give you the best view of the rock formations from below (which you can get a preview of in the photos I uploaded).If you’d like you can extend your hike into a 4.74mi (one way) or 9.5mi (out and back) hike - just continue along the trail past Tom Thumb’s spur. There are plenty of other trails around here too so you can get more than one hike out of the area on return visits. Enjoy your hike!

Best pit toiles Ive ever used!

Great hike wish our friends make it in time to enjoy it with us. Early bird gets the worm! Mimosas time

LOVE this trail! The quick hike to Toms Head is great, fun varying terrain and great short workout. The long trail around the back side is AMAZING! Rated as very difficult but I would call it moderate. Lose rocks and thin trails along the cliffside is the only warning, you have to watch your step but otherwise it is not difficult and EXTREMELY enjoyable. Stunning terrain and great workout.

Great trailhead. Plenty of parking and restrooms. Take plenty of water for the hike to Toms Thumb.

Among the nicest trailheads around the valley.

Great hike, very much going uphill to top.

Beautiful hike and clean trailhead. The only downside is that dogs are allowed on the trail and lots of people let them off the leash. And then youll definitely see signs of dog poop on the trail here and there.

Toms Thumb is one of my favorite trails. Over the years it has gotten more crowded, but definitely still worth it. It takes between 1.5 - 2 hours round trip depending on your speed. The first mile and a bit is rather strenuous, but after that its an enjoyable hike.

4 hour hikeAbsolutely epic

Awesome hike! Beautiful views and a good workout from the beginning. Took a little over 2 hours to the thumb

We hiked Toms Thumb on a rainy/cloudy day and it was like we were in another world. Not a terribly long or hard hike but worth every minute! Trail head is new and very nice

Gorgeous 360 degree views. Challenging. The trail had a lot of loose gravel. I recommend hiking poles.

Beautiful but easy hike. The cacti and fauna here are so interesting. The views of the mountains and rocks were awesome.

Awesome trail. Not easy, but completely accessible to mere mortals. Bring water, because there is not water at trailhead. They do have bathroom facilities. Several different trails are available. Toms Thumb is the most difficult.

First part of the hike ascending is tough, but the views you get are worth it, very peaceful at the top.