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Route Scout
Cruel and Unusual Punishment by DixieFlyer Overview Thompson Peak Rd. doubles as a service road to the summit of Thompson Peak and a hiking trail to the summit. The trail connects the Dixie Mine Trail to the summit of Thompson Peak, the 3rd highest peak in the McDowell Mountains. Hike Thompson Peak is the most recognizable peak in the McDowell Mountains due to its height and to the communication antennae and towers atop the peak. Thompson Peak Rd. runs 2.3 miles from the Dixie Mine Trail to the Thompson Peak summit, gaining around 1,700' in elevation over that distance. The road is really, really steep in places, and some segments of the road are paved in order to enable service vehicles to get up to and down from the summit. At some points the grade of the road is 35-40 degrees, making it a really tough (some would say brutal) ascent and descent. If you are training for Cactus to Clouds, Rim-to-Rim, or another similar hike, or if you simply want a good workout, hiking this road/trail is a good choice. Hiking this road is best in cooler weather. There is lots of sun exposure, and if you hike it in hot weather you'd best be in good shape and have plenty of water. One other piece of advice: make sure your shoes are tightly tied for the descent! Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Note This is a moderately difficult hike. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
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.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
Thompson Peak Rd - MSP
McDowell Meander
The Weather that never happened cancelled the original plans, so it was time to play close by with multiple bailouts if it ever happened.
Got rained on lightly 3 times, only once hard enough to put on the rain coat. The wind was relentless. At the end of the Lookout trail and the top of Thompson Peak you could barely stand. Finally got to hit a ridgeline off the prospector Trail that has always interested me. Took a break in the fold up lawnchair that is stashed up there.
3 Videos if you are bored....
The Lookout and Tom's Thumb area
http://youtu.be/mO70fFXFH7E
The Ogre's Den
http://youtu.be/b64Mcdu6LCM
Thompson Peak
http://youtu.be/hBUJZPP3m-E
Got rained on lightly 3 times, only once hard enough to put on the rain coat. The wind was relentless. At the end of the Lookout trail and the top of Thompson Peak you could barely stand. Finally got to hit a ridgeline off the prospector Trail that has always interested me. Took a break in the fold up lawnchair that is stashed up there.
3 Videos if you are bored....
The Lookout and Tom's Thumb area
http://youtu.be/mO70fFXFH7E
The Ogre's Den
http://youtu.be/b64Mcdu6LCM
Thompson Peak
http://youtu.be/hBUJZPP3m-E
2014-04-26 The_Eagle
Thompson Peak Rd - MSP
Gateway Big Loop Trail - McDowells
This is for those wanting something more than the standard Gateway Loop trail provides.
This hike started at the Gateway Center, taking the Gateway Loop trail counter-clockwise to the Paradise Trail. The Paradise trail ended being a much nice trail than I'd expected. On the map, I saw the track going through neighborhoods, but actually you don't see allot of them, and it ends up being a nice "stretcher" of a hike, for what is to come later. From Paradise to the Quartz trail until it ended, and then the .8 mile bushwhack up the hill to the saddle at N33 38.423 W111 48.189, to meet up with the Thompson peak trail. This section was a bit dicey in spots and was slow going due to the loose rocks and 3 stops to remove Cholla from my ankles.
Once on the Thompson Peak trail it was a steep slog to the top. When you start getting close to the top, this without a doubt is the steepest concrete I have ever been on. I kept wondering how in the heck they even poured it. Now it was quite windy today, and I had problems keeping my hat on at times, but once I got to the top...... it was cold and it was a gale force! I took a quick video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHwp6Hxg06A and some shots and retreated down a ways to find some protection from the wind and eat some lunch.
Down to the bottom of Thompson Peak trail and off on the Prospector trail. I really like the east side of the McDowell's, the trails are in great shape and you feel like you are miles from the city. Next, I met up with the Bell Pass trail and took that over to Windgate Pass, and down to meet up with the Gateway loop trail and back to Gateway Center to finish things up.
I was really surprised today that with the cooler temperatures I didn't see more people out there today. Once I was off the Gateway Loop trail proper, and until I got back on the Gateway Loop trail proper I only saw one person all day. (and he was driving down the Thompson Peak trail from the towers. That's basically 6 hours with seeing nobody.
Loved the cool weather...
This hike started at the Gateway Center, taking the Gateway Loop trail counter-clockwise to the Paradise Trail. The Paradise trail ended being a much nice trail than I'd expected. On the map, I saw the track going through neighborhoods, but actually you don't see allot of them, and it ends up being a nice "stretcher" of a hike, for what is to come later. From Paradise to the Quartz trail until it ended, and then the .8 mile bushwhack up the hill to the saddle at N33 38.423 W111 48.189, to meet up with the Thompson peak trail. This section was a bit dicey in spots and was slow going due to the loose rocks and 3 stops to remove Cholla from my ankles.
Once on the Thompson Peak trail it was a steep slog to the top. When you start getting close to the top, this without a doubt is the steepest concrete I have ever been on. I kept wondering how in the heck they even poured it. Now it was quite windy today, and I had problems keeping my hat on at times, but once I got to the top...... it was cold and it was a gale force! I took a quick video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHwp6Hxg06A and some shots and retreated down a ways to find some protection from the wind and eat some lunch.
Down to the bottom of Thompson Peak trail and off on the Prospector trail. I really like the east side of the McDowell's, the trails are in great shape and you feel like you are miles from the city. Next, I met up with the Bell Pass trail and took that over to Windgate Pass, and down to meet up with the Gateway loop trail and back to Gateway Center to finish things up.
I was really surprised today that with the cooler temperatures I didn't see more people out there today. Once I was off the Gateway Loop trail proper, and until I got back on the Gateway Loop trail proper I only saw one person all day. (and he was driving down the Thompson Peak trail from the towers. That's basically 6 hours with seeing nobody.
Loved the cool weather...
2010-04-29 The_Eagle
