First time up to Toms Thumb in the McDowell Preserve, may look like just a rock from the trailhead, but it’s much much bigger once your up there! Gateway Trailhead through Bell Pass and Up East End made a beautiful 12-mile loop. It’s a whole different world up there with giant boulders scattered all over, including the famous thumb.

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Naturally, I took the long way up to Tom’s Thumb yesterday, starting at the Gateway trailhead, heading through Bell Pass and then up the East End trail. Great 12-mile loop. Noticed this helpful alert once I finally got to the to the top of East End, I guess those coming from the bottom have to figure this out for themselves, ha.

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