View Full Version : Hiking near Tuscon, AZ
I'll be in Tuscon, AZ for a training the first week in April. I'd like to get a 3-4 day solo backpacking trip in while out there. Any suggestions? What kind of weather can I expect that time of year?
Thanks.
I havn't hiked any of it, but the Catalina Mtns are right outside of town. I have driven the road a few times and it is beautiful.
Spirit Walker
10-05-2008, 11:13
April is a beautiful month in the desert. Lots of wildflowers. There may still be snow up in the high country, so prepare for cold nights. Water will depend on winter snowfall, but there is usually some water in the mountains in the spring.
Saguaro NP East has some excellent trails for backpacking. You need a camping permit, but that time of year it shouldn't be too difficult to get one. My first ever backpacking trip was a four day trip in the Rincons at Easter. It was warm and sunny down low, cold and with snow patches up at 8000'.
You could also hike in the Catalinas to the north of town, starting at Sabino Canyon and hiking up Mt. Lemmon. Again, you will run into snow at the upper elevations. The advantage of the Catalinas is that you don't need to deal with permits.
Both mountain ranges have some good elevation gain as you hike from Sonora desert to the lodgepole pines but the trails aren't difficult. I think the grade was about 500'/mile.
http://www.nps.gov/chir/
A little bit out of Tucson, about 100 miles or so, but there are loads of trails that could be strung together for a good backpacking trip. The website has the list of hiking trails, and the folks at the visitor center were real helpful when I was planning a trip there a couple years ago.
If you go there, make sure you include the Heart of Rocks loop trail - some really neat rock formations and views down to the desert floor from the "sky island". I was there in February, there was no snow during my visit, but nights were below freezing, days were very comfortable, sunsets pretty incredible.
Here is a link to a preserve about 50 miles from Tucson. Will need a permit but it is worth it. Big Horn sheep, deer, slot canyons. Check it out.
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/arizona/preserves/art1946.html
Sorry, I now see that you are no longer able to camp in the middle of the preserve, only at the campsites at either end. When I went you could camp anywhere you wanted. Its time to move, AZ is getting too crowded.
I suggest the Pima Canyon Trail on the North side of Tucson. It is close to town and goes through some spectacular scenery in the Catalina Mountains. The base of the trail starts at about 2900 feet with cactus and desert plants. It goes up the canyon which often has water. The top of the saddle is about 6900 feet. You can also go to the top of Mt. Lemon which is 9157 feet above sea level, has pine trees and gets about 180 inches of snow a year. The weather at the base will normally be 75 to 85 degrees and will probably decrease about 3 degrees for each 1000 feet up you go. Definately bring a tent or tarp, because it has been sunny and warm at the base while it is snowing on the mountain.
Lots of good stuff to investigate. Much obliged!
Dirty Harry
10-07-2008, 00:12
The Arizona Trail runs thru the Catalinas. The Mt Lemmon area is pretty nice. Its about 30 miles from Tucson. 25 of those miles are in the park, which starts from 3000-9000+ where it ends on MT Lemmon. I think you would deff be missing monson season out there which is a plus. Ryan Adams fan?
fiddlehead
10-07-2008, 00:51
Why not start at the border and do the first few days of the AZ trail.
I believe it starts at high elevation and you might still even hit snow that time of year.
But for general hiking in AZ, i believe April is the best month of all.
I'll be in AZ in a few weeks hiking with some of my PCT friends there. (I will send you a PM telling you my secret hiking in that state.)
taildragger
10-07-2008, 00:58
Catalinas look cool, lots of traffic though from what I've heard
The images in my gallery are from the 4 peaks (outside of Phoenix, and that was a cool hike, be prepared to bushwhack, trail is a very lightly used word in those mountains)
Shutterbug
10-11-2008, 19:23
Sorry, I now see that you are no longer able to camp in the middle of the preserve, only at the campsites at either end. When I went you could camp anywhere you wanted. Its time to move, AZ is getting too crowded.
I don't know where you read that camping is not allowed. I did that hike just a few months ago and camped in the Canyon. It is a great hike if you don't mind getting your feet wet.
PS: After doing some research, I believe I understand. The Nature Conservancy site says that no camping is allowed in the "preserve." That is the land controlled by the Nature Conservancy. The Canyon itself isn't part of the Nature Conservancy land. It is government owned land controlled by the BLM. The BLM site says that you can camp a maximum of 2 nights.
Shutterbug
10-11-2008, 19:35
I'll be in Tuscon, AZ for a training the first week in April. I'd like to get a 3-4 day solo backpacking trip in while out there. Any suggestions? What kind of weather can I expect that time of year?
Thanks.
There are many good hiking opportunities around Tucson. I spend part of the Winter in Green Valley, so a lot of my hikes are from Madera Canyon. It is about 45 minutes south of Tucson. There are several trail heads there. The Madera Canyon nature trail is an easy hike with lots of birds and wild life. The Josephine Saddle trail is steep enough to be a challenge, but if you really want to huff and puff try the trail named "Very Steep Trail/Vault Mine." It is named "Very Steep" for a reason.
I also hike in the Saguaro National Park, east. There are good day hikes. If you want backpacking, the trails lead into the Rincon Mountains.
Every hiker that visits Tucson should climb Picacho Peak. It stands beside I10 between Tucson and Phoenix. The final quarter of a mile is steep enough that hikers use wire ropes to climb to the top. The view from the peak is worth the effort.
Shutterbug
10-11-2008, 19:49
I'll be in Tuscon, AZ for a training the first week in April. I'd like to get a 3-4 day solo backpacking trip in while out there. Any suggestions? What kind of weather can I expect that time of year?
Thanks.
The first time I read your post, I missed the 3-4 day part. My recommendation for a 3 or 4 day hike would be the Aravaipa Canyon that yaduck9 suggested.
Here is another link:
http://www.arizonahikingtrails.com/hikingpages/aravaipa.html
I did it as an overnight trip, but wished that I would have made a 3 or 4 day hike out of it. The Canyon is 10 miles long, but there are lots of side Canyons to explore. The best way to explore the canyon is to make a base camp in the middle, then work out from the base camp into the various side canyons.
Here is a link to the pictures of my trip from April of this year --
http://picasaweb.google.com/shutterbug.dave/AravaipaCanyonWilderness#
Shutterbug
10-11-2008, 19:57
I see where you read that no camping is allowed, but I don't think that is accurate. I camped there in April of '08. Unless the rules have changed since then, camping is allowed.