TOM'S THUMB
"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...