Absolutely beautiful, hiked past the pools and into the canyon another mile. Invasive fountain grass in the Catalinas (c) ABR 2019, Bathroom Facilities: Yes, at the trailhead, Entrance Fee: $7.00 per vehicle (4 people) via Catalina State Park. From the trailhead, you almost immediately crosse Sutherland Wash, which flows seasonally. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. 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 When native species die, buffelgrass has more space to grow, and thus, provide more fuel for fires. They are worth taking the short side trek down to see. I hope you can make it out! Kicking off fromthe trailhead, the Romero Hiking Trailcrosses Sutherland wash a wide sandy expanse, with convenient stepping stones, that flows seasonally. Its in these washes where we have seen the black and yellow spotted gila monsters, the largest lizards of the desert. Department of Medical Imaging 1501 N. Campbell | P.O. It's true it's hard but it's a beautiful challenge. You might also consider donating to this work. Looks so gorgeous! The loop is relatively flat, although starts with a short uphill burst before leveling off. The Nightborn Travel team was born and raised in Arizona. 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. width: 360px; The subreddit for Tucson, Arizona; Tucson is a city in Arizona's Sonoran Desert A friendly chipmunk, which we spotted far from that guy <, 9 Unexpected Things You Should Pack for a Long Vacation Arizona Travels, Head lamp: good for dusk and dawn hikes. I advise you start this hike as early as possible. An observant hiker can see millions of years of geologic history in the rocks at their feet. First, as you traverse the hills on your way towards the mountains, you will notice some of the charismatic plants that everyone envisions of when they think about the Sonoran Desert- like the saguaro. 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. parseInt("360px") + 'px'); Vistas, waterfalls, lots of varied terrain. How long is Romero Pools hike? Suggest ankle support. 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. So kick-off your shoes. Nice refreshing hike when theres water. A hike in from Merrill Canyon to Romero pools in Catalina State Park. Romero Canyon Trail. "The next 1.7 miles is a steep and rocky climb to Romero Pools. Wear ankle hiking boots and bring plenty of water. Great hike! Make sure to check in when you return to your car! After 0.3 miles, turn left on Main Avenue. Windows create a light filled interior with well placed neutral accents. . Lizards of every description dart across the trail. General Information for the Romero Pools Trail Trail Length: 5.5 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 1,300+ ft Bathroom Facilities: Yes, at the trailhead Entrance Fee: $7.00 per vehicle (4 people) via Catalina State Park *Note: Always check for trail closures and weather information when planning your trip, beforehand or the day of. The hiking trail is an easy one and is quite scenic complete with pretty yellow wildflowers. Rock Springs Spur Trail to Aqua Fria River Crossing. Crossed 1st Romero pool on rocks. Bear Mountain, Sedona. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Youll stretch your legs up and over steep steps, hop from rock to rock and carefully balance close to the trails edge. Lemmon) and West Fork Sabino Trail (to Sabino Canyon). Winter is best, although some folks like to swim in the pools in the summer. 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. This is a 5.9 mile out-and-back hike with 1300 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 3-5 hours to complete. .main-inner .column-right-outer { Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If you explore different places, you will help us mitigate overtourism here, and further protect our beautiful state. Romero Canyon Pools. Bring plenty of water. Bring a map of where you are going. }. Each mountain, like Mt Lemmon, is a sky island that is an isolated biosphere from other sky islands hundreds of miles away. padding-right: 360px; Thus, when fires started, they were generally small and didnt burn at extreme temperatures. 945 Sq Ft. 816 S Langley Ave Unit 204, Tucson, AZ 85710. Remember that grass I mentioned earlier, buffelgrass? Ive done a lot more hiking this year but not really in a desert like place such as Arizona. .main-inner .columns { Should prepare your knees and leg muscles for descent. I love finding water in these remote areas. Beautiful, but rocky trail, lots of water at the pools. . To enter the Catalina State Park costs $7 per vehicle with up to four adults. We had lunch at some pools and had spectacular views along the way. This post may contain affiliate links. The Canyon Loop trail crosses a wash several times, so seasonal stream flow could impact travel. Don't worry about how busy it seems - most of the people you see are probably only going as far as the dam or picnic areas. 4 hrs This rocky trail follows yet another of the many gorgeous canyons climbing into the Catalinas. Ready for a hike? Climb to the highest peak in the Tucson Mountain. I lived in AZ for over 20 years but didnt get down to the Tucson area much. I know I did the first 2 times I went here. Some water and a water crossing at the beginning. Romero Canyon is a significant drainage and has the potential for flash flooding, so be cautious and look up the forecast before you go. You'll peak out after climbing 1000 feet. Smartest decision we made? Lemmon Trail (to Mt. The first mile is relatively flat and an easy walk which makes for a great warm-up for the hills. This part of the trail is not as steep as what you will need to tackle further on, and it also features two different ecosystems. Im sure there are things to be cautious of, but especially if its hot and closer to the summer. All copy and images contained in this website are the property of AZ Utopia. There is an old (bad) joke about the trail condition in Tucson being very gneiss (pun intended). The trail climbs up an exposed ridge and only drops into the valley at the very end. One of the most accessible major peaks in the Catalinas. While the land will heal to some extent, please know that this process will take many many years. 4. Once you reach the water, you discover how much vibrancy the Sonoran Desert brings. 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. First 1.1 miles is easy walking, smooth well-traveled trail to the Montrose pools. They are fully grown at 200, reaching a height of 45 with roots growing more than 60 around in all directions. } Cheers! Required fields are marked *. We could have taken the Romero Trail all the way to the top of Mt Lemmon (it goes). (LogOut/ From the Trailhead to Romero Pass is 7.2 miles with an elevation gain of 3,300 feet, about a five-hour hike one way. 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. As a result, so is this trail. The trailhead is located at the end of Catalina State Park road, 0.87 miles further along. Breathtaking vistas in the Romero Pass area give hikers unforgettable views of Pusch Ridge. Wasson Peak. Poor trail conditions might be encountered," they warn. Tell a friend or family member what trail you are planning on hiking. Numerous small falls and distinctly gold toned pools splash downthe canyon, every one of them worth exploring. star rate star rate star rate star rate star rate (0). 2 Baths. I could see the rose quartz crystals on the trail with the bedding plane shifted 90 degrees. This trail starts at the Romero Canyon Trailhead with an easy walk of about a mile. Their prickly thorns look like tough and impregnable but they really are following a narrow life path of conditions that give the life. Please explore responsibly! From Tucson, follow Speedway Boulevard east. 11570 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ. I loved how the Sonoran Desert shifted in each season, responding to the increases of heat and water. Glad I came up early because tons of hikers on my way down. Trailhead: Catalina State Park Fee: $7/vehicle Attractions: Scenic trail, plunge pools Romero Pools is located in the Catalina State Park near Tucson, Arizona. Glimpses of a tenaciousmountainstream, persistentlycarvingits way through the canyon, appear and disappear along the length of this rugged trail. right: 100%; Trail is very well maintained and easy to follow to the water pools. Box 245067 | Tucson, Arizona 85724 (520)-626-1069 | Admin Login You can hike the entire 7.6-mile out-and-back length, or turn around whenever you've had enough. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Making sure there were cold beers in our fridge to celebrate with when we got home. If you cross the stream and continue on about a half mile or so maybe a little less you get to see some more pools and water falls, A beautiful short day hike ending at beautiful cool pools of water and several small waterfalls. We didn't use poles and didn't miss them either. It is not a dangerous flow. Otherwise, you will find yourself chugging up the switchbacks in mid day sun. Hike to a seasonal collection of beautiful pools and waterfalls. The well worn trail is easy to follow for it's entire length to the Romero Pools. Jordan is a relatively small country with a deep and rich history and stunning natural beauty. The hike to Romero Pools is Catalina State Park's most popular trail. And make whatever changes you can in your own life to help- donate, volunteer, plant trees, and save energy. Its 5.6 miles of moderate hiking with broad, scenic views of Pusch Ridge and the Santa Catalinas, ending at pools and flowing waterfalls. Started about 2pm. About this time, they are taking in enough water to have choked out their host plant. Sutherland Trail Out-and-Back. We kept saying that the trails were much rougher than we remembered as we slugged along. Enough water at the start we had to take off our boots! Here they can send their tap roots down to harvest the water below. Please read our disclaimer. Dont show up underprepared for this one. Hike and Swim at Romero Pools near Tucson, Arizona. These larger fires then burn and kill more native species. The rugged trail climbs through craggy rock outcroppings as it heads deep into the Santa Catalina Mountains. There is a fee to enter the park: $7/veh. This moderate trail out of Catalina State Park will give you sweeping views of Oro Valley and cool pools you can dip your toes in at the end. Nature, and everyone that loves nature will thank you! margin-left: -0; The next couple miles are steep and the rocky trail climbs to the Romero Pools. Hike in to enjoy the sunshine and cool water of this famous natural swimming hole and make a memory as well. Glimpses of a tenacious mountain stream, persistently carving its way through the canyon, appear and disappear along the length of this rugged trail. Youll look dumb but feel ridiculously smart. Hiking and Inspiration from Arizonas great outdoors, $7 Day use (or Arizona State Parks Annual Pass). Medium Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools. Catalina State Park: Romero pools hike - See 801 traveler reviews, 541 candid photos, and great deals for Tucson, AZ, at Tripadvisor. Dogs are allowed for the first mile or so, after which the trail runs through Bighorn Sheep wilderness, which is strictly protected and dogs are strictly forbidden. This is our third time conquering this moderately strenuous day hike, always opting to do it in the early part of the year. Be sure to enjoy the views as you climb. An experienced Tucson hiker would dance along these crags, trying to maintain their gait and avoid touching the menacing foliage around themselves. Great hike. Area/Length : 6.6 miles Elevation : 2,800 feet - 6,000 feet The views were pretty but the pools were not impressive enough to endure the long, rocky hike. We rested for about 20 minutes before heading back to the car. The trees will grow bigger here, and the ground will become that distinct, soft sand of oases in the Sonoran Desert. This article covers the 15. Drive north out of Tucson on Oracle Road, which becomes Arizona 77. This section of the hike gains a little elevation, but is mostly flat for about 0.6 miles until you reach the next signed trail junction (JCT_1R on the map) with the Canyon Loop trail. And more people using the land, especially people who arent responsible, increase incidences of human-caused fire. Why you should hike here: From water to cactus to mountains, you'll get a taste of everything you need to energize you for 5.5 miles of hiking and still leave with a smile on your face. This means that there were many areas of open space between plants. Hikers, cyclists and equestrians alike share and enjoy the trail. We passed an ancient mortar stone where the Indians would grind mesquite pods into flour. They are a juxtaposition between strength and vulnerability, taking and giving that forms this world in balance. Oh shoot! SunCloud Patrol Polarized Womens Sunglasses. Catalina State Park Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools 72K subscribers in the Tucson community. This part might be a little difficult for beginners, but still worth it once you get to the pools. Read my Best Hikes in Tucson article or check out our individual Tucson Hiking Guides. min-width: 0; Continue east onTangerine Road for 13.91 miles, then turn right / south onto Oracle Road. March 2015. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. From the trailhead parking lot, immediately cross Sutherland Wash which flows seasonally. Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or Thats why the water is there to jump in just in case. Looking down Romero Canyon. Romero Canyon Trail ends at Romero Pass, where it intersects Mt. adventures and follow local regulations. if (typeof adsbygoogle.requestNonPersonalizedAds === 'undefined') { Bring water and snacks. Well maintained, well marked trail! ML Wilderness of Rock 18. } This was a hard hike. From Romero Pools cross Romero Pass at 6,080 feet before descending on the West Fork Trail #24 before turning south on Sabino Canyon Trail #23. //