ROCK KNOB-PEMBERTON-BOULDER-MARCUS LANDSLIDE LOOP
McDowell Sonoran Preserve-McDowell Mtn. Regional Park
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| Boulders near Rock Knob |
With a glinty grainy tread way of decomposing granite
underfoot and haze-muddled views of the Mazatzal, Superstition and McDowell
Mountain ranges hugging the horizon, this spectacular loop hike in a shadeless
basin of Sonoran Desert showcases a lot of what we love about our local
landscape.
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Cradled between a preserve area and a county park, this
swath of boulders and cholla is a stubborn holdout amidst garrisons of swanky
golf communities lapping at its fringe.
Thanks to the foresight and persistence of concerned citizens, this
precious local gem remains closed to development and open for climbing, hiking,
biking and equestrian activities.
Although its proximity with the red-tile-aqua-pool suburbs of Scottsdale
and Fountain Hills puts a mild pox upon the wilderness experience, the up side is
easy access to the great outdoors.
My favorite part of this thrown together trek is the geology and the
big-sky views. The route passes by
the jumble of granite known as Rock Knob, the lower end of Marcus Landslide and
numerous stone "sculptures" and "mushroom" rocks. As the terrain is rather flat, there
are unobstructed vistas---look for Superstition Wilderness landmarks Weaver's Needle and the Flatiron in the east
and, if you hit the trail at the right time, you'll get a peek at the famous waterspout
in Fountain Hills. A spur path on the return leg of the loop leads to a lookout
spot with an interpretive sign identifying these key features.
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| Saguaros on the Boulder Trail |
HERE'S THE HIKE PLAN:
from the trailhead, hike 0.3 mile east on the Marcus Landslide Trail to
the junction for Rock Knob Trail.
Follow Rock Knob 0.5 mile to the McDowell Mtn Park boundary where you'll
need to deposit $2 and secure your permit. Continue another 0.6 mile on Rock Knob to Pemberton Trail,
turn right (southeast) and hike 1.1 miles to Boulder Trail. Pick up Boulder and continue 1.1 mile
to Marcus Landslide (back in the preserve), turn right (north) and trek 1.4
miles back to the trailhead.
LENGTH: 5 miles according to park maps; 5.4
miles by my GPS track
RATING:
moderate
ELEVATION: 2,800' - 2,280'
FACILITIES: restroom at trailhead, no water
FEE: $2 per person to enter McDowell Mtn Regional Park
(exact change req)
GETTING THERE:
Tom's Thumb Trailhead:
From the loop 101 in Scottsdale, take
the Pima/Princess Road exit 36 and continue 5 miles north on Pima to Happy
Valley Road. Turn right (east) and go 4.1 miles on Happy Valley to Ranch
Gate. Turn right on Ranch Gate, follow it 1.2 miles then turn right onto 128th
St. and continue 1 mile on 128th to the signed trailhead. Roads are paved all
the way.
INFO:
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