Windmill Trail - MSP • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 22 2026
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	10.80 Miles	1,352 AEG

Hiking	10.80 Miles
	1,352 ft AEG

Linked

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I did this loop CCW. I did a variation of the standard loop, which was a bit longer but had less elevation gain.

Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Flowers continue to be nice this winter. I saw a good bit of owl clover today, which is one of my favorite flowers.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

229549

Feb 16 2026

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Golden Thumb Lasso, AZ

Hiking		Feb 16 2026
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	17.79 Miles	3,390 AEG

Hiking	17.79 Miles	8 Hrs 39 Mns	2.19 mph
	3,390 ft AEG	31 Mns Break

Linked

8 linked trail guides

Lookout Trail - MSP

[ checklist ] Fountain Lake Superstition Mountains - Ridgeline Weavers Needle

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Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I did this lasso loop hike starting from the Golden Eagle TH to the Toms Thumb Trail. Instead of going to Toms Thumb I went to the Overlook so as to enjoy the views from there.

I did the loop portion CCW by ascending on the East End Trail and coming back down on the Toms Thumb Trail.

It was a nice day for a long hike -- cloudy and a bit breezy with comfortable temperatures.

Route Scout flatlined several times, so I used stats from Garmin.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Saguaro Scorpionweed

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Honey Bee

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cairn Old Rusty Stuff

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Sunrise

Wildflowers Observation Light
There was a nice variety of flowers, including some that I have not yet seen this spring: desert chicory, wiry lotus, and owl clover.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

229446

Feb 13 2026

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 13 2026
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	11.10 Miles	1,709 AEG

Hiking	11.10 Miles	4 Hrs 39 Mns	2.62 mph
	1,709 ft AEG	25 Mns Break

Linked

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Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I did this loop CCW, with a side trip up to Bell Pass and back.

On the way out, just past the Dixie Mine TH, I went on a well worn use trail that I had noticed before but had never been on. This was an easy to follow trail that went to a road just past Ashbrook Wash. The road was wide and recently graded, and I followed it to Thompson Peak Road. I took Thompson Peak Road over to near the Dixie Mine, where I got on the Dixie Mine Trail. I liked this route and I will take it again sometime.

It was a great day weatherwise to be out -- I think that it was the best hiking day in the PHX area so far in 2026: cloudy, pleasantly cool, with a slight breeze.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] African Daisy

Geology

Geology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Granite

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] East End McDowell Mountains

Wildflowers Observation Light
britlebush, chuparosa, Dichelostemma capitatum, flat top buckwheat, fairy duster, african daisy

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

229388

Jan 27 2026

The_Eagle

Guides 42
Routes 1,771
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,898

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Thumb n East End Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jan 27 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,898

Hiking	12.25 Miles	2,328 AEG

Hiking	12.25 Miles	4 Hrs 34 Mns		2.74 mph
	2,328 ft AEG	6 Mns Break	4 LBS Pack

Linked

10 linked trail guides

The Lookout from Tom's Thumb North

Lookout Trail - MSP

Marcus Landslide Trail - MSP

Pemberton Trail - MMRP

Boulder Trail - MMRP

Caballo Trail - MSP

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I did a similar version of this hike 10 years ago starting from the Tom's Thumb trailhead.

The weather was perfect for this one, with a nice breeze keeping things comfy.

About 85% of the people I saw were on the popular Tom's Thumb Trail. This trail starts climbing right out of the parking lot, but begins in earnest about a quarter-mile in. Brittlebush, poppies, and lupine were the stars of the show on the Thumb, Lookout, and the top of the East End trails.

I had the East End, Windmill, and Coachwhip trails all to myself. There was nothing particularly exciting on these stretches, but the lush greenscape and cranking up the earbuds made them very palatable.

I saw my first biker as I hit the Pemberton and Boulder trails. The Marcus Landslide is always a little gem toward the end of the loop, and I ran into a smattering of hikers before finishing up.

The big surprise of the day was the quantity of blooming flora.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Chuparosa Coulter's Lupine Desert Marigold Mexican Gold Poppy

Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Quite a few bloomining wildflowers. Brittlebush, Lupine, Poppies, Fiddleneck, Fairy Duster, Chuperosa, London Rocket and Desert Marigold

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

229015

Jan 09 2026

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Golden Eagle Super Lasso, AZ

Hiking		Jan 09 2026
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	16.72 Miles	3,214 AEG

Hiking	16.72 Miles	7 Hrs 55 Mns	2.43 mph
	3,214 ft AEG	1 Hour 3 Mns Break

no photosets

Linked

8 linked trail guides

Partners

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Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I decided to take advantage of a nice cool winter day and do a longer than normal hike that was close to home.

I started at the Golden Eagle TH in Fountain Hills and went on the Dixie Mine Trail to Thompson Peak Road, where I started the loop portion of the hike, going clockwise.

It was cool at the start but it warmed up quickly once the sun came up. Then it got a bit cloudy in mid morning, which made it feel cool again, but by early afternoon it warmed back up and I was in shirt sleeves the rest of the way.

There weren't many people on the trails, except for the Gateway Loop Trail which had the usual assortment of Scottsdale lizard people.

I look forward to more days this winter with the high temps in the mid 50's!

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

228615

Jan 02 2026

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 02 2026
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	11.61 Miles	1,789 AEG

Hiking	11.61 Miles	4 Hrs 51 Mns	2.67 mph
	1,789 ft AEG	30 Mns Break

Linked

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Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I had not done this hike in a while so I figured that it would be as good as any for my first hike of 2026, especially since I wanted to stay close to home.

I did the loop clockwise, and added an out-and-back up to Bell Pass in order to get a bit extra mileage/AEG.

It is very green out there right now, and it was nice to see some wildflowers blooming.

I saw a few other hikers and some mountain bike riders, along with one bow hunter who was covered in camouflage from head to toe.

Wildflowers Observation Light
There are a good many brittlebush blooming, and I also noticed some chuparosa and buckwheat.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

1 archive

228474

Sep 27 2025

DarthStiller

Guides 27
Routes 713
Photos 12,657
Triplogs 897

56 male

Joined Jul 05 2006
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Sep 27 2025
		DarthStiller • Triplogs 897

Hiking	11.20 Miles	829 AEG

Hiking	11.20 Miles	5 Hrs	2.26 mph
	829 ft AEG	3 Mns Break

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linked

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Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I did this hike 5 years ago but this time I did the loop part CCW. Stopped at the Dixie Mine and saw the bottom due to light shining off of the water below. Rain and sun were intermittent throughout the morning, with lightning thankfully absent. Along the Coachwhip Trail I spotted a rainbow that seemed to be right in front of me.

I hiked up the trail that goes from the Prospector Trail to the ridgeline above. This trail is on the HAZ topo maps, so it's been there for a long time. Also saw another trail that the maps say links back up with the Coachwhip Trail. need to check that out another day. The ridgeline trail seemed to go on further but it was very faint and I was already nearly on my 9th mile.

Towards the bottom of the Prospector Trail I spotted a mining prospect next to the wash. It has 2 mine shafts that each go back 20-30 feet or so.

It was sunny when I finished but later in the day lightning storms were wafting through the valley. Glad I got this done before that rolled thru.

_____________________

1 archive

226236

Apr 18 2025

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Apr 18 2025
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	11.46 Miles	1,688 AEG

Hiking	11.46 Miles	5 Hrs 16 Mns	2.56 mph
	1,688 ft AEG	47 Mns Break

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Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I decided to stay close to home and do this lasso loop hike. I did the loop clockwise, and added in an 0ut-and-back ascent of Bell Pass.

The temps were cool and there was lots of cloud cover, so it was a great morning for a hike.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Creosote Bush Desert Senna Mesquite Strawberry Hedgehog

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Thompson Peak

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Sunburst Sunrise

Wildflowers Observation Isolated
As has been the case this spring, there were some ocotillo flowers but not much else.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

1 archive

222769

Nov 04 2024

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 04 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	11.48 Miles	1,627 AEG

Hiking	11.48 Miles	5 Hrs 3 Mns	2.60 mph
	1,627 ft AEG	38 Mns Break

Linked

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I decided to stay close to home and do this hike again today. I did the loop CW, and also took a side trip up to Bell Pass.

We had some rain yesterday afternoon and the trail was a tad soft early, but it was drying out pretty good on the way back.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

218906

Nov 01 2024

trekkin_gecko

Guides 10
Routes 700
Photos 7,591
Triplogs 4,843

67 female

Joined Nov 17 2008
phoenix, az

Tom's Thumb Loop, AZ

Hiking		Nov 01 2024
		trekkin_gecko • Triplogs 4,843

Hiking	12.69 Miles	3,109 AEG

Hiking	12.69 Miles	4 Hrs 9 Mns	3.11 mph
	3,109 ft AEG	4 Mns Break

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Tom's Thumb Loop off Windgate Pass Trail

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johnlp

Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

john and i got going from gateway around 0645
did the big loop counterclockwise
gateway, bell pass, east end, a side trip to the base of tom's thumb, down tom's thumb trail, windgate and gateway loop
good ascents up bell pass and east end
looked at the climbing route mike and i did eleven years ago
not many people until back on windgate
temps were just about perfect and we had quite a bit of shade early
this is always a good hike
thanks for coffee, driving and lunch, john

_____________________

hazhole

1 archive

218846

Nov 01 2024

johnlp

Guides 1
Routes 15
Photos 7,285
Triplogs 5,261

68 male

Joined Mar 16 2008
chandler,az

Tom's Thumb Loop, AZ

Hiking		Nov 01 2024
		johnlp • Triplogs 5,261

Hiking	12.69 Miles	3,109 AEG

Hiking	12.69 Miles	4 Hrs 9 Mns	3.11 mph
	3,109 ft AEG	4 Mns Break

no routes

Linked

Tom's Thumb Loop off Windgate Pass Trail

Partners

partners

trekkin_gecko

Keeping up with the Joneses. Counterclockwise. Beautiful day for a hike. Didn't see many hikers until the last couple miles, then quite a few. Thanks Kelly!

_____________________

“Good people drink good beer.” Hunter S Thompson

218869

Oct 22 2024

pseudalpine

Guides 72
Routes 1,190
Photos 1,493
Triplogs 1,544

male

Joined Jan 01 2023
Arizona

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Oct 22 2024
		pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,544

Hiking	11.72 Miles	1,666 AEG

Hiking	11.72 Miles	3 Hrs 58 Mns	3.14 mph
	1,666 ft AEG	14 Mns Break

no photosets

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Dixie Mine Ridgeline - McDowells

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Slightly crispy desert near the trailhead.

5 archives

218619

Mar 16 2024

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Dixie Mine - Windgate Lasso Loop, AZ

Hiking		Mar 16 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	16.18 Miles	3,176 AEG

Hiking	16.18 Miles	7 Hrs 9 Mns	2.61 mph
	3,176 ft AEG	57 Mns Break

Linked

9 linked trail guides

Inspiration Point via Windgate

Rock Knob Trail - MSP / MMRP

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I decided to stay close to home today and take advantage of cool weather to do this longish hike.

I did a lasso loop starting on the Dixie Mine Trail, going over Bell Pass, and then looping back on the Gateway Loop Trail, and going past Inspiration Point on the way to Windgate Pass. In other words, the loop was clockwise.

There was a fair number of people on the trails that can be easily accessed from the Gateway TH, but hardly anyone otherwise.

I heard some coyotes yapping in the morning, and saw 3 deer at Windgate Pass.

The weather was very nice for mid-March.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Dichelostemma capitatum Coulter's Lupine

Wildflowers Observation Light
Blue richards won the wildflower derby, with fiddlenecks the runnerup. Poppies had their moments along with some lupine. Brittlebush are not blooming yet.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

3 archives

213921

Mar 02 2024

ScaredyCat

Guides 4
Routes 237
Photos 114
Triplogs 234

male

Joined Aug 08 2020
Phx az

Rock Knob Trail - MSP / MMRP

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Mar 02 2024
		ScaredyCat • Triplogs 234

Hiking	10.69 Miles	1,850 AEG

Hiking	10.69 Miles	4 Hrs 49 Mns	2.46 mph
	1,850 ft AEG	28 Mns Break

no photosets

Linked

linked

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Decided to lead another Meetup. Strong response, fun group and wonderful weather. Did a loop that is easy till East End. This slowed a couple of the participants.

Decided to add Tom's Thumb on. This short side trip timed out perfectly with the others' arrival from East End.

Saw few people till this point, aside from mtn bikers on Pemberton. That all changed as soon as Tom's Thumb trail came into view. More peeps there from 2-3 pm than I expected.

213572

Feb 10 2024

Lower Sonoran Trail - FHP

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Adero Super Loop II, AZ

Hiking		Feb 10 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	21.86 Miles	3,505 AEG

Hiking	21.86 Miles	9 Hrs 40 Mns	2.51 mph
	3,505 ft AEG	58 Mns Break

Linked

17 linked trail guides

Promenade Trail - FHP

Sonoran Trail - MMRP

Lost Dog Wash to Taliesin Overlook

Paradise Trail - MSP

Quartz Trail - MSP

Old Jeep Trail - MSP

Ringtail Trail - MSP

Sunrise Trail - MSP

Andrews - Kinsey Trail MSP

Andrews - Kinsey Trail FHP

Western Trail - FHP

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It was a nice day for a long hike, so I decided to do this one, which is a variation of a similar hike that I did last month.

This is a big CCW loop that starts and ends at the Adero Canyon TH. The loop goes through 3 different preserves and uses 17 different trails. The trails in the Fountain Hills Preserve are definitely the best ones on this hike!

There were a few people out on the trails in the Scottsdale Preserve, but I did not see anyone in the Fountain Hills Preserve or the Maricopa County Regional Park.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Ocotillo

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Mazatzal Mountains Thompson Peak

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

213038

Jan 19 2024

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 19 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	11.42 Miles	1,682 AEG

Hiking	11.42 Miles	4 Hrs 42 Mns	2.77 mph
	1,682 ft AEG	35 Mns Break

Linked

Partners

none

no partners

Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I decided to stay close to home and do this lasso loop hike today.

I did the loop clockwise, and also took a side trip up to Bell Pass to add in a little extra distance and elevation gain.

It was a nice day out there with some clouds doing a nice job of filtering the sun.

I saw a nice 6 point buck on the way back, around the Dixie Mine.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Mule Deer

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

212552

Dec 14 2023

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Dixie Mine - Toms Thumb LO Lasso Loop, AZ

Hiking		Dec 14 2023
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	18.07 Miles	3,069 AEG

Hiking	18.07 Miles	8 Hrs 1 Min	2.56 mph
	3,069 ft AEG	57 Mns Break

no photosets

Linked

Lookout Trail - MSP

Partners

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Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

This is a version of this hike that I do once or twice a year.

I started from the Golden Eagle TH in Fountain Hills, started on the Dixie Mine Trail once I left the Eagle's Nest subdivision, and made my way over to the Tom's Thumb LO. I did the loop clockwise, so I went up on the Tom's Thumb Trail and descended on the East End Trail.

This is a decent hike to get some distance and elevation gain when the weather is cooler. It would have been nicer to have some shade and perhaps some cooler temperatures, but it wasn't hot by any means.

The trails are fairly rocky out there, and the East End Trail is very slippery when descending it.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

3 archives

211665

Oct 01 2023

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Oct 01 2023
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	11.67 Miles	1,760 AEG

Hiking	11.67 Miles	4 Hrs 22 Mns	2.93 mph
	1,760 ft AEG	23 Mns Break

Linked

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Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I did this lasso loop clockwise with a side-trip up to Bell Pass.

There weren't any clouds out, but the temperature was cooler than it has been and there was a nice breeze blowing most of the way.

You could smell and see smoke from a wildfire near the landfill on Highway 87 and Gilbert Road; so the air quality wasn't the best.

At Bell Pass I went a short distance on the use trail that goes up toward McDowell Peak. I will check it out further once winter gets here.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Saguaro

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Smoke

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

2 archives

209730

May 10 2023

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		May 10 2023
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	11.63 Miles	1,757 AEG

Hiking	11.63 Miles	4 Hrs 36 Mns	2.73 mph
	1,757 ft AEG	20 Mns Break

Linked

Partners

none

no partners

Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I did this loop CW with a side trip up to Bell Pass.

This was great hiking weather -- no sun with a cool breeze. It was almost cold at Bell Pass, so I descended as soon as I got up there.

There are still a few wildflowers out.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Blue Palo Verde White Ratany

Wildflowers Observation Light

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

206378

Mar 22 2023

Guides 100
Routes 1,607
Photos 16,655
Triplogs 1,500

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Mar 22 2023
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,500

Hiking	11.65 Miles	1,703 AEG

Hiking	11.65 Miles	4 Hrs 51 Mns	2.85 mph
	1,703 ft AEG	46 Mns Break

Linked