Romero Pools (Catalina State Park)

In my opinion the best time to hike in Tucson (and other desert locales) is the winter, while temperatures are still manageable. You will not find me hiking in the desert during the long hot summers, where temperatures can literally be deadly, and surviving the heat takes precedence over enjoying your surroundings. Average February temperatures in Tucson are supposed to be around 68 degrees, but on the day we hiked to the Romero Pools in Catalina State Park, we were in the midst of almost record breaking temperatures, with a heat wave inching the mercury up into the high 80’s. We hit the trail early(ish) at 9:30 a.m. so we could leisurely cover the 5.8-mile round trip hike before hitting the heat of the day. We weren’t entirely successful on that count, hot is hot, and it didn’t take long for things to warm right up. Still, we managed to get to the Romero Pools and back in one piece along a sometimes rugged trail that climbed nearly 1000 feet. 

The Romero Canyon trail is probably the most popular destination in the Catalina State Park area, and taking the trail up to the pools (created by snowmelt from the surrounding mountains) leads to a wonderful spot to swim, relax, have a bite to eat, and listen to the water tumbling down over huge rock formations. The first part of the trail is a wide dirt road, but after about a mile you begin the descent to the top, scrambling over rocks and negotiating footing in many areas. The first signs of spring were already showing themselves. We saw bright green leaves beginning to emerge on the ocotillo cactus, a stray wildflower blooming here and there, and a couple of blooms on the cactus. We were very pleased and excited to see a group of Bighorn Sheep feeding on the side of a hill, who seemed to stop and pose for us as we rounded a corner on our way down from the pools. The desert is a beautiful place that, despite what logic seems to dictate, is a vibrant ecosystem teeming with diversity and a wide variety of lifeforms. 

Wasson Peak Hike (Saguaro National Park, Tucson, AZ)

The week following the Prison Camp hike (see post below), Dan and I once again joined the hiking group from our RV Park for another trek into the desert and mountains, this time to Wasson Peak. At first glance, it would seem that most desert hikes in the Tucson area are all the same. And there is no doubt about it, in this environment you will see acres and acres of cactus (especially the ever-present Saguaro and Teddy Bear Cholla), with a landscape that appears to be unchanging, as far as the eye can see. But, if you pay close enough attention, you will find something unique on every trail – variation in plant life, subtle changes in color, light, and shadow, the absence or presence of water, views from the top of the mountain, and possibly even wildlife sightings. 

Our January 26^th hike began at the Hugh Norris Trail located in the Saguaro National Park, and is the most popular choice for reaching Wasson Peak, climbing about 2200-feet and 5.5-miles before reaching the top. Although it was an effort to make this climb, the sweeping panoramas from the summit were well worth it, including the Brown Mountain and Golden Gate Mountain to the south, the Rincon and Santa Catalina mountain ranges to the east, and Mount Lemmon (one of the Tucson area’s tallest mountains) to the east. After a brief rest at the summit for lunch, and to take in the views, it was 5.5-miles back down the hill. But, I found it hard to complain too much after finding out that two of the men in our group were aged 88 and 89 (and one of them a hike leader). To me, that was as impressive as everything else about this hike! 

Prison Camp to Sycamore Reservoir Hike (Tucson, AZ)

Because Dan and I enjoy hiking so much, we really appreciate all the opportunities for hitting the trail in the Tucson area. You don’t have to look far to find books, websites, and hiking groups providing information and meet-ups for hikes in the desert, mountains, and flatlands covering all levels of hiking preferences and abilities. Recently we joined a group from our RV Park for a trek into the Catalina Mountains, on the Prison Camp to Sycamore Reservoir Trail. Part of the Arizona Trail, this hike starts from the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site, named for Dr. Gordon Hirabayashi who was imprisoned during World War II for resisting the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans – a conviction that was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1987. 

The hike began in the parking lot near the campground, and ended at the Sycamore Dam, constructed to create the reservoir which provided water for the Prison Camp. The morning started out quite cold, with frozen patches of ground to negotiate, and patches of snow from a recent storm still lingering in shady areas. But before long the sun and the climb warmed things up, and extra layers of clothing started coming off. The dam was our turning point, although for those interested, there are trails that continue on. This was a nice introductory hike in the Catalina Mountains, with a small elevation gain, mountain views, and desert landscapes.