Romero Canyon Trail. Directions: From the 1-10 (north of Tucson) take exit 240 east onto Tangerine Road. Emerald Pools. Views were beautiful as you got farther into the mountains. I love finding water in these remote areas. All content is for entertainment purposes only. The route is rugged and at water crossings, the rocks are slippery. Catalina State Park charges an entrance fee. These invasive plants cover ground previously open, allowing fires to spread further, faster, and hotter. Was in and out in four hours. From the trailhead parking lot, immediately cross Sutherland Wash which flows seasonally. 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. Shape your expectations based on this, and please, help us protect our mountains from further destruction. Drive north out of Tucson on Oracle Road, which becomes Arizona 77. Daylight and weather are also key- do not hike during monsoons and avoid hiking this trail at night. Is Tucson Mountain Park dog friendly? Oh shoot! 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. We could have taken the Romero Trail all the way to the top of Mt Lemmon (it goes). The Pinnacle itself features several trad, sport, and top rope routes including a series of anchors and chains at the top. And then eventually, eventually, youll hear running water. Hike Length: 3.2 Miles roundtrip to the furthest pool; Trail Difficulty: 1st pool is easy | 2nd and 3rd pool are difficult Trailhead Location: At Zion Lodge (Stop 5) Lower Emerald Falls. Another Tucson-area hike, Romero Pools is a 5.5-mile adventure through Catalina State Park. Bring lots of water and be careful on the rocks in the pools, as they are quite slippery! This is where the sagebrush grows that smells so strong after a desert rain. There is always something going on (bird tours, music nights) and many trails to travel. Leave a comment (up top, to the left) and let me know! Id love to hike there. Difficulty: Moderate; Distance: 5.5 miles; Elevation Gain: 1,322 feet; _width: expression(this.parentNode.offsetWidth - Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools Hard 4.6 (2919) Catalina State Park Photos (3,289) Directions Print/PDF map Length 8.9 kmElevation gain 403 mRoute type Out & Back Explore this 8.9-km out-and-back trail near Catalina, Arizona. Bring plenty of water. After passing through the desert, you will begin your true climb into the mountains. The hike to Romero Pools measures 2.8 miles one-way, and the downhill return is much easier. Hiking and Inspiration from Arizonas great outdoors, $7 Day use (or Arizona State Parks Annual Pass). Sometimes these are mistakes or accidents that couldnt be helped, but other times, they are stupid mistakes or outright negligence. Make sure to check in when you return to your car! Take a dip. The hike begins at Romero Canyon Trailhead. However footing is key as youre climbing up quite a few rock formations. Basic HTML is allowed. This means at the very start (and end) you will have to wade through about 30 yards of water. When you pause, youll hear the rustling of wildlife among tall, dry grass; calls to each other with buzzes, tweets and chirps. Round trip including a stop for lunch took just over 4 hrs 15 minutes. --> . Romero Pools sits at about 4000, which is just the start of the pinon oak forest. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. /* IE6 does not respect left and right together */ Youll stretch your legs up and over steep steps, hop from rock to rock and carefully balance close to the trails edge. Sign up below for new hiking guides, trip reports, gear reviews, and more. This article covers the 15. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Area/Length : 6.6 miles Elevation : 2,800 feet - 6,000 feet Avoid Dehydration Return to top Supervisor's Office 300 W. Congress St. Tucson, AZ 85701 (520) 388-8300 Contact Us Recreation.gov askUSDA Report Fraud on USDA Contracts Accessibility Statement WhiteHouse.gov Policies and Links Visit OIG Privacy Policy Lemmon. } From the well signed trailhead, the first thing you'll need to do is cross a normally dry wash. Want to hike Tucsons best trails? 4 hrs This rocky trail follows yet another of the many gorgeous canyons climbing into the Catalinas. Day-use fees are $7 per car (1-4 adults) or $3 per person for walkers or bicyclists. Great hike! // See https://www.blogger.com/go/adspersonalization (LogOut/ (say the g as an h>sah-wah-roh). The first plant we noticed was the famous Saguaro cactus. don 8 months, 2 weeks ago. This post may contain affiliate links. If you are out of shape, this could be gut wrenching but perseverance is well-rewarded. The pools are formed along a stream bed and water flows seasonally. Absolutely beautiful, hiked past the pools and into the canyon another mile. Most people stop as soon as they get to the water. The subreddit for Tucson, Arizona; Tucson is a city in Arizona's Sonoran Desert } An observant hiker can see millions of years of geologic history in the rocks at their feet. Always a gorgeous hike! It took us two and a half hours for the out and back to the Romero pools. 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. The trees will grow bigger here, and the ground will become that distinct, soft sand of oases in the Sonoran Desert. Nestled in Arizona's Catalina State Park, just north of Tuscon, are the Romero Pools. Please read our disclaimer. Tucson has SO many amazing hikes! March 2015. 91 votes, 17 comments. Romero Canyon Pools. .main-inner .fauxcolumn-center-outer { Finally, please help us find solutions to climate change. Length: 6.5 miles to the pools and back The views along the trail to the Romero Pools will take your breath awayif you have any breath left, that is. . This home has fresh interior paint and new appliances. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. AZ is one of the most biodiverse states in the US! Be sure to pack a bathing suit as the trail leads to a refreshing swimming pool at the base of a waterfall. This hike begins in the town of Summerhaven in Mount Lemmon, Tuscon AZ. This means that buffelgrass thrives after wildfires; it grows back quickly, its seeds benefit from the fire, and in Arizona, fires also wipe out competitive species, making more room for buffelgrass. The trail is lined with p At the main parking lot of Sabino Canyon, there are a few different trams you can take to nearby trailheads. The trailhead is located at the end of Catalina State Park road, 0.87 miles further along. These larger fires then burn and kill more native species. Bear Mountain is one of the best hikes in Arizona, . April 2018 is a dry year. Change). Felt more like a medium trail. The elevation gain ought to get your heart rate up, but in the hottest part of the day you are asking for trouble. Take it easygo slow, take breaks. invasive plants), is a dangerous cycle. I loved it! We had lunch at some pools and had spectacular views along the way. Lemmon) and West Fork Sabino Trail (to Sabino Canyon). Brown Mountain We know our state well and we love it. Hiking Romero Pools is a tried and true Tucson classic. The Romero Pools Trail is not appropriate for people that are not prepared via supplies and physical ability. ML Butterfly Trail 14. The trail climbs up an exposed ridge and only drops into the valley at the very end. But otherwise great trail! We also put in points of interest to get you around Catalina State Park. } Up to Romero pools in about 2 hrs, down and back to trailhead in about 1 1/2 hours for this senior citizen of 71 years. Rock Springs Spur Trail to Aqua Fria River Crossing. The trail starts flat the first mile and then has steep incline. For instance, if you develop blisters and/or hot spots, you can use your supplies to prevent further damage to your feet and continue moving. Its in these washes where we have seen the black and yellow spotted gila monsters, the largest lizards of the desert. Required fields are marked *. Takes months to expire, is durable in packs that might see some abuse and doesnt melt all over your hands. There is also the potential for horrific consequences from irresponsible travel. If you are in Tucson, take the 77 north to the state park. We would be hiking through more climate zones than if we drove from Mexico to Canada. It's true it's hard but it's a beautiful challenge. Each pool sits in a stone basin, with water running down from the highest points of the mountains and down towards the desert below. Ive lived here my whole life and I still learn about new trails every day. Continue your trek upwards, exploring the small riparian forest and particularly bushy grasses surrounding the water. Lemmon Trail (to Mt. Oh darn! Petrified Forest National Part and North Eastern AZ, Granite Mountain (McDowell Sonoran Preserve), Box Canyon (Christopher Creek- *Technical), San Tan Regional Park - San Tan trail loops, Petrified Forest National Park and North Eastern AZ. The first arms come when they are over 100 years. body { I would have given 4.5 stars. Generator hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Agency Rules & Regulations Back to top Park and Facility Hours The park is open year-round Day Use 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. daily Visitor Center/Park Store 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily Thanksgiving: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Nice refreshing hike when theres water. Just past aspur trail to Montrose Pools (a scenic, sometimes flowing, stream bed) the Romero Hiking Trail begins to climb in earnest. The pools are a system of puddles and streams, ranging from relatively still to flowing waterfalls that feed deep swimming holes surrounded by smooth rock. While the land will heal to some extent, please know that this process will take many many years. Its 5.6 miles of moderate hiking with broad, scenic views of Pusch Ridge and the Santa Catalinas, ending at pools and flowing waterfalls. Mount Kimball. If you're needing overnight lodging, then Tucson would be your best place to look. Continue north. Dogs are not allowed. . 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. }. Its for the strong, and spiky who give their own brand of love. Once we realize that we are only an observer, we could see the true beauty and diversity of life here. The trail now starts to gain elevation more aggressively and steadily for the remainder of the hike to the pools. This is a very popular area for hiking, horse riding, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Don't expect much solitude here. Your safety is your responsibility. The first 1.1 miles is relatively flat and an easy walk (up to the end of this point, no dogs are allowed). He's now a full-time nomad and travels the American West in an RV with his wife Kim and daughter Maia, doing hikes along the way. The desert is far more full of life than many people expect! However, Romero Pools has recently been impacted by a massive wildfire that happened in 2020- so besides being an attraction for its beauty and work out status, this trail is also a showcase of what fire can and does do in Arizona. Bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, hat/glasses as there is very little shade on this moderately strenuous trail. The water at the pools is usually very cold, which can be really nice on a hot day. If you look closely, you can even see a few red barked Manzanita extending their range down from the mid altitude mountains where they thrive. For us, it was a bit of a slug fest. place Pima County, Arizona . I would love to go hiking around here. Also, no dogs on the second part of the trail due to bighorn sheep. Making sure there were cold beers in our fridge to celebrate with when we got home. Loved the views and the scenery. HAZ uses cookies . Your email address will not be published. padding-right: 360px; After enjoying the pools, return the way you came. They are a juxtaposition between strength and vulnerability, taking and giving that forms this world in balance.

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