The fire sounds devastating but nature is resilient! Follow along for practical tips and inspiring advice. Join a community with a zest for living life to its fullest. Fueled by breakfast burritos from El Gero Canelo, Rob and I headed out on a beautiful 70-degree morning for Catalina State Park. In the past, lightning could light fires in the desert, but the pre-colonial Sonoran Desert was patchy. At this elevation, grasses cover the plains while the oaks prefer the valleys. Other than that it was a great hike. Beautiful looking hike. Did not even stop at pools, as the rest uwas so much better. This is after about an hour long drive up a 25 mile paved, winding road. Bear Mountain is one of the best hikes in Arizona, . Then, I used Tucson hiking as training for places like Havasu Falls or Angels Landing. Bring lots of water and be careful on the rocks in the pools, as they are quite slippery! They are fully grown at 200, reaching a height of 45 with roots growing more than 60 around in all directions. Here, the trail will bring you across cliffs that stretch over narrow valleys. Oh darn! This is challenging hike. The first 1.1 miles is relatively flat and an easy walk (up to the end of this point, no dogs are allowed). Here exposed points of bedrock (Gneiss) poke through the alluvium. We also put in points of interest to get you around Catalina State Park. Was in and out in four hours. We didn't use poles and didn't miss them either. I loved how fiercely independent yet interdependent each plant and animal was with each other. The next couple miles are steep and the rocky trail climbs to the Romero Pools. These giants are the old growth forest of the American Southwest. Explore more of our guides to get an inside view on the best places to visit and explore in our state. The best times to visit this trail are September through May. They need the saguaros just like the saguaro needs them to distribute their fruit. Poor trail conditions might be encountered," they warn. 945 Sq Ft. 816 S Langley Ave Unit 204, Tucson, AZ 85710. Glimpses of a tenacious mountain stream, persistently carving its way through the canyon, appear and disappear along the length of this rugged trail. margin-left: -0; We had lunch at some pools and had spectacular views along the way. (. Beautiful weather and the water was running. Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools Hard 4.6 (2944) Catalina State Park Photos (3,326) Directions Print/PDF map Length 5.5 miElevation gain 1,322 ftRoute type Out & back Try this 5.5-mile out-and-back trail near Catalina, Arizona. I imagine theyre most full during monsoon season, but its brutally hot then. In each of these zones, an entirely new set of plants animals live. Jordan is a relatively small country with a deep and rich history and stunning natural beauty. When native species die, buffelgrass has more space to grow, and thus, provide more fuel for fires. Thanks for sharing your tips! Join me now for this guide of the Romero Pools Trail- if you are visiting Tucson post-2020, this is a must-add for any hikers bucketlist. Even though Mt Lemmon is 100 miles away, they have their own flavors of squirrels living at Summerhaven. That being said go for it - its beautiful and worth it. Steep ascents remind you how out of shape you are, while flat spaces between climbs provide a welcome respite (and also keep this hike ranked a 3 on trailvoyant.com, a local Tucson hiking . If you're coming to Jordan, you will definitely be planning a Petra tour. It's 5.6 miles of moderate hiking with broad, scenic views of Pusch Ridge and the Santa Catalinas, ending at pools and flowing waterfalls. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. 72K subscribers in the Tucson community. Beautiful hike. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 58 min to complete. (Did you know that if a saguaro is burned 30%+, it will die?) The first mile is relatively flat and an easy walk which. And more people using the land, especially people who arent responsible, increase incidences of human-caused fire. From the well signed trailhead, the first thing you'll need to do is cross a normally dry wash. Sutherland Trail Out-and-Back. Romero Canyon is in the heart of the Pusch Wilderness, where Bighorn Sheep have been reintroduced and are protected. This is a popular swimming hole in warmer months, water levels depending. Its not only the changes in altitude, but also where you are on the hillside that creates different life zone. There is just a trickle. I love Catalina State Park! As a result, it is the most popular hike in Catalina State Park. The trailhead is located at the end of Catalina State Park road, 0.87 miles further along. Its for the strong, and spiky who give their own brand of love. This 13-day luxury Jordan itinerary takes you from the green hills of the north, Berry Creek Falls Loop at Big Basin Redwoods State Park- A Hiking Guide. We would be hiking through more climate zones than if we drove from Mexico to Canada. There was some water on the trails. Rock Springs Spur Trail to Aqua Fria River Crossing. Read More Download the Outbound mobile app Cool breezes on your sweaty forehead help a bit. This article covers the 15. The Nightborn Travel team was born and raised in Arizona. If you arrive and the first pools feel a bit crowded, just continue up the wash. You are sure to find a serene location to take a dip. You may think that wildfires are natural to the Sonoran Desert, and in a way, you are right. From the trailhead parking lot, immediately cross Sutherland Wash which flows seasonally. Be sure to enjoy the views as you climb. A handkerchief: use it to soak up sweat, pour some water over it and tie it around your neck to cool you down, tie it around an unfortunate injury as a bandagethe possibilities are endless. Suggest ankle support. } Beautiful views, though very busy. Directions: From the 1-10 (north of Tucson) take exit 240 east onto Tangerine Road. The desert isnt for the meek. 4 in deep at most today. Some water and a water crossing at the beginning. Camping is limited to 14 nights in a 30-day period. I loved it! If you live in the area or are here for a while, consider volunteering for invasive plant management activities- these might include removals or treatments. 91 votes, 17 comments. This is a moderate hike due to the 1000 ft steady climb.