A wide variety of people use the Tom’s Thumb Trailhead as their gateway to adventure. After passing the boulders, you reach the summit-Tom’s Thumb! Black Top Mesa has amazing views, stream crossings, mountain ascents (over 2,300ft gain), wildflowers, panorama galore, grasslands, challenge and seclusion. There are great views along the way and at the top, and the area around Tom's Thumb itself is like a giant rock garden. Hiking Camelback. Don’t let this hike fool you. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix, Camelback Mountain is a Phoenix icon. Here's some background: Cammelback is the tallest peak in Phoenix at 2,704 feet. Tom’s Thumb East End Loop-McDowell Sonoran Preserve. You can’t visit this sunny state and not attempt its most famous mountain hike. The cheapest way to get from Toms River to Camelback Mountain costs only $133, and the quickest way takes just 8¼ hours. I cannot count how many times someone from out of town tells me they are hiking Camelback Mountain – a 1,280 ft gain in elevation over 1.14 miles via the Echo Canyon Trail – in the East Valley of the Metro Phoenix Metro Area. This 1 mile trail carries with it a 500 ft climb with some trails in the vicinity to add for a longer hike. By: Website By Bad Bunny Designs. Grand canyon national park only a short drive to the north. Camelback Mountain, with an elevation of 2,704 feet, is an excellent hike or climb in Arizona. Camelback Mountain Climbers. Both are rated extremely difficult. The Camelback Mountain hike is one of the most popular hikes in Phoenix. Just peruse some of the photos from this hike and from the original Tom's Thumb hike on … https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/toms-thumb-trail When we looked up the trailhead on google maps it didn’t send us to the main area. Plus, South Mountain is more centrally located that the other hikes listed here. Cholla Trail is an excellent choice for a moderate to somewhat difficult hike on the Camelback Mountain hiking trails! Lookout Mountain – Phoenix Mountain Preserve: Another regional park surrounded by the City of Phoenix in the north of the Valley, Lookout Mountain is a hike that offers views, more seclusion without the serious butt workout the first 4 hikes will offer (not saying your butt won’t still appreciate the warm up). Photo: Kevin KaminskiThis serene slice of Sonoran Desert is home to a wide range of wildlife including bobcats, gila monsters, desert tortoises, antelope ground squirrels, cactus wrens and rattlesnakes. Climbing the Camelback Mountain. The Echo Canyon hike is the more rugged of the two and requires steep climbs and scrambling over large rocks. Learn more. Don’t want to hike it alone? One of the most popular trails here is the Tom’s Thumb trail. Which is forgivable since they don’t live here so what do they know? The last 1/2 mile climb to the mesa (an unmarked leading up the mesa) is so worth the rather rocky and less trodden path with a completely changed landscape of grasslands, prickly pear cacti and breath taking views for Weaver’s Needle and 360 degree panorama of awesomeness. Yep, us too. It's a challenging hike that will get your heart pumping for sure, but the views from the top are more than worth it. Once you get away from the busier Tom’s Thumb Trail, the East End trail is a seldom-used section of the hike that offers great solitude, and the route crosses one of the few springs in the Preserve. I have not hiked it in its entirety yet. The views extend 100 miles all around (on a clear day). Here are some things you need to know. Camelback Mountain has been one of Phoenix Arizona's most historical landmarks since the 1900s. Live in the area - Mountain Creek if you are into rails and tricks. Your email address will not be published. HIKE TO TOMS THUMB. Here are a Couple Ideas. Learn more. © 2020 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. You get it all – views, steepness, serious challenge, elevation gain and some areas that are not for the faint of heart. Two main trails lead to the summit of Camelback, a camel-shaped mountain just 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix. Within the vast park they provide opportunities to bike, ride horses, and hike. Tom’s Thumb is a super fun, popular hike in the Scottsdale McDowell Mountain Sonoran Preserve. The infamous “thumb” can be seen from most places in the valley – a white burst of rock jutting skyward out of the desert ridgeline. You will be so glad you did it! Camelback if your more into longer rides. Yeah, neither do we, but it keeps the lights on. Photo: Kevin KaminskiWhether you've only visited Phoenix or you're a long-time local, you must've seen Camelback Mountain - it's pretty hard to miss. At the top, they’re rewarded with panoramic city views that deliver well-deserved bragging rights for … Alta Trail-South Mountain Regional Park: This trail is considered one of the most challenging trails within South Mountain Park, but the steep climb to the ridge line rewards the hiker with a striking view of the desert landscape below. The colossal 90-foot vertical granite crag is visible at the north end of the McDowell Range to commuters far below on the Loop 101. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a7c2343ebbfaf27831f47f66c8286d0d" );document.getElementById("d7a4bde038").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); The weather has FINALLY cooled down and hiking season is now here in Phoenix! Speedster or not, go ahead scroll down & post your time, as just reaching the summit is a heck of an accomplishment – (prove it with merchandise).Click here for information or pictures of the Echo Canyon and Cholla trails. Tom's Thumb stays visible most of the hike, so it is easy to set your bearings in relation to your goal. This formation is located towards the northern slope of the mountain. Two hiking trails ascend to the peak of the Camelback Mountain at elevation of 1280 feet. Tom's Thumb is a small spire of rock that is easily visible from most of Scottsdale. Anyway, here are 5 butt kicking trails in the Phoenix area that are a good challenge, have killer views (not literally) and a real sense that you are hiking in a very unique desert environment, one that only the Sonoran Desert can offer. Book your tickets online for Camelback Mountain, Phoenix: See 2,502 reviews, articles, and 1,345 photos of Camelback Mountain, ranked No.6 on Tripadvisor among 228 attractions in Phoenix. Required fields are marked *. Do not ascend all the way up to the Flat Iron. Like to continue hiking in the future? Photo: Kevin KaminskiPiestewa Peak, formerly known as Squaw Peak and conveniently located in the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area, is a relatively short hike that yields impressive views of the city and is a perfect spot to watch the sunset. From the northern trailhead it is only a thousand foot climb over two miles, relatively easy compared to Camelback or Flatiron. Learn more. Luckily, we ended up doing a completely different trail instead of the one they planned and wound up going up to Tom's Thumb. Camelback Mountain. -Camelback Mountain is a great hike!-Please start early, my brother and I started at 5:30am and finished in a couple hours.-If you don't start early, you'll end up having to pass or walk behind a good number of hikers, so start early!-I did the Cholla Trail, which offers a great challenge, but not extremely tough. 1. Whether you live here or are just visiting the Valley, this summit hike offers some of … © Just Roughin' It Adventure Company 2019. The McDowell Mountains sit about 30 minutes north of central Scottsdale. History. The infamous “thumb” can be seen from most places in the valley – a white burst of rock jutting skyward out of the desert ridgeline. Camelback Mountain is one of my favorite memories of my time in Phoenix, even though the story begins with "That time my boss tried to kill me, the other intern, and the new guy." Grab your hiking shoes, friends, and lots of water, then head out on one of these awesome hikes this weekend. On a clear day, you can see Camelback Mountain that is roughly 14 miles away to the south. Follow the trail as it goes through large boulders on its way to the summit of Tom’s Thumb. Learn more. Phoenix is one of the very best cities in the country for hiking with tons of trails that are easily accessible from the metropolitan area. Tom’s Thumb. Two thumbs up for Tom’s Thumb Trail. Trail Distance: 4 miles; Location: McDowell Sonoran Preserve; As one of the most beloved hikes in Phoenix, Toms Thumb takes hikers through the Sonoran Desert to a strange, thumb-shaped rock formation atop a mountain. by justroughinit | Nov 7, 2016 | Arizona, Hiking, Phoenix Hiking | 0 comments. That's why we send you the best local adventures, stories, and expert advice, right to your inbox. Camelback Mountain should be hiked at least once in your life. Pick Up Locations Pick up from Phoenix/Scottsdale hotel partners, VRBO's and personal residences is included in the cost of the tour. It’s a popular spot for hikers, rock climbers, and tourists, so make sure you do the hike as early as possible, with sunrise being the sweet spot. The Tom’s Thumb Trail is accessible from multiple trailheads in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Find the travel option that best suits you. Camelback Mountain (O'odham: Cew S-wegiom) is a mountain in Phoenix, Arizona, United States.The English name is derived from its shape, which resembles the hump and head of a kneeling camel. This is also a good hike if you need a quick workout without all the people. But we do have lots of other information on our website to help you succeed as a hiker (like not get lost or die) – so check it out! 2. apparently this is a recent edition to the trails here and we weren't disappointed. Two difficult trails ascend 1,420 feet to a summit resembling the hump of a camel's back, affording 360-degree views of the surrounding city. Tom’s Thumb East End Loop-McDowell Sonoran Preserve: This hike is a challenging, 11-mile loop that includes East End, Windgate Pass, and Tom’s Thumb trails found within the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in the Northeast Valley of the Phoenix Metro Area. I did some research and kept hearing about the beautiful McDowell Sonoran Preserve. If we haven’t stressed the point sufficiently, Camelback Mountain is a difficult hike. While not as scenic as the other trails on this list, the 1,100 ft elevation gain is guaranteed to give you some 360 degree views of the entire surrounding Phoenix Metro area. Tom’s Thumb was one of the first hikes Case and I did when we got to Arizona for Spring Training. We are so not responsible for giving some minimal and not very specific advice and then you go out and get eaten by a squirrel or whatever impending danger you may encounter out in the wilderness. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix, Camelback Mountain is one of Phoenix's best hikes and most popular attractions for thousands of visiting hikers each year. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Disclaimer: Please take a map, compass and research these trails BEFORE hiking them. Variety of people use the Tom ’ s Thumb Trail a good hike if need. 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