Thumb Butte in Prescott National Forest, AZ

Hike Thumb Butte Prescott National Forest, AZ

Class 3 2.3 miles 900 gain <1 hr Loop Oct 9, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Thumb Butte GPX Track

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Thumb Butte is a cute little bump outside of Prescott, Arizona. The trailhead is incredibly popular and easy to access. While there is no official trail to the peak's summit, there's a nice trail system around the base of the peak leading pretty close to the high point. I took the steep, paved option leading directly south, which reaches Thumb Butte's west side. From here an opvious social trail leads northeast up a short, steep slope. I was presented with a few options to gain the scramble to higher ground. The standard option had a fixed rope in place, which facilitates a pleasant stroll up the slab. Without the rope I'd call the moves Class 3+. Alterantively, just to the right of the fixed rope is another option on big Class 3 boulders. I'd say without the rope this would be an easier option.

Once above the fixed rope, some fun, light Class 3 leads to the summit ridge. Light route-finding on fun Class 2/2+ blocky terrain brought me to the summit of Thumb Butte. Once I backtracked to the official trail, I decided to take a longer route back instead of descending the paved trail. This was an easy-to-follow option without much to comment on, except that making hikes into loops is generally more fun in my opinion.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Thumb Butte
6514 ft
434 rise

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Thumb Butte Trailhead. You can see the peak in the center.
Thumb Butte Trailhead. You can see the peak in the center.
Steep, paved trail leading quickly up to the southwest side of Thumb Butte.
Steep, paved trail leading quickly up to the southwest side of Thumb Butte.
View back, Granite Mountain visible in the distance.
View back, Granite Mountain visible in the distance.
Almost to the base of Thumb Butte's rocky face.
Almost to the base of Thumb Butte's rocky face.
A paved switchback.
A paved switchback.
At the southwest side of Thumb Butte. Take this social trail.
At the southwest side of Thumb Butte. Take this social trail.
Steep, short social trail to the base of the peak.
Steep, short social trail to the base of the peak.
Ascent options. Left leads to the fixed line (standard). Right goes to an alternative Class 3/3+ option in the unlikely case the rope isn't there.
Ascent options. Left leads to the fixed line (standard). Right goes to an alternative Class 3/3+ option in the unlikely case the rope isn't there.
Fixed rope up a slab.
Fixed rope up a slab.
View back down the crux.
View back down the crux.
Class 2/3 past the fixed rope to gain the summit ridge.
Class 2/3 past the fixed rope to gain the summit ridge.
View back down the scramble.
View back down the scramble.
Thumb Butte summit ahead. Some blocky Class 2/2+ route-finding required to get there.
Thumb Butte summit ahead. Some blocky Class 2/2+ route-finding required to get there.
Close-up at the short ridge scramble.
Close-up at the short ridge scramble.
Granite Mountain to the north.
Granite Mountain to the north.
Close-up toward Granite Mountain to the north.
Close-up toward Granite Mountain to the north.
View toward Prescott, AZ.
View toward Prescott, AZ.
View back along the ridge.
View back along the ridge.
Now back to the official trail system, view up toward Thumb Butte. I took an alternative route down to form a little loop.
Now back to the official trail system, view up toward Thumb Butte. I took an alternative route down to form a little loop.
Cute scenery.
Cute scenery.
Image 20 from gallery
The loop led me back to the trailhead.
The loop led me back to the trailhead.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!