Gateway, Bell Pass, East End to Thumb Lot Hike
Details
Join us for an end to end hike in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
The hike begins at the Gateway Trailhead and ends at the Tom's Thumb Trailhead. It requires an early arrival to coordinate car drops and carpooling from the end point to the starting point.
Arrival and coordination times are important. Being on time is very important to make this hike work.
All Trails
Distance: 7.9 miles
Elevation gain: 2,627'
Difficulty: Hard
Timing
6:45am arrive at Tom's Thumb Trailhead
7:00am drive to the Gateway Trailhead (depart on time, no waiting beyond this time)
7:30am begin the hike to the Tom's Thumb Trailhead
12:30pm arrive / end of hike
12:30pm drive people who dropped cars back to Gateway Trailhead
1:00pm pickup cars at Gateway
1:10pm Black Rock Coffee (3 minutes away)
10108 E Bell Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Order of Events
- Meet and drop cars at Tom's Thumb Trailhead
- Drive to Gateway Trailhead to begin the hike
- Hike from Gateway to Tom's Thumb
- Return to Gateway to retrieve cars and get coffee at the Black Rock Coffee Bar down the street
More photos, maps, and details can be found here: https://sites.google.com/view/phx-fresh-air-friends/phx-hiking/mcdowell-sonoran-preserve/gateway-bell-pass-east-end-to-thumb-lot
This will be our first time attempting a hike with a car drop. Help us be successful by being on time.
You can order your very own through Sticker Mule here: https://www.stickermule.com/a5094aaa99eb705/item/16633586?origin=PUBLIC_PROFILE
No markups on the cost. Just a fun way to show your support with the other Fresh Air Friends!
We’re a friendly group of Phoenix-area folks who love being outdoors.
We host hikes, walks, and other outdoor activities in the Phoenix area to help you get out in nature, relax, and meet like-minded people. Everyone is welcome, even if you're new to the outdoors.
We are happy to have you join our outings. Keep in mind Event Organizers are volunteers, not professional guides. In signing up for any of our events, you are assuming responsibility for your own health and safety. We do our best to walk a comfortable pace and strive to not leave anyone behind. However, you must take responsibility for yourself by researching the hike/destination in advance and determining in advance if your body is up for the challenge; arriving on time; being prepared with adequate clothing for the conditions; wearing proper footwear; and most importantly, knowing and adhering to your own physical limitations.
We reserve the right to turn anyone away at the meeting point who shows up without the proper provisions. Please do not put yourself or others in a potentially compromising or dangerous situation by showing up unprepared.
That's it for the serious stuff. Let's get outdoors together!