Class 3 6.2 miles 1300 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Dec 3, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Thumb Peak GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Thumb Peak is a volcanic plug with an excellent scramble located on the west side of the Palo Verde Mountains. To reach the trailhead, drive south on Wiley's Well Road (33.60654, -114.90171) until reaching the pull-out where we started. An old mining road leads east into the Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness. Thumb Peak isn't in view at the start of the approach, blocked by a large lump. Tyler and I hiked along this road, which ultimately led in the wrong direction. Once it bent away, we changed course and followed a social trail east through uninspiring desert. The area is riddled with social trails, but we managed to choose the same one on the way in and out. Losing the trail is no big deal since the terrain is overall pretty trivial. We crossed in and out of a few minor drainages, and eventually, Thumb Peak came into view.

This gorgeous monolith rising from the desert floor seems daunting from below. However, as we approached its north side, we located the steep slope/gully covered with large boulders used for the standard route. Class 2 led us to the top of the slope, where we descended briefly as we traversed around the base of Thumb Peak's substantial cliff to a weakness found along a small, jagged spine on the peak's south side. A Class 3 move brought us over this feature and onto a loose Class 2 ramp, leading steeply up toward the steeper cliffs above. A pleasant set of Class 3 moves took us up a weakness and onto a flatter ledge, where the summit came into view. Tyler stuck to this ledge initially but found it led nowhere. Instead, steppy blocks led away from the ledge and up to the south ridge of Thumb Peak, which appeared to be just a headwall from below.

Cresting the south ridge, we were met with some exposure. A knife-edge weaved to the summit just ahead, but while mostly solid, we'd be sticking to the left of it on less treacherous ground. Moving carefully, we hugged the crest and pulled a Class 3 move just below the final fun scrambling to the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Thumb Peak
1375 ft
605 rise

Hire me or show me some love!

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!

Starting along the dirt road through the Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness.
Starting along the dirt road through the Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness.
View back toward the main road as we hike along the old dirt road.
View back toward the main road as we hike along the old dirt road.
We left the dirt road, which was leading the wrong way to an old mining site, and headed along a social trail.
We left the dirt road, which was leading the wrong way to an old mining site, and headed along a social trail.
After rounding a corner, Thumb Peak came into view.
After rounding a corner, Thumb Peak came into view.
Navigating on various social trails and washes to reach the base of Thumb Peak.
Navigating on various social trails and washes to reach the base of Thumb Peak.
View back at our progress through the desert.
View back at our progress through the desert.
Approaching Thumb Peak.
Approaching Thumb Peak.
Ascending a bouldery Class 2 slope on the peak's north side.
Ascending a bouldery Class 2 slope on the peak's north side.
View back at the slope ascent.
View back at the slope ascent.
At the top of the slope, we traversed around the base of Thumb Peak to a weakness seen center of this photo.
At the top of the slope, we traversed around the base of Thumb Peak to a weakness seen center of this photo.
Class 3 over a weakness in a small cliff band.
Class 3 over a weakness in a small cliff band.
On the opposite side of the cliff band, we ascended this steep Class 2 ramp.
On the opposite side of the cliff band, we ascended this steep Class 2 ramp.
Farther up before getting into the good stuff.
Farther up before getting into the good stuff.
View back down the ramp we ascended.
View back down the ramp we ascended.
Class 3 at the head of the ramp.
Class 3 at the head of the ramp.
Close-up of Tyler on the Class 3.
Close-up of Tyler on the Class 3.
Tyler coming up the Class 3.
Tyler coming up the Class 3.
Higher up, above the first spurt of scrambling.
Higher up, above the first spurt of scrambling.
Thumb Peak seen on the right. It might be tempting to follow a nice ledge, but Tyler is seen top left on the proper route, which leads to the ridgeline.
Thumb Peak seen on the right. It might be tempting to follow a nice ledge, but Tyler is seen top left on the proper route, which leads to the ridgeline.
Along the Class 3 ridgeline.
Along the Class 3 ridgeline.
Tyler nearing the summit, above the crux move (shown next).
Tyler nearing the summit, above the crux move (shown next).
Tyler pulling the Class 3 crux.
Tyler pulling the Class 3 crux.
Thumb Peak summit, view back along the ridgeline.
Thumb Peak summit, view back along the ridgeline.

Hire me or show me some love!

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!