Read any list of the best hiking trails near Phoenix, Arizona and Tom's Thumb, nestled within the McDowell Mountains of North Scottsdale, will be included. 

Who is Tom? Why his thumb?

Finding the answer required more internet digging than I would have assumed. Turns out that Tom's Thumb is named after local area hiker/climber Tom Kreuser who first climbed the granite outcropping then known as "The Dork" in 1948. Tom appears to still be active today in Arizona's hiking and climbing community. 

Nicole and I, accompanied by Nicole's father and sister, made our inaugural journey to this popular hiking spot on a beautiful Arizona winter day. The well-marked out and back trail includes a lot of ups and downs. At 4.3 miles for the round trip, it was much more strenuous than we expected. Make sure to bring plenty of water! 

But for us the strain was completely worth it. Tom's Thumb lived up to its hype. Compared to many Arizona hikes I have done, it is unique for the gigantic granite boulder fields lining the way. These boulders continue to make the area a popular destination for rock climbers and lend an other worldly feel for hikers passing by. 

For anyone looking to spend time hiking in the Phoenix area, make sure to consider Tom's Thumb as a destination. You'll be glad you did! 

Like this post? Want to read more about Travis and Nicole's travel adventures? Check out Hiking And Biking On The John Wayne Pioneer Trail In Washington State.

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