Marcus Landslide

Photo azgs.az.gov

The new Tom Thumb Trailhead that opens today (see blog 10/17) allows access to the Marcus Landslide Interpretative Trail.  Over 500,000 years ago, 5.5 million cubic meters of rock slide off the McDowells.  This geological phenomenon went unnoticed until geology students on a field trip in 2002 noticed strange patterns in the flowers.  Huge boulders the size of cars and small houses fill the slide mass, making the area distinguishable.  This is one of the few geological interpretative trails in the nation, so worth a hike.

Third in series "Wings over the Preserve."