Tom's Thumb Trailhead

Visit the most iconic landmark in the Scottsdale Sonoran Preserve! Spend your morning or afternoon on an expert-led hike to the famous Tom's Thumb formation in the Scottsdale Sonoran Preserve. A local guide from Mad Desert Trekking will greet you at the trailhead and hike with you through the incredible terrain of the Sonoran Desert. During the course of your hike, you will be presented with unique geological features, as well as native flora and fauna that are unique to the Sonoran desert. Experience this incredible feature up close and personal. Ascend the switchbacks and take in the incredible views of the Scottsdale Sonoran Preserve while we make our way up to the famous granite monolith called Tom's Thumb. Once up top you will be able to expore the unique terrain around "the Thumb" and be presented with beautiful views of Scottsdale and the surrounding areas.

3 hours

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Experience the energy of the desert in McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Arizona, the largest city-owned preserve in the world.

3 hours

Scottsdale

Scottsdale is a desert city in Arizona east of state capital Phoenix. It's known for its spa resorts and golf courses, including TPC Scottsdale. Farther north, trails wind through McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a desertscape of hills, rock formations and cacti. Nearby is Taliesin West, architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s former home and studio. Downtown's Old Town Scottsdale has 1920s buildings and 19th-century olive trees.

3 hours

Phoenix (Pass By)

Phoenix is the capital of the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona. Known for its year-round sun and warm temperatures, it anchors a sprawling, multicity metropolitan area known as the Valley of the Sun. It's known for high-end spa resorts, Jack Nicklaus–designed golf courses and vibrant nightclubs. Other highlights include the Desert Botanical Garden, displaying cacti and numerous native plants

The Gateway Trailhead (Pass By)

Gateway Loop Trail is a 4.4 mile loop trail located in Scottsdale, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and cacti and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and mountain biking and is accessible year-round.

Marcus Landslide Trail (Pass By)

The Marcus Landslide Trail runs along the east edge of McDowell Sonoran Preserve to a massive landslide that scientists believe occurred 500,000 years ago. An estimated 194 M cubic feet of rock and vegetation slid off the side of East End Peak, the second largest known occurrence in Arizona.

Sonoran Desert National Monument (Pass By)

The Sonoran Desert National Monument contains magnificent examples of untrammeled Sonoran Desert landscape. The national monument is the most biologically diverse of the North American deserts, and the monument captures a significant portion of that diversity. The most striking aspect of the plant community within the monument is the extensive saguaro cactus forest.