Windmill Trail - MSP, Arizona • Hiking

Rated

Wish List

Rated

2.6
2.6 of 5 by 12

Statistics
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Difficulty		1 of 5
Route Finding		2 of 5
Distance One Way		1.1 miles
Trailhead Elevation		2,585 feet
Elevation Gain		-157 feet
Accumulated Gain		47 feet
Avg Time One Way		0.5 hour
Kokopelli Seeds		1.26
Interest Historic
Backpack No

Photos

Collective Slideshow

2019-01-12

Toms Thumb Marcus Landslide Loop

Oregon_Hiker

2018-12-29

Hog Heaven - East End - Toms Thumb

The_Eagle

2018-12-29

Hog Heaven - East End - Tom's Thumb

joebartels

2018-12-29

Hog Heaven - East End - Toms Thumb

johnlp

2018-12-29

Hog Heaven-East End-Toms Thumb

wallyfrack

2018-12-07

Lost Wall Loop - extended version - MSP/MMRP

KBKB

2018-11-09

Hog Heaven Extended Loop

KBKB

2018-11-02

Dixie-Prospector-Windmill-Coachwhip - MMRP/MSP

KBKB

Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 9

Author neilends

	Guides 8
	Routes 16
	Photos 182
	Trips 140 map ( 670 miles )
	Age 46
	Location Scottsdale

	Historical Weather
	Trailhead Forecast
	Radar

McDowell Sonoran Preserves

Preferred Feb, Mar, Jan, Dec → 7 AM

Seasons Early Winter to Late Winter

Sun 7:30am - 5:49pm

open	import	set	begin

	16555	follow	activity

Official Route

35 Alternative

Water

Toms Thumb Marcus Landslide Loop

2019-01-12

Oregon_Hiker

9.1 mi
1,550 ft

Hog Heaven - East End - Toms Thumb

2018-12-29

The_Eagle

12.79 mi
4,046 ft

Golden Eagle Loop - Fountain Hills

2018-02-07

RowdyandMe

11.47 mi
1,787 ft

Thompson Peak-East End via 104th St

2017-10-21

BiFrost

20.35 mi
5,398 ft

McDowell Mountain Loop

2017-09-23

BiFrost

33.05 mi
6,356 ft

Tom's Thumb Loop off Windgate Pass Trail

2017-05-28

JuanJaimeiii

12.52 mi
3,114 ft

Tom's Thumb Loop off Windgate Pass Trail

2017-04-20

JuanJaimeiii

13.01 mi
3,339 ft

Tom's Thumb Loop off Windgate Pass Trail

2017-04-01

JuanJaimeiii

12.39 mi
3,121 ft

TomThumb-East End-Windmill-Wingate-T Thumb Lo

2017-03-23

norm5715

9.5 mi
2,811 ft

Tom's Thumb Loop off Windgate Pass Trail

2017-03-07

JuanJaimeiii

12.56 mi
3,114 ft

Toms Thumb Marcus Landslide Loop

2017-03-05

BiFrost

9.33 mi
1,675 ft

Bell Pass Thompson Peak Windate Loop

2017-01-07

BiFrost

16.97 mi
4,324 ft

Micky D Loop

2016-12-26

The_Eagle

13.54 mi
3,157 ft

East End Loop

2016-03-12

The_Eagle

10.76 mi
2,001 ft

Tom's Thumb Trail - MSP

2016-02-21

hikingaz2

12.16 mi
3,222 ft

Tom's Thumb Loop off Windgate Pass Trail

2016-01-10

JuanJaimeiii

12.73 mi
3,122 ft

Dixie Mine Trail - MMRP

2015-03-26

Crzy4AZ

11.36 mi
1,781 ft

Marcus Landslide Toms Thumb Loop

2015-03-15

BiFrost

9.47 mi
1,689 ft

Thumb Windmill Rock Knob loop

2015-01-08

Crzy4AZ

9.09 mi
1,642 ft

Tom's Thumb Loop off Windgate Pass Trail

2015-01-04

JuanJaimeiii

12.48 mi
3,068 ft

Tom's Thumb Loop

2014-08-24

trekkin_gecko

11.92 mi
3,056 ft

Tom's Thumb-Marcus Landslide Loop

2014-08-16

neilends

9.38 mi
1,707 ft

McDowell Meander

2014-04-26

The_Eagle

19.89 mi
5,720 ft

Golden Eagle Loop with Bell Pass

2014-03-09

tibber

11.69 mi
1,727 ft

Golden Eagle Loop - Fountain Hills

2014-01-17

FLYING_FLIVER

10.15 mi
1,375 ft

Thompson Peak Coachwhip Loop - MSP

2014-01-12

BiFrost

13.57 mi
2,762 ft

Tom's Thumb Loop with East End Summit

2014-01-05

JuanJaimeiii

9.59 mi
2,098 ft

Marcus - East End - Tom Thumb Loop

2013-11-10

The_Eagle

11.02 mi
2,008 ft

104th st Bell Pass-East End-T Thumb loop

2013-10-05

The_Eagle

12.74 mi
3,102 ft

104th St to Tom's Thumb out & back

2013-03-24

Crzy4AZ

12.19 mi
3,622 ft

Marcus Landslide Trail - MSP

2013-03-17

BiFrost

10.58 mi
1,981 ft

Tom's Thumb Trail - MSP

2013-01-12

BiFrost

16.06 mi
3,713 ft

McDowell Mountain to Fountain

2013-01-05

Woodsnative

19.61 mi
1,675 ft

Tom's Thumb Loop off Windgate Pass Trail

2012-07-02

trekkin_gecko

12.55 mi
3,101 ft

Golden Eagle Loop - Fountain Hills

2012-01-16

FLYING_FLIVER

11.15 mi
1,546 ft

Nearby

Area Water

		East End Trail - MSP 0.1 mi away 1.4 mi 1,047 ft
		Dixie Mine Ridgeline - McDowells 0.6 mi away 1.6 mi 488 ft
		Prospector Trail - MSP 0.6 mi away 1.3 mi 4 ft
		Drinkwater Peak - MSP 1.0 mi away 0.4 mi 59 ft
		Lookout Trail - MSP 1.0 mi away 0.9 mi 214 ft
		East End Peak - MSP 1.1 mi away 0.3 mi 459 ft
		Coachwhip Trail - MMRP 1.6 mi away 2.6 mi 214 ft
		Feldspar Trail - MSP 1.7 mi away 0.7 mi 5 ft
		Mesquite Canyon Trail - MSP 1.9 mi away 0.2 mi 21 ft
		The Lookout from Tom's Thumb North 2.0 mi away 5.1 mi 1,672 ft

[ View More! ]

Flora

Nearby

Named place

Nearby

Culture

Nearby

Don't look for the fan blades
by neilends

Overview
This trail is named after an old structure that's fairly easy to find along its route. Whether you approach it from the west or the east, and even though it's a short jaunt of barely a mile, you will gain a new appreciation and love for the McDowell-Sonoran Preserve by the time you complete it.

Hike
The Windmill Trail runs for 1.1 miles. Most hikers will access it while heading east from the intersection of the Bell Pass / Windgate Pass trails. It can also be reached from the East End Trail if you are heading down and southbound from Tom's Thumb. Or it can be accessed while heading westbound from the Coachwhip Trail.

My access point was southbound from the East End Trail and Tom's Thumb, which placed me within eyeshot of the Bell Pass/Windgate Pass intersection, just a few yards away. At this point, you are surrounded by gorgeous and diverse scenery in each direction. To your back is Tom's Thumb and the East End peaks. Ahead and to your right are the trails leading straight into the McDowell Mountains, up to Windgate Pass and beyond. To your left is your route along the Windmill, with the Superstition Mountains 40 miles away visible in the background. If you have the freedom to pick any one of those directions at random depending on which ones looks more delicious to you in that moment, we should all be so lucky. But if you choose to hike along the Windmill, eastbound, you'll enjoy a fairly flat, slightly downhill stroll until connecting to the Coachwhip Trail.

I should point out that I lost the trail for a few brief moments, and was only saved because I'd downloaded a GPS track. For about 10 minutes, I found myself doing some light bushwhacking through a dry creekbed that I'd mistaken for the trail, before looking at my device and seeing that I was off-trail. Whether this was my own carelessness or because the trail was easy to lose, you can judge for yourself. But other than that minor slip-up, I had no route-finding difficulty. As for "the windmill" itself, you can spot it if you're paying attention without leaving the trail. It is standing south of the trail.

Water Sources
None. Bring ample water for hot, desert hiking during warm weather.

Camping
Not allowed in the Preserve.

2014-08-19 neilends

area related
MSP Rock Climbing Guide - Page 1
area related
MSP Rock Climbing Guide - Page 2
area related
MSP Rock Climbing Guide - Page 3
area related
MSP - Approved Climbing Areas 2011
area related

One-Way Notice
This hike is listed as One-Way.

When hiking several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example.

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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Windmill Trail - MSP, AZ