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Tom's Thumb Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 252 Google reviews · Running trail in Scottsdale, Arizona · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Crushed gravel
- Loop distance
- 230 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Tom's Thumb Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Hiking trails, some steep and busy, with views and information boards.
What runners say about Tom's Thumb Trailhead
“Great hike, great views, well maintained, nice trail head with restrooms and information available a benefit of living in Az.”
“this in the past was a great place to hike in solitude but with the development of the beautiful facility and VERY large parking lot you will have plenty of company.”
“Carry at least 2 liters of water, as there’s good shade for most of the hike.”
“The path felt safe and was well marked.”
First time hiking here. We went on a weekday and the place was pretty empty - it was perfect for a nice stroll. We did the Marcus landslide trail and really enjoyed it. It is marked as moderate difficulty but is really quite an easy trail.
Great hike, great views, well maintained, nice trail head with restrooms and information available a benefit of living in Az. It is a challenging hike from parking to top at 4 miles.1359 elevation, but lots of view points, wide trail, so about anybody can do this trail if they take their time.
Amazing trail! It is some work walking up as it is approximately one mile but a very good workout. The views along the way are quite remarkable! Huge boulders and rocks at crazy angles. The trail is well maintained but a bit gravelly on the way down. We took our time and for us it took 3 hours up and down.
4 mile out and back to Tom's Thumb, with plenty of shade at the top. The first 1.5m is all incline after the flats. The rock/gravel is loose as a woman fell today, so please be careful. The incline is gradual with switchbacks. The trail then tends to plateau at times, making it more of a nature walk, so hang in there.
Trail conditions & character
“this in the past was a great place to hike in solitude but with the development of the beautiful facility and VERY large parking lot you will have plenty of company.”
“The trail is steep and strenuous, demanding consistent effort and plenty of breaks — think of it as a workout with incredible views as your reward.”
“this in the past was a great place to hike in solitude but with the development of the beautiful facility and VERY large parking lot you will have plenty of company.”
“Carry at least 2 liters of water, as there’s good shade for most of the hike.”
“Great hike, great views, well maintained, nice trail head with restrooms and information available a benefit of living in Az.”
“The trail is groomed, but its also a bit slick with the crushed gravel.”
“There is some mild inclines here and there but really much easier than the Gateway loop for comparison.”
“Paved all the way to the trail head car accessible.”
“Keep in mind there’s no water station here, so bring your own.”
Plan your run at Tom's Thumb Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
- Loop distance230 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitescottsdaleaz.gov
- Phone(480) 312-7013
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6:25 AM–6:25 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:25 AM–6:25 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:25 AM–6:25 PM |
| Thursday | 6:25 AM–6:25 PM |
| Friday | 6:25 AM–6:25 PM |
| Saturday | 6:25 AM–6:25 PM |
| Sunday | 6:25 AM–6:25 PM |
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