AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Tom's Thumb Viewpoint–Dixie Mine, 7 sights

14.6 mi · ▲ 2,935 ft · 6 hr 20 min

Tom's Thumb Viewpoint–Dixie Mine, 7 sights is a 14.6-mile out-and-back in McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Troon, AZ. The route passes Tom's Thumb Viewpoint and Dixie Mine. It climbs 2,935 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 75/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,038 – 3,691 ft · steepest grade: 23%15.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.69498, -111.80118
Nearest town Troon, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Tom's Thumb Viewpoint–Dixie Mine, 7 sights

14.6 mi · ▲ 2,935 ft · 6 hr 20 min

Elevation 2,038–3,692 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Trailhead: 33.69498, -111.80118

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 93°F / low 77° · precip 3% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:49 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  3. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right onto Feldspar Trail, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading SE.
  7. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  8. 0.5 miPass Tom's Thumb Viewpoint.
  9. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  10. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  11. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 100 ftContinue straight onto East End Trail, heading W.
  13. 1.3 miTurn left onto Windmill Trail, heading S.
  14. 1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto Coachwhip Trail, heading SE.
  16. 0.8 miSharp right onto Dixie Mine Trail, heading SE.
  17. 0.7 miPass Dixie Mine.
  18. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  19. 50 ftTurn left onto Thompson Peak Road, heading W.
  20. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  23. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  25. 1 miTurn left onto Dixie Mine Trail, heading SE.
  26. 0.4 miReach Tom's Thumb Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  27. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  28. 1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  32. 100 ftBear left onto Thompson Peak Road, heading NW.
  33. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  34. 50 ftTurn right onto Dixie Mine Trail, heading W.
  35. 0.7 miSharp left onto Coachwhip Trail, heading NE.
  36. 0.8 miTurn right, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftTurn left onto Windmill Trail, heading NW.
  38. 1 miTurn right onto East End Trail, heading NW.
  39. 1.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  40. 0.1 miTurn right onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading N.
  41. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  42. 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  43. 100 ftContinue straight onto Feldspar Trail, heading N.
  44. 50 ftTurn left onto Tom's Thumb Trail, heading N.
  45. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  46. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  47. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  48. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/morrells-boulder-toms-thumb-viewpoint-out-back-8-sights

Trail surface

94% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 93°F77°
Feels like82°Precip3%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity29%
Rained 0.2″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
95°75°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:49 PM
Sun 98°78°
Mon 97°78°
Tue 99°84°
Wed 98°83°
Thu 100°83°
Fri 96°81° 29%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 5:30 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Troon, Arizona