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"Hikernators" Find Inspiration on Scottsdale's Tom's Thumb Trail Iconic Tom's Thumb in McDowell Sonoran Preserve. For Valley hikers, autumn�s balmy temperatures are at the center of a triple conjunction of will, weather and wherewithal that rekindles desert hiking envy. Tom's Thumb seen from the Prairie Falcon Overlook. The inertia is palpable as swarms of �hikernators� emerge from air-conditioned gyms, the darkness of night or mountain climes to once again walk in desert sunlight. It�s a heady time of year for hikers who are anxious to shake off the smell of pine and ditch the 4 a.m. start times. The Preserve is open from sunrise to sunset daily. What better way to inaugurate a new season than to climb to one of the Valley�s iconic geological features for tantalizing views and a chance to build your checklist of places to hike over the coming cooler months. Granite boulders line the upper parts of Tom's Thumb Trail. With its challenging grade and Valleywi...

MARICOPA TRAIL: Bartlett Dam Road to McDowell Sonoran Preserve Maricopa Trail pass through Tonto National Forest The 300+-mile course of the Maricopa Trail takes many forms.   Sometimes it�s a single track, canal bank, road or suburban pathway. All the segments are beautiful and useful in their own ways and yet, some of the most memorable are within the Tonto National Forest.   Desert greenery flanks suburbia. The 20.5-mile Bronco to Granite Mountain segment northeast of Scottsdale stays within the forest boundary passing by Camp Creek, Blue Wash, Rackensack Canyon and hilly desert back country. The north-south running route is bisected by Bartlett Dam Road making it easy to tackle as a car shuttle hike. Four Peaks on the eastern horizon. North of the road, the route is a rugged trek through mountainous terrain, washes and rough drainages while to the south, the hike is a milder adventure with lots of variety.   Both halves share space with a power line that is visible to...

Tour de Rock Cathedral Rock Tucked between the golf greens and suburban communities of North Scottsdale and the rugged wilds of Tonto National Forest, McDowell Sonoran Preserve is an approachable, precious space of pristine desert.   Laced with over 180 miles of hiking, biking and equestrain trails, the preserve protects 30,000 acres of indigenous plants, sensitive habitats, historic artifacts and spectacular geology. Yuccas are common along the trails Up-close details are backed with epic views of surrounding mountain ranges and rich valleys carved by the Verde and Salt Rivers.   Eons of exposure to the erosive forces of wind and water has created a plethora of geological curiosities throughout the preserve.   The site's igneous core is anchored by the lumpy mounds of Granite Mountain and Cholla Mountain, but hidden along the perimeter of the latter are three impressive natural rock formations that can be visited in one day-hike length sweep. There are myriad ways to get...

WINDGATE-BELL PASS LOOP McDowell Sonoran Preserve Windgate Pass In the highly competitive, (oft embellished) sphere of hiking lore, there are precisely two loop circuits in Scottsdale�s McDowell Sonoran Preserve that have earned the title of �epic�.   They are the Tom�s Thumb-East End-Bell Pass Loop and the Windgate-Bell Pass Loop. Both are beautiful. Both will kick your butt. Before tackling the 13-mile, 2,205-foot Tom�s Thumb slog, you might want to do a warm up trek on the later. From a strictly mathematical perspective, the �measly� 1,484 feet from the circuit�s base to its highest point bellies the fact that the mountain�s dips and dives reclaim much of what you gain, multiple times. There�s a 600- foot loss between the two passes alone.   These two ambitious circuits are staples on the training programs of hikers preparing for Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim trips or long distance hauls on the Arizona Trail.   Bell Pass Whether you have eyes on bigger prizes or are just loo...

RENEGADE TRAIL McDowell Sonoran Preserve Massive granite boulders flank Renegade Trail In many ways, hiking is a renegade sport. Rebellious souls who answer the call of the wild grow impervious to heavy packs, sore feet, gross food, weather and self doubt. They pee in the forest and sleep on the ground while working around physical obstacles and an array of toxic plants and poisonous critters. To the hiker-at-heart, this is fun. So it's fitting that a new trail in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve pays homage to those who approach the trails unwashed, unshaven and living the dream. Renegade Trail is just one example of the preserve's route monikers that embrace our Western heritage with seasonings of humor and irony. Examples include, Wrangler, Rustler, Buckshot, Cow Poke and the crown jewel--Whiskey Bottle. Kudos to the preserve's naming committee which I imagine conjure these names over beers at a honky tonk. A blind corner on Desperado Trail Tucked into the pre...

NORTH & SOUTH DIABLO TRAILS McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale. North Diablo Trail  A sign at the entrance to the Diablo Trails in McDowell Sonoran Preserve warns of steep rock slabs, vertical drops, uneven terrain and protruding rocks. Count me in! This recently revealed "forbidden zone" was developed as a technical bike circuit replete with slick stone traverses, boulder hops and swooping bends divided into a maze of loops with varying levels of difficulty. Located north of Cholla Mountain, the trails wind among granite outcroppings and rolling foothills with big sky views of Tonto National Forest peaks. Entrance to Diablo Trails Although it's clear that this compact mosh pit caters to bikers who want to test their mettle, hikers need not stay in their lane. The circuit is open to foot traffic as well and makes for an endlessly customizable trip for hikers who enjoy exploring semi-uncharted land. There are numerous ways to get to the site, but the quickest begins...

WILDFLOWERS on the BOOTLEGGER TRAIL McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale Bootlegger Trail Despite abundant winter rains and mild temperatures that raised our expectations for a banner wildflower season, this year's showing of desert blooms has turned out to be a more low-key event. The hype may have fizzled, but there are still plenty of flowering plants to enjoy along Valley trails. One of the best places to observe a wide variety of specimens is in the far east side of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. In this area of desert, wildflowers thrive best among boulder outcroppings on the flanks of Granite Mountain where precious bits of shade and trapped moisture nurse blooms to fruition. When the elements dole out perfect measures of rain, warmth and sunlight, poppies and lupines paint the desert floor in blazing shades of purple and orange. This spectacular but rare event is beautiful to behold but, there's also joy in spotting a lone poppy or colorful patch of brittlebush durin...