Copyright 2019 American Expeditioners | All Rights Reserved | Photo Usage | Sitemap, 5 Free Scenic Attractions Along the Columbia River, A Day Trip Guide to Visiting Lundy Island, Driving in Great Britain: Road Trip Tips From an American Perspective, Revolutionary War Weekend, A Reenactment at George Washingtons Mount Vernon, Offroad Through Bajada Loop Drive in Saguaro National Park West, 10 Ghost Towns In Arizona That Are Actually Worth Visiting, The Ultimate Washington State Bucket List: 201 Historical & Outdoorsy Things To Do. The route is rugged and at water crossings, the rocks are slippery. The hike to Romero Pools is Catalina State Park's most popular trail. "The next 1.7 miles is a steep and rocky climb to Romero Pools. The trail starts flat the first mile and then has steep incline. Be sure to pack a bathing suit as the trail leads to a refreshing swimming pool at the base of a waterfall. --> Hiking: 5.10 Miles: 1,179 AEG: Hiking: 5.10 Miles 2 Hrs 32 Mns . Romero Pools Here is the track recorded by my Garmin GPS-III: Trail is initially sandy and flat Looking to the left, seems quite verdant for southern Arizona Climbing a little, looking back down towards the entrance Trail gets a bit rocky towards the top of the first ridge Higher still, peeking back through a gap Looking up towards the second ridge ML Marshall Gulch Loop 16.ML Meadow Trail 17. From Tucson, follow Speedway Boulevard east. How long is Romero Pools hike? Dont show up underprepared for this one. Water was flowing great at the end. _width: 930px; left: 0; The wonder grass for Arizonas ranching days is something that we ecologists call fire-adapted. Marvel at the heights you gained on this walk up into the wilds of Arizona on the Romero Pools Trail. Was in and out in four hours. Along the way, you see fields of 200-year-old saguaros and jagged rock outcroppings. It took us two and a half hours for the out and back to the Romero pools. 6.8 total Rocky but very doable. Brown Mountain If you are coming from Phoenix, you can take the I-10 down into the city and then head east to the 77, or the 79 south to the 77. I like the Sweet & Spicy Pecan mix from Trader Joes. Mature saguaros 120 root span sucks a lot of valuable water out of the ground, which keeps other plants from growing, but it also stabilizes a considerable amount of soil from washing away in the monsoon floods. _width: expression(this.parentNode.offsetWidth - If you're needing overnight lodging, then Tucson would be your best place to look. min-width: 0; No matter what your level of physical fitness is, you are sure to break a sweat on this climb. Youll stretch your legs up and over steep steps, hop from rock to rock and carefully balance close to the trails edge. However footing is key as youre climbing up quite a few rock formations. I love Catalina State Park! The Pinnacle itself features several trad, sport, and top rope routes including a series of anchors and chains at the top. Other than that it was a great hike. Take a dip. We didnt feel like the incline was all that difficult. This is challenging hike. I loved how the Sonoran Desert shifted in each season, responding to the increases of heat and water. 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. This is a popular swimming hole in warmer months, water levels depending. At this point, the trail narrows and begins its ascent up the ridge. Daylight and weather are also key- do not hike during monsoons and avoid hiking this trail at night. These pools look so pretty in the middle of the rugged landscape. Thanks for sharing your tips! We've got hundreds of well documented Arizona hikes. Below is our interactive Romero Pools trail map. AZ is one of the most biodiverse states in the US! 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 . On the Trail Looks so gorgeous! CF Pima Canyon Trail 9. About 0.5 miles from the previous trail junction, you'll reach a signed spur trail for the Montrose Pools. Day three of a through hike, from AZT Section 11 to Romero Canyon Trail. Starting from Catalina State Park, you wind your way up the rocky slopes of the Catalina Mountains for about 3-miles until you reach Romero Pools. It can be very breezy and cold at times. From anywhere south of Tucson, head into town and then jump on the 77 north. From there, we walked a little more than 3 miles. if (typeof adsbygoogle.requestNonPersonalizedAds === 'undefined') { From the trailhead parking lot, immediately cross Sutherland Wash which flows seasonally. The trail climbs up an exposed ridge and only drops into the valley at the very end. The last portion of the trail gets more difficult as the incline increases. The hiking trail is an easy one and is quite scenic complete with pretty yellow wildflowers. Romero Pools is a full sun hike, even though we ended up in a riparian area. Read my Best Hikes in Tucson article or check out our individual Tucson Hiking Guides. Up from the wash is an alluvial plain of slowly shifting soil eroding from the mountains above. Thats why the water is there to jump in just in case. 2 Baths. Length: 5.5 miles (round trip) Elevation change: 1,300 feet; Time (including travel): 4 to . It's roughly 80 feet in length. After 1.7 miles from the Montrose pools, the trail will drop into a canyon and cross the wash again. But otherwise great trail! Enough water at the start we had to take off our boots! This is a challenging day hiking up into the Catalina Mountains to a beautiful oasis. . Hi! parseInt("360px") + 'px'); 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. Continue east onTangerine Road for 13.91 miles, then turn right / south onto Oracle Road. Starting from the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area you'll want to follow signs for the Bear Canyon Trail. Before you go, please check outthe latest CDC recommendations for travelers. Romero Canyon is a significant drainage and has the potential for flash flooding, so be cautious and look up the forecast before you go. From the well signed trailhead, the first thing you'll need to do is cross a normally dry wash. When you pause, youll hear the rustling of wildlife among tall, dry grass; calls to each other with buzzes, tweets and chirps. This means at the very start (and end) you will have to wade through about 30 yards of water. } Romero Pools is a short hike that starts at the Romero Canyon Trailhead in Catalina State Park, northeast of Tucson, Arizona. 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 well worn trail is easy to follow for it's entire length to the Romero Pools. Some of these were native and others, like buffelgrass, were introduced from other parts of the world. The exposed geology makes Tucson trekking timeless. Such a pity about the fires and worse yet that they are because of humans. Fire rules are meant to help prevent fires, so please respect them. Lizards of every description dart across the trail. .main-inner .columns { Ive never been to Arizona but if I go Ill check out the Catalina Mountains and this hike. ML Butterfly Trail 14. Hiking Romero Pools is a tried and true Tucson classic. Coleman Concierge Romero Pools: Tucsons Other Hiking Trail With Water. As an added bonus, the Pools themselves are a unique sight in the desert. Catalina State Park charges an entrance fee. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. I would love to go hiking around here. 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. There was some water on the trails. 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. Lemmon. Visitors entering on foot or bicycle are $3. When you start out from the parking lot at the trailhead for the Romero Pools Trail, you will cross a creek bed and get a nice little warm up on your first hill. The first plant we noticed was the famous Saguaro cactus. I wouldnt have expected a place like this amidst the desert. 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 resource). It really is! This hike begins in the town of Summerhaven in Mount Lemmon, Tuscon AZ. Breathtaking vistas in the Romero Pass area give hikers unforgettable views of Pusch Ridge. Our first time visiting the pools was in March 2010 and second time in February of [] April 2018 is a dry year. Is Tucson Mountain Park dog friendly? I was a peak bagger at first, trying to lay claim to every summit I could see. Im sure there are things to be cautious of, but especially if its hot and closer to the summer. The signed entrance to the park is at Milepost 81. I did spot a Gila Monster, which was the highlight of my day. For the non-geologists reading Gneiss ( /nas/) is a common distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rock. // Supply ads personalization default for EEA readers Hike in to enjoy the sunshine and cool water of this famous natural swimming hole and make a memory as well. I use. Although more challenging than the previous two hikes -- it's virtually all uphill -- the reward is sweet enough that you'll quickly forget about the difficulty. Shape your expectations based on this, and please, help us protect our mountains from further destruction. Share this trail: Previous Next. A scenic hike through a desert landscape with a refreshing waterfall reward at the end. 5mi 4h 30m Show 3 More Check-Ins Nearby Recommended Routes Canyon Loop via Horse Trail 3.1 mi 285' Up 286' Down Honeybee Canyon Short Loop 12.3 mi 456' Up 457' Down Catalina, AZ Your safety is your responsibility. Also, no dogs on the second part of the trail due to bighorn sheep. This post may contain affiliate links. The water was deep enough to cut off the trail right at the start. Its in these washes where we have seen the black and yellow spotted gila monsters, the largest lizards of the desert. Let them know when you are leaving, when you expect to get home, and that you will check in when you are done. Our much older blog posts can still be found here. Trail, improvements Cool breezes on your sweaty forehead help a bit. If you're coming to Jordan, you will definitely be planning a Petra tour. Most people stop as soon as they get to the water. This is a very popular area for hiking, horse riding, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Most of the mountain-dwelling animals just cant cross the empty deserts so they have been isolated for the last 10,000 years since the shallow Arizona seas subsided. There will be a time to travel soon enough. 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. SunCloud Patrol Polarized Womens Sunglasses. All copy and images contained in this website are the property of AZ Utopia. These giants are the old growth forest of the American Southwest. #layout .content-outer { 1,732 Tucson AZ Homes for Sale. We know our state well and we love it. The Nightborn Travel team was born and raised in Arizona. Catalina State Park: Return visit after many yeard - See 809 traveler reviews, 543 candid photos, and great deals for Tucson, AZ, at Tripadvisor. Check out this stunner! Find TrailDEX Filter . min-width: 0; There are lots of spots to sit and watch the more adventurous flip and jump into the water. The first mile is relatively flat and an easy walk which makes for a great warm-up for the hills. Likewise, but more surprisingly, if you park your vehicle in grassy areas, even starting your car could spark a fire- to please be sure to avoid parking in or near grasses. Grub: none of that M&M-filled stuff. 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. Join a community with a zest for living life to its fullest. The next 1.7 miles are a steep and rocky climb to Romero Pools. Beautiful canyon. These larger fires then burn and kill more native species. Vistas, waterfalls, lots of varied terrain. Otherwise, you will find yourself chugging up the switchbacks in mid day sun. Below, Ive listed the five things I always keep in my Camelback (other than water, duh). 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. These pools are also home to bighorn sheep, which need surface water to survive. There is a water crossing at the beginning that youre probably going to get your socks and shoes wet. The first 1.1 miles is relatively flat and an easy walk (up to the end of this point, no dogs are allowed). No problem crossing the creek in hiking boots. right: 100%; Catalina State Park: Romero pools hike - See 801 traveler reviews, 541 candid photos, and great deals for Tucson, AZ, at Tripadvisor. 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. And make whatever changes you can in your own life to help- donate, volunteer, plant trees, and save energy.