Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or These invasive plants cover ground previously open, allowing fires to spread further, faster, and hotter. I love Catalina State Park! It takes most people at least an hour and a half to get there and about the same to get back. Continue east onTangerine Road for 13.91 miles, then turn right / south onto Oracle Road. 2 Beds. .content-outer, .content-fauxcolumn-outer, .region-inner { But one of the trails that I did explore (and have since revisited) is Romero Pools Trail. All copy and images contained in this website are the property of AZ Utopia. Bring enough water. I was there two weeks ago and went to the upper pools. There is just a trickle. Bring hiking shoes or sandals that provide good traction and trekking poles to help with stability. It is not a dangerous flow. It seems like every plant on the trail wants to hurt us, from cactus thorns to agave points to spikes branches of the mesquite and palo verde. Romero Canyon Trail ends at Romero Pass, where it intersects Mt. Daylight and weather are also key- do not hike during monsoons and avoid hiking this trail at night. *Note: Always check for trail closures and weather information when planning your trip, beforehand or the day of. CF Canyon Loop Trail 6. The first arms come when they are over 100 years. You should also insure that you limit your impact on the trail and the environment. Bring a map of where you are going. Thanks for sharing your tips! Started about 2pm. This trail goes by Montrose Pools and Sutherland Trailhead. I would love to go hiking around here. Here, the trail will bring you across cliffs that stretch over narrow valleys. Here are other trails in Catalina State Park to explore while youre hiking Romero Pools. Marvel at the heights you gained on this walk up into the wilds of Arizona on the Romero Pools Trail. margin-left: -0; Type: Out and back Length: 8.2 miles Difficulty: Moderate One of the best hikes near Tucson is the trek from Bear Canyon along the Seven Falls Trail. invasive plants), is a dangerous cycle. Youll stretch your legs up and over steep steps, hop from rock to rock and carefully balance close to the trails edge. At this elevation, grasses cover the plains while the oaks prefer the valleys. Only attempt this trail if you know that you can do so safely, and turn around immediately if the hike becomes dangerous for any reason, at any time. Hike to the Romero Pools near Tuscon, Arizona. Once at the trailhead, signs will lead you into Bear Canyon and eventually to 7 Falls. Rugged Ocotillo, with their branches covered in thorns, claim the sun and the rocks while the majestic Saguaros dominate the north and east slopes that provide just a little relief from the blazing sun. I knew there was some serious fault activity in this region at some point in the past. He completed his first 14-mile day hike at age 7 in Zion National Park and was backpacking by age 11. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Just past aspur trail to Montrose Pools (a scenic, sometimes flowing, stream bed) the Romero Hiking Trail begins to climb in earnest. Windows create a light filled interior with well placed neutral accents. #layout .content-outer { The wonder grass for Arizonas ranching days is something that we ecologists call fire-adapted. width: 0; They are a juxtaposition between strength and vulnerability, taking and giving that forms this world in balance. This trail starts at the Romero Canyon Trailhead with an easy walk of about a mile. Glad I came up early because tons of hikers on my way down. The route is rugged and at water crossings, the rocks are slippery. Drive north out of Tucson on Oracle Road, which becomes Arizona 77. The elevation gain ought to get your heart rate up, but in the hottest part of the day you are asking for trouble. The best times to visit this trail are September through May. There's also a shuttle that will take you to the top and back for a small fee. The Romero Hiking Trail continues another 4.4 miles, beyond the pools, to Romero Pass (miles not included above) for those who want to hike further. Wearing hiking shoes. The views were pretty but the pools were not impressive enough to endure the long, rocky hike. Each pool sits in a stone basin, with water running down from the highest points of the mountains and down towards the desert below. We also put in points of interest to get you around Catalina State Park. And more people using the land, especially people who arent responsible, increase incidences of human-caused fire. The trail then slowly climbs up-canyon 4.4 miles to Romero Pass at 6,000 feet elevation. Trail then starts to climb and get more challenging. Total Distance: 2.8 Miles To Romero Pools If you're into waterfalls, the Romero Pools hike is a must-do. Smartest decision we made? Be advised that the Rio Canada del Oro is currently flowing (it is normally a dry wash). .main-inner .fauxcolumn-center-outer { This is where the sagebrush grows that smells so strong after a desert rain. It also takes the perfect combination of host plants and weather for them to sprout in the first place. Getting to the Romero Pools Trail is pretty simple, because it lives in Catalina State Park. It takes 10 years for a baby saguaro to reach one inch tall. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. There is also the potential for horrific consequences from irresponsible travel. The trail starts flat the first mile and then has steep incline. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. For example, Mt Graham red squirrels only live on Mt Graham and were thought to be extinct until a new family was discovered fifty years ago. I hope you can make it out! The signed entrance to the park is at Milepost 81. If you are camping, never leave your fire unattended, clear a safe area around your flames, and make sure that your fire is completely out before leaving camp. The Canyon Loop trail is an easy hike through the foothills that begins and ends at the Trailhead parking lot. min-width: 930px; Still, this looks amazing and something I would totally do if Im lucky enough to make it to Arizona. I wish Id know about the Romero Pools Trail back then! From your vantage point, storm activity may not always be visible. Saguaros are about 70 years old when they reach the height of a tall man and start blooming. ML Marshall Gulch Loop 16.ML Meadow Trail 17. HAZ uses cookies . This means at the very start (and end) you will have to wade through about 30 yards of water. Share this trail: Previous Next. Lemmon Trail (to Mt. Lost trail there. As an added bonus, the Pools themselves are a unique sight in the desert. } What we have on our hands, with buffelgrass and other exotic plant species that are spreading rapidly and hurting our native species (e.g. Sometimes these are mistakes or accidents that couldnt be helped, but other times, they are stupid mistakes or outright negligence. We love hearing from our readers. Other than that it was a great hike. This is typical sonoran desert hiking as you'll see plenty of your favorite cacti. This is a hike with a very beautiful view and definitely worth doing. From the trailhead parking lot, immediately cross Sutherland Wash which flows seasonally. But otherwise great trail! Its anything but nice to walk on because its often rough and jagged. Let them know when you are leaving, when you expect to get home, and that you will check in when you are done. Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norn, (2) Always Let Someone Know Where You Are Hiking, Romero Pools Trail: A Hiking Guide from an Arizona Local, Two Classic Short Hikes in Tucson, AZ: Tanque Verde and Tumamoc Hill, Two Challenging Grand Canyon South Rim Day Hikes. About 0.5 miles from the previous trail junction, you'll reach a signed spur trail for the Montrose Pools. Flora here is pure Arizonayoull see prickly pear cactus, ridiculously spiny cholla cactus, saguaros with arms reaching up to the sky and tall yucca plants. Quick Facts Nature, Catalina, 50-Year and Bridle Trail Loop, Sutherland, Trail Link, and Nature Trail Loop, Golder Ranch, 50 Year Trail, and Middlegate Loop, Dripping Springs Loop from Catalina State Park Back Entrance. The trail continues across the wash, deeper into the Coronado national forest, but these pools are a good turn around point. CF Pontatoc Ridge Trail 10. Max's early childhood was spent in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains in Northern Utah and his teenage years in the red rock desert of Southern Utah. A night hike to Romero Pools - sunset, centipede, sounds of water, red spotted toad, the pools by headlamp, stars, great company - 5.9 miles, +/- 1300 of elevation gain/loss. .main-inner .fauxcolumn-right-outer { However, at the end, you'll see the gorgeous pools and have views of Mt. Even though Mt Lemmon is 100 miles away, they have their own flavors of squirrels living at Summerhaven. Back when I was in undergrad, I thoroughly messed up, and didnt enjoy the AMAZING hiking opportunities that abound in the Tucson area. Pack ALL of your trash out (including toilet paper), and stay on the trail at all times (except in cases when remaining on the trail would be dangerous). The pools were great! Romero Canyon Trail. Beautiful, but rocky trail, lots of water at the pools. Youve paid your seven bucks to get in. Drive0.71miles on Oracle Road to the entrance toCatalina State Park. The hike takes you to a beautiful desert oasis set in a canyon with water that flows most, if not all of the year. Either a Diamondback or a King Snakedidnt want to get too close! Each mountain, like Mt Lemmon, is a sky island that is an isolated biosphere from other sky islands hundreds of miles away. They need the saguaros just like the saguaro needs them to distribute their fruit. Its for the strong, and spiky who give their own brand of love. CF Linda Vista Loop 8. Your email address will not be published. The water was deep enough to cut off the trail right at the start. This is a challenging day hiking up into the Catalina Mountains to a beautiful oasis. The hike to Romero Pools is Catalina State Parks most popular trail. Great hike. Same on the way back. Check out this stunner! In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. The first mile is relatively flat and an easy walk which makes for a great warm-up for the hills. Great hike to Romero Pools today. I would have given 4.5 stars. Dragging chains spark and in the dry conditions of Arizona, this can easily spark a fire. Search, find, map and plan hikes for AZ & beyond! azutopia.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You can download the trail layer to your GPS, or navigate right off your phone. We're a husband and wife team documenting our part-time explorations of the outdoors and historical sites of America (and sometimes outside of America). } Great trail that climbs up high to a series of culls before dropping you down into a series of pools Youll look dumb but feel ridiculously smart. 4 in deep at most today. Want to hike Tucsons best trails? Tell a friend or family member what trail you are planning on hiking. First aid supplies can be helpful in dire situations or in the case of an accident, however, they come in handy quite often even on hikes that go basically without a hitch. ML Wilderness of Rock 18. min-width: 930px; min-width: 0; 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. At this point, the trail narrows and begins its ascent up the ridge. jeannettefalk@aol.com 1 month, 2 weeks ago. Beneaththe sky-high peaks of the Santa Catalina Mountains, a stalwart stream has carvedan splash-worthyplayground into the surrounding granite. If its the only option, of course, go for it! SunCloud Patrol Polarized Womens Sunglasses. These giants are the old growth forest of the American Southwest. The desert isnt for the meek. ML Butterfly Trail 14. People underestimate how diverse and living the desert is. _width: 930px; After 0.3 miles, Main Avenue turns into Oracle Road or SR 77. This is a popular swimming hole in warmer months, water levels depending. Emerald Pools. This article covers the 15. Grub: none of that M&M-filled stuff. Explore more of our guides to get an inside view on the best places to visit and explore in our state. No matter what your level of physical fitness is, you are sure to break a sweat on this climb. Some water and a water crossing at the beginning. Stunning trail and the cool pools were a gift. Lots of water everywhere including parts of the trail which makes some parts slippery. This is challenging hike. When native species die, buffelgrass has more space to grow, and thus, provide more fuel for fires. However footing is key as youre climbing up quite a few rock formations. Finally, please help us find solutions to climate change. Shape your expectations based on this, and please, help us protect our mountains from further destruction. This popular trail is a paved road that crosses 9 stone bridges over Sabino Creek. Hiking through a desert must be so interesting. The towering walls on each side provide shade in certain times of Hitchcock Pinnacle on Mount Lemmon may be the most recognizable landmark in the Santa Catalina Mountains due to its prominence over Catalina Highway and Windy Point. riving along busy Oracle Road, with its plethora of housing developments and shopping malls, one does not expect the grand and wild beauty that awaits 2 Baths. if (typeof adsbygoogle.requestNonPersonalizedAds === 'undefined') { body { Plenty of water in the pools. (End of the road when you enter Catalina State Park from Oracle Rd - entrance fee required) (LogOut/ If you are in Tucson, take the 77 north to the state park. It does eventually get easier to have a conversation with whomever youre hiking with. ML Babad Do'ag Trail 13. 72K subscribers in the Tucson community. The scars of Bighorn will be apparent when you hike Romero Pools Trail now, and it may be quite depressing for a very long time. Thats why the water is there to jump in just in case. After passing through the desert, you will begin your true climb into the mountains. --> Oh darn! Such a pity about the fires and worse yet that they are because of humans. Hi! 1,732 Tucson AZ Homes for Sale. Was a little cold to get started. 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. Catalina State Park charges an entrance fee of $7/vehicle. (. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. _width: expression(this.parentNode.offsetWidth - On the ascent, hikers are treated to breathtaking views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. From the trailhead, you almost immediately crosse Sutherland Wash, which flows seasonally. Read More Download the Outbound mobile app right: 360px; //
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