East End, 4,067', Tom's Thumb, The Lookout, McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Essence: East End refers to the ridgeline stretching over several prominences on the eastern front of the range. The peak is the highest point in the McDowell Mountains with a rise of 1,357 feet. The hike shares the trailhead with Tom's Thumb, the most popular destination in the Preserve. That remarkably buff trail is sure to delight everyone, including families with fit children. Local regulars return time and again to walk amongst the idiosyncratic spheroidal shapes of crystal-infused boulders. On geological maps this formation is called Carefree Granite. Exactly. The slim trail to East End is decidedly more challenging with light scrambling. The optional spur to The Lookout rewards with boundless views and the opportunity to be present with some of Earth's oldest rocks. The 30,580-acre Preserve is the third-largest city park in the United States with 225 miles of trails managed by the City of Scottsdale and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
Travel: Tom's Thumb Trailhead is one of eight in the Preserve. From the intersection of Pima Road and Happy Valley Road turn east and measure distance from there. Brown signs for Tom's Thumb Trailhead are posted along the way. At 4.1 miles turn right on Ranch Gate Road. At 5.5 miles turn right on 128th Street at a stop sign. Enter the Preserve at 6.5 miles. The road curves around and enters the main lot at 6.9 miles, 23015 N. 128th Street. The Preserve is open from sunrise to sunset. No fees, no water (!), pit toilets, volunteer steward under covered shelter at trailhead. Dogs on leash. 

Distance and Elevation Gain: 6.0 miles; 1,800 feet for both East End and Tom's Thumb. The Lookout adds 1.2 miles; 225 feet. 
Total Time: 2:30 to 4:30
Difficulty: Class 1 trail to Tom's Thumb; social trail to East End is Class 2+; navigation easy; no exposure. Hike on a cool day and carry more water than you think you will need.

Maps: McDowell Peak, AZ 7.5' USGS Quad; Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Southern & Central Regions, available for free at the trailhead.

Geology: Geologic Map of the McDowell Mountains by Steven Skotnicki, Arizona Geological Survey, 2018.
Latest Date Hiked: March 28, 2026
Quote: Geologists have a saying--rocks remember. Neil Armstrong

 

Hiking to Tom's Thumb is typically a social event. Even though East End has been mentioned in Arizona Highways, when you step onto the thin trail winding up through a cluttered cascade of boulders, chances are good you will be alone in your reverie. (Thomas Holt Ward, photo)

 

Route: For East End, hike south on the Tom's Thumb Trail for 0.1 mile past the turn to the Prairie Falcon Overlook. Ascend east to the north-south running East End ridgeline. Climb south to the peak. Explore the ridge as you wish. Retrace your steps to the main trail and hike west to Tom's Thumb. The blue-line on the map is an optional extension southwest to The Lookout. Note: The contour interval on the McDowell Peak topo is 20 feet.

   

The sign posted at the trailhead, elevation 2,813 feet, lists the upcoming spurs and junctions. Frequent signs throughout the Preserve will keep you pointed exactly where you want to go. There are four scenic overlooks before the turnoff to East End. Sun angle is best in the morning so take the time to visit them on your way to the peak. Each is just a few paces off the main track.  

The pathway is six feet wide to start with a consistently smooth, crushed granite surface. You have to psych yourself up and even embrace the idea of the company of strangers. People are coming and going constantly. Remember, it's a city park. The trail bears south while holding a very gradual grade up the bajada flowing from the mountains. Before long, we'll bump into them and up we go! The dazzling dome of rock holding down the north end of East End ridge is Point 3,675', image-center. 

 

In late March, the flora was transitioning from the furious display of spring wildflowers to cactus blossoms bursting out. Some of the best bloomers were brittlebush, paloverde, and orange globemallow. The cholla was budding profusely and how I wish I could return in a couple of weeks to see the buckhorn, staghorn, chainfruit, silver, and teddybear in full bloom. Engelmann pricklypear was about to go crazy. The saguaros were pondering the concept. The jojoba, creosote, and turpentine bush were shiny green and healthy. (THW, photo)

The distinctive profile of Tom's Thumb is visible from the parking lot and most points on the trail. (THW, photo) 

The Feldspar Trail breaks off to the east at 0.45 mile. The comprehensive geological map cited above indicates that the rocks encompassing the trailhead, East End, and Tom's Thumb, are all composed of Carefree Granite. The coarse-grained intrusive rocks are solidified magma bodies that formed underground and cooked a long time, allowing large crystals to form, feldspar being the most common. Have some respect. These ancient spheroidals are from the Proterozoic Eon, the longest geologic era, beginning 2.5 billion years ago and ending 541 million years ago.  

 

The trail begins winding gently as the grade increases. In places, the bedrock slopes down to meet the trail in a trough. Crushed granite on resistant soil is fine going up but can be slick on the descent. I find it works best to trot on the downhill. 

The folded and fractured mound of rock left of the trail is Point 3,675'. It feels like such a privilege to walk among the weathered and ancient stones.

  

Harris's Hawk Vista is east of the trail at 0.6 mile. All scenic diversions are short and have something to commend so do them all. Beyond the vista beautifully crafted switchbacks mitigate the pitch as the track presses against the northern slopes of East End. Raven Roost Scenic View has a spur to a climbing wall. There are numerous named and sanctioned "rock climbing access routes" off the Tom's Thumb Trail. Vulture Vista Scenic Point features a sweeping, near-vertical wall of granite. 

 

Prairie Falcon Overlook at 1.5 miles is the most spectacular of all the scenic spurs. 

 

The Prairie Falcon standing stones have a shared formation history with Tom's Thumb. Formed deep within the Earth so long ago, they now perfectly frame the monolith. I talk to rocks all the time. I often wonder if they communicate with one another. (THW, photo) 

 

Rejoin the Tom's Thumb Trail, shown, and hike another 0.1 mile, giving up 80 feet to the junction with the social trail to East End, not to be confused with the East End Trail posted on signs a little further on.  

East End 

You have to be looking for the unsigned junction. The first time I climbed East End in 2019, I didn't have a topo map and I wasn't sure exactly where the peak was. I didn't spot the trail and mistakenly got into a Class 3 boulder field. I backed out and headed toward Tom's Thumb. I didn't have to go very far before I got the perspective I needed. The highest point on the ridge was clear, image-right. If I was a trail, where would I be? I'd go up the swale to the saddle.

As you descend from Prairie Falcon watch for a trail making a 90 degree turn to the east at 1.7 miles, 3,600 feet.

 

Roundtrip, the spur to the peak adds approximately one mile and 500 feet. 

Looking at the swale from a distance, it looks unlikely and cumbersome. But a sweet, Class 2 thread wanders up through and around the boulders. (THW, photo)

I come to the Preserve to commune with the stone. Below is a photo of one of my favorite compositions.

 

Three primordial yucca blossoms contrast with their guardian. (THW, photo) 

Arrive at the saddle on the East End ridgecrest at 1.9 miles, 3870 feet. The last 200 feet to the summit are a tad more challenging. On this absolutely phenomenal and most unusual Class 2+ segment you might find yourself gripping onto large crystals as you move upward. (THW, photo) 

  

A solar powered radio transceiver is on a flat just shy of the summit. This image was shot from the platform looking at boulders on the crest.

The highest point in the McDowell Mountains is a few steps to the east at 2.1 miles. The massive stone summit sphere could not be a more perfect finish. The peak register, replaced frequently (judging from my experience), is always stuffed full of names. But of course. 

The field of vision from the high prominence is unimpeded. This photo stitch swings from Thompson Peak, over McDowell Peak and The Lookout, to the radio transceiver, and the subsidiary peak on East End. (THW, photo) 

The slightly lower prominence on the south end of the ridge points to the Superstition Mountains.

On our hike in 2026, a dust storm closed up the view. We decided to check out the prominence north of the saddle. (THW, photo)

We retraced our steps and continued out the ridge, exploring along the way. I was deeply enthralled by the stone creatures on the east side of the broad ridge. Pink flower hedgehog gives them some perspective but they are much much bigger than they appear in this image. (THW, photo)

 

The brush, including catclaw, ran interference with our desire to climb the sub peak. We couldn't find a palatable scrambler's route and let it go.

Tom's Thumb 

Rejoin the Tom's Thumb Trail at 2.8 miles. The main track continues south for a short distance, crosses a subtle pass with forks of the Verde River going both north and south, and then bears northwest to its namesake destination. 

It's not a reach to imagine yourself walking inside a fairy tale. Maneuver around rock features and creatures with unique personalities--much like this person rock having a discussion with his homies. Our last visit was on a Saturday and it was festive watching steady lines of people winding up and down. There were multi-generational families, fitness hikers and runners in a hurry, and contemplatives sitting on rocks. (THW, photo) 

Surely the climbing community has a name for the formation below. Because of its proximity and likeness to Tom's Thumb I'm calling it "The Index." (THW, photo) 

For those who did the hike described here, you will arrive at Tom's Thumb at 3.5 miles. The noble and imposing massive free-standing monolith, is sure to stir your heart. Allow some time to roam around and explore. (THW, photo) 

Tom's Thumb is a curious name for the regal monument. In February, 2024, Robert Stieve, the editor of Arizona Highways, recounted the name's origin story. "The McDowell Mountains were once the distant domain of hardcore rock climbers, including members of the Arizona Mountaineering Club. In 1965, Tom Kreuser, the rock star of that group, pioneered what is now the standard route to the summit of the thumb. Originally known as 'The Dork,' the 140-foot plug of granite was renamed Tom's Thumb in honor of the man who conquered it." (THW, photo) 

On a blustery day, we took refuge in the embrace of a stone shelter nearby and scampered up a tongue of rock. 

The Lookout 

Approaching Tom's Thumb you will pass a couple of fallen blocks, shown. The optional hike to The Lookout begins there. The trail bears southwest, passing below Point 3,949', image-right. 

 

Distance on the sign is half a mile but it's more like 0.6 mile each way. The secondary footpath is rockier than the groomed Tom's Thumb Trail. 

 

I noticed immediately that the composition of the rock in the domain of The Lookout was completely different than the widespread swath of granite seen elsewhere on this hike. It was orange and black, sharp and angular. According to Skotnicki's geology map referenced above, the stone is schist, a metamorphic rock generally derived from fine-grained sedimentary rock like shale. These basement rocks are 2.5 to 1 billion years old. Think on that! To surround yourself with the ancient Earth is reason alone to hike the extra distance. The west-side mountains seen below are Thompson, McDowell, and Drinkwater peaks.

The bands of blue in the southeast are the Usery, Goldfield, and Superstition Mountains. Even under a sodden sky, Weavers Needle marks its place.

Take in yet another perspective on the East End ridgeline. The Lookout Trail is an out-and-back so retrace your steps to Tom's Thumb.

The boulders at the base of Tom's Thumb are hanging out, waiting for anyone to play around on them. They were here millennia before us humans and are likely to outlast us. If the geologists are right in asserting that rocks remember, then by all means, lavish them with the love and affection they deserve before heading back to the trailhead.