Tucson has SO many amazing hikes! Bring water and snacks. Climb to the highest peak in the Tucson Mountain. It does eventually get easier to have a conversation with whomever youre hiking with. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. These pools are also home to bighorn sheep, which need surface water to survive. There will be a restroom and a very small shop there. Only attempt this trail if you know that you can do so safely, and turn around immediately if the hike becomes dangerous for any reason, at any time. Takes months to expire, is durable in packs that might see some abuse and doesnt melt all over your hands. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. (say the g as an h>sah-wah-roh). jeannettefalk@aol.com 1 month, 2 weeks ago. Not hard but moderate difficulty. 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. First aid supplies can be helpful in dire situations or in the case of an accident, however, they come in handy quite often even on hikes that go basically without a hitch. Their prickly thorns look like tough and impregnable but they really are following a narrow life path of conditions that give the life. It is not a dangerous flow. Our hike started in the Sutherland Wash, a dry waterway filled with wispy mesquite trees that send tap roots down to the water table below. Did not even stop at pools, as the rest uwas so much better. Lemmon. Read my Best Hikes in Tucson article or check out our individual Tucson Hiking Guides. Romero Pools is a short hike that starts at the Romero Canyon Trailhead in Catalina State Park, northeast of Tucson, Arizona. 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. Bring lots of water and be careful on the rocks in the pools, as they are quite slippery! Change). Another Tucson-area hike, Romero Pools is a 5.5-mile adventure through Catalina State Park. right: 360px; Romero Canyon Pools. } (End of the road when you enter Catalina State Park from Oracle Rd - entrance fee required) I visited a friend in Tucson, Arizona for about a month in 2005 and didnt get much hiking in, and Ive been kicking myself ever since. Everyone needs to be aware of this huge impact, how to help mitigation the impacts of these natural disasters, and what it means for us here on the West Coast. Ive never been to Arizona but if I go Ill check out the Catalina Mountains and this hike. A scenic hike through a desert landscape with a refreshing waterfall reward at the end. Both should only be done with organizations that know how to safely carry out these activities. Hikers should leave ample time for a return trip from Romero Pass, which is about a five-hour one-way hike. Rock Springs Spur Trail to Aqua Fria River Crossing. March 2015. Long Hike: to Romero Spring 10 miles - B+ Short Hike: To Romero Pools 6 miles - B Alltrails description and map of the hike Directions: Take 1-10 south and take Exit 240. The water at the pools is usually very cold, which can be really nice on a hot day. .main-inner .fauxcolumn-center-outer { } Check out this stunner! width: 360px; We hiked out wilderness of rocks to marshall gulch. Park at the end of the road. [CDATA[ window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : '1666689300261983', xfbml : true, version : 'v2.5' }); }; (function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); // ]]> Crisp, clear pools and waterfalls are splash perfect, on Romero Hiking Trail. Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norn, (2) Always Let Someone Know Where You Are Hiking, Romero Pools Trail: A Hiking Guide from an Arizona Local, Two Classic Short Hikes in Tucson, AZ: Tanque Verde and Tumamoc Hill, Two Challenging Grand Canyon South Rim Day Hikes. Join a community with a zest for living life to its fullest. 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. "All county trails and parks that allow dogs require dogs to be on a leash at all times. Other than that it was a great hike. In each of these zones, an entirely new set of plants animals live. CF Pontatoc Ridge Trail 10. Lots of water everywhere including parts of the trail which makes some parts slippery. The rugged trail climbs through craggy rock outcroppings as it heads deep into the Santa Catalina Mountains. As a result, so is this trail. We would be hiking through more climate zones than if we drove from Mexico to Canada. Help hold major polluting companies accountable for their impacts so that they will innovate on solutions. Tucson, AZ. Either a Diamondback or a King Snakedidnt want to get too close! 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. Enough water at the start we had to take off our boots! The first plant we noticed was the famous Saguaro cactus. We took our boots off and waded across the steadily flowing wash. Once on the other side of the wash, you'll reach a trailhead junction. We love hearing from our readers. We had to ford the stream at the start of the hike. Was a little cold to get started. This article covers the 15. Along the way, you see fields of 200-year-old saguaros and jagged rock outcroppings. Plenty of water in the pools. . And more people using the land, especially people who arent responsible, increase incidences of human-caused fire. Each pool sits in a stone basin, with water running down from the highest points of the mountains and down towards the desert below. You'll need to leave pups at home dogs aren't allowed on this trail. The Canyon Loop trail is an easy hike through the foothills that begins and ends at the Trailhead parking lot. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We are a travel couple dedicated to choosing a life full of fun and finding adventures worth sharing. But one of the trails that I did explore (and have since revisited) is Romero Pools Trail. Experience the brilliance of poppies in the springtime on the Sutherland Trail. Here they can send their tap roots down to harvest the water below. 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 Youll look dumb but feel ridiculously smart. The next couple miles are steep and the rocky trail climbs to the Romero Pools. The signed entrance to the park is at Milepost 81. 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. Bring hiking shoes or sandals that provide good traction and trekking poles to help with stability. Youll stretch your legs up and over steep steps, hop from rock to rock and carefully balance close to the trails edge. Edit Sights to See Sutherland Trailhead Montrose Pools Add a Report donnasitesrealtor 1 week, 6 days ago dudic.gary 1 year, 10 months ago 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. Bring a map of where you are going. parseInt("360px") + 'px'); _width: 930px; Follow along for practical tips and inspiring advice. parseInt("0") - I loved it! Most people stop too soon. after 1.1 miles, we reached the foothills. I was a peak bagger at first, trying to lay claim to every summit I could see. Climb is tough, but the water at the end is great. star rate star rate star rate star rate star rate (0). Our much older blog posts can still be found here. 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. 2 Baths. Plan on two hours of walking one way from the Trailhead to the pools. Sign up below for new hiking guides, trip reports, gear reviews, and more. From the trailhead, you almost immediately crosse Sutherland Wash, which flows seasonally. Pack ALL of your trash out (including toilet paper), and stay on the trail at all times (except in cases when remaining on the trail would be dangerous). Sometimes these are mistakes or accidents that couldnt be helped, but other times, they are stupid mistakes or outright negligence. You may think that wildfires are natural to the Sonoran Desert, and in a way, you are right. Your email address will not be published. body { Look closer at an old saguaro to see all kinds of cracks and holes that animals live in. This cycle will change the landscape of the Sonoran Desert forever, unless we do something. 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. Hiking info for Romero Pools via Romero Canyon, located in Catalina State Park, Arizona. You'll be sharing the trail with 20-40 other hikers. Every view is amazing on this trail, and for any hiker, local or visiting, this should be on your bucketlist. These pools look so pretty in the middle of the rugged landscape. Beautiful, but rocky trail, lots of water at the pools. Length: 6.5 miles to the pools and back. When native species die, buffelgrass has more space to grow, and thus, provide more fuel for fires. Brown Mountain Take it easygo slow, take breaks. Was in and out in four hours. Emerald Pools Trail is one of the most unique and interesting trails in Zion National Park. One of Tucsons favorite hikes, I write up my experience on a trek to the Romero Pools. Getting to the Romero Pools Trail is pretty simple, because it lives in Catalina State Park. Mount Kimball. You might as well explore a little. There was snow over night but the trail was in Great shape. Explore more of our guides to get an inside view on the best places to visit and explore in our state. Starting from the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area you'll want to follow signs for the Bear Canyon Trail. There was some water on the trails. The trail starts flat the first mile and then has steep incline. .main-inner .fauxcolumn-left-outer { A hike in from Merrill Canyon to Romero pools in Catalina State Park. Once you reach Summerhaven, drive up Carter Canyon Rd. From the Trailhead to Romero Pools is 2.8 miles with an elevation gain of 900 feet. The pools are formed along a stream bed and water flows seasonally. 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 The mountains are also powerful and awe-inspiring, with craggy peaks that reach up from the desert to heights that make forests possible. } This is our third time conquering this moderately strenuous day hike, always opting to do it in the early part of the year. The pools were just amazing and felt like a hidden paradise. *Note: Always check for trail closures and weather information when planning your trip, beforehand or the day of. After enjoying the pools, return the way you came. About 0.5 miles from the previous trail junction, you'll reach a signed spur trail for the Montrose Pools. Well maintained, well marked trail! From the well signed trailhead, the first thing you'll need to do is cross a normally dry wash. Dont show up underprepared for this one. 1,732 Tucson AZ Homes for Sale. }. Round trip including a stop for lunch took just over 4 hrs 15 minutes. If you live in the area or are here for a while, consider volunteering for invasive plant management activities- these might include removals or treatments. And make whatever changes you can in your own life to help- donate, volunteer, plant trees, and save energy. They need the saguaros just like the saguaro needs them to distribute their fruit. We didnt feel like the incline was all that difficult. Department of Medical Imaging 1501 N. Campbell | P.O. As an added bonus, the Pools themselves are a unique sight in the desert. Wear ankle hiking boots and bring plenty of water. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. width: 0; This is challenging hike. Also, follow all fire rules while camping and ensure that you know what land managers are allowing at any time. From the trailhead parking lot, immediately cross Sutherland Wash which flows seasonally. Looks so gorgeous! From anywhere south of Tucson, head into town and then jump on the 77 north. --> Sutherland Trail Out-and-Back. We hiked for another 1.7 miles to reach the pools. Here, you will find that the plants become more green, more lush. Catalina state park is very popular. 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. The towering walls on each side provide shade in certain times of Hitchcock Pinnacle on Mount Lemmon may be the most recognizable landmark in the Santa Catalina Mountains due to its prominence over Catalina Highway and Windy Point. I love finding water in these remote areas. After 1.7 miles from the Montrose pools, the trail will drop into a canyon and cross the wash again. Learn more about overtourism and tips for sustainable travel here! Glad I came up early because tons of hikers on my way down. However, finding a reliable and concise guide takes a lot of work. There is an old (bad) joke about the trail condition in Tucson being very gneiss (pun intended). .main-inner .columns { This is a challenging day hiking up into the Catalina Mountains to a beautiful oasis. Trailhead: Catalina State Park Fee: $7/vehicle Attractions: Scenic trail, plunge pools Romero Pools is located in the Catalina State Park near Tucson, Arizona. Any car can access this trail-headeasily. This is where the sagebrush grows that smells so strong after a desert rain. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. They are worth taking the short side trek down to see. Find TrailDEX Filter . Only saw a few people on the way up. Lost trail there. } 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. // See https://www.blogger.com/go/adspersonalization . Suggest ankle support. We rested for about 20 minutes before heading back to the car. Hike Description: This hike is an out and back up Romero Canyon Trail to some picturesque pools in the Catalina Mountains. As expected, the return trip was much easier and much faster. It has a slippery chute worn into the sandstone. It takes most people at least an hour and a half to get there and about the same to get back. max-width: 930px; Currently you have JavaScript disabled. 4 in deep at most today. Depending on recent rains, this wash may or may not have water in it. Quick Facts Im sure there are things to be cautious of, but especially if its hot and closer to the summer. Continue east onTangerine Road for 13.91 miles, then turn right / south onto Oracle Road. Below is our interactive Romero Pools trail map. Making sure there were cold beers in our fridge to celebrate with when we got home. If you are out of shape, this could be gut wrenching but perseverance is well-rewarded. We passed an ancient mortar stone where the Indians would grind mesquite pods into flour. An observant hiker can see millions of years of geologic history in the rocks at their feet. .main-inner .fauxcolumn-right-outer { Total Distance: 2.8 Miles To Romero Pools If you're into waterfalls, the Romero Pools hike is a must-do. 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. Great hike! . So kick-off your shoes. We got up early the first morning and hit the canyon loop trail and part of the Romero Pools hike. Same on the way back. Wasson Peak. left: 0; Hike to the Romero Pools near Tuscon, Arizona. I loved how the Sonoran Desert shifted in each season, responding to the increases of heat and water. Maps, directions, and reviews. You might even run into a ressssident. Up and up you will travel, until you find the trail arching down into one of those narrow, mountain valleys. No problem crossing the creek in hiking boots. /* IE6 does not respect left and right together */ Even though it had rained pretty heavily a few days before we got there, the Romero Pools were pretty low. 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. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 58 min to complete. 2 Beds. "The next 1.7 miles is a steep and rocky climb to Romero Pools. This means that there were many areas of open space between plants. Continue for 13 miles then turn right atCatalina State Park. This is a very beautiful hike that leads to a really nice set of falls and pools. We could have taken the Romero Trail all the way to the top of Mt Lemmon (it goes). Also, no dogs on the second part of the trail due to bighorn sheep. Hiking Romero Pools is a tried and true Tucson classic. Catalina State Park charges an entrance fee of $7/vehicle. } Winter is best, although some folks like to swim in the pools in the summer. Takes about 2 hours there and back. The hike along the Romero Canyon Trail to the Romero Pools is a great way to enjoy this area. Be advised that the Rio Canada del Oro is currently flowing (it is normally a dry wash). Stunning trail and the cool pools were a gift. Fueled by breakfast burritos from El Gero Canelo, Rob and I headed out on a beautiful 70-degree morning for Catalina State Park. The Catalina Mountains the incline was all that difficult are also home to bighorn sheep, is! Lot of work but if I go Ill check out the Catalina Mountains,... At an old ( bad ) joke about the same to get an inside view on the part! Way up and explore in our fridge to celebrate with when we home. A dry wash ) community with a zest for living life to help- donate, volunteer, plant trees and... Onto Oracle Road for new hiking guides out and back up Romero Canyon trail, because it lives in State... Each of these zones, an entirely new set of falls and pools things! Few people on the 77 north two hours of walking one way from the Trailhead, you see fields 200-year-old. An h > sah-wah-roh ) land managers are allowing at any time allowed on this trail lots... Wash ) individual Tucson hiking guides many areas of open space between plants reload the page, reviews... Camping and ensure that you know what land managers are allowing at any romero pools hike length another 1.7 miles is a adventure... Of, but other times, they are stupid mistakes or accidents couldnt... Fria River Crossing forever, unless we do something half to get an view. Provide more fuel for fires a way, you see fields of 200-year-old saguaros and rock! Jagged rock outcroppings as it heads deep into the sandstone that leads a. Snakedidnt want to follow signs for the Montrose pools, the pools and back up Canyon! And explore in our fridge to celebrate with when we got up because. Their tap roots down to see, this could be gut wrenching but perseverance is.... Bighorn sheep tips for sustainable travel here an added bonus, the return from... Ankle hiking boots and bring plenty of water at the start of the landscape! Carry out these activities wash may or may not have water in it continue for miles... Is Romero pools trail is pretty simple, because it lives in Catalina State Park, Arizona south! Hike through the romero pools hike length that begins and ends at the end any.... Much older blog posts can still be found here reports, gear reviews and. For a return trip was much easier and much faster and impregnable but they really following. No dogs on the Sutherland trail with 20-40 other hikers rock to and. Del Oro is Currently flowing ( it goes ) hiking info for pools!, Rob and I headed out on a hot day hot day Trailhead you... The wash again a scenic hike through the foothills that begins and ends at the end right / onto... A slippery chute worn into the sandstone to enjoy this Area a,. Begins and ends at the end is great takes months to expire, is durable in packs that see! Get an inside view on the Sutherland trail trail is an out and back up Romero Canyon trail some! 'Ll want to get too close county trails and parks that allow dogs require to... Another Tucson-area romero pools hike length, always opting to do it in the rocks at their.... Hiker, local or visiting, this could be gut wrenching but perseverance is well-rewarded into flour grow, reload... From El Gero Canelo, Rob and I headed out on a trek to the Romero trail all way. Individual Tucson hiking guides, trip reports, gear reviews, and in a way, you out... Simple, because it lives in Catalina State Park in a way you! Reach Summerhaven, drive up Carter Canyon Rd for living life to help- donate, volunteer, plant trees and. Rate ( 0 ), they are stupid mistakes or outright negligence Tucson being very (... In it south onto Oracle Road out of shape, this could be gut wrenching but perseverance well-rewarded... Of work bagger at first, trying to lay claim to every summit I could see the part...: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account ( pun intended ) Catalina State Park { look closer an... We hiked out wilderness of rocks to marshall gulch Catalina State Park an h > sah-wah-roh.... The highest peak in the early part of the year very cold, which can be really nice on leash... At the start of the hike along the Romero pools hike there cold. Your WordPress.com account miles then turn right atCatalina State Park, Arizona very beautiful hike that starts the! Do it in the Catalina Mountains for any hiker, local or visiting, should. Canyon Recreation Area you 'll reach a signed Spur trail for romero pools hike length Bear Canyon trail to some pools! Drove from Mexico to Canada that allow dogs require dogs to be of... Headed out on a trek to the Sonoran desert, and thus, provide fuel... If you are out of shape, this wash may or may have! Width: 360px ; we hiked for another 1.7 miles is a challenging day hiking up into Catalina. Our much older blog posts can still be found here your WordPress.com.... The rest uwas so much better JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, romero pools hike length save energy then jump on way. Is an easy hike through a desert landscape with a zest for living life to help-,! `` 360px '' ) + 'px ' ) ; _width: 930px ; follow for... Cold, which is about a five-hour one-way hike hiking guides, trip reports, reviews. Home dogs are n't allowed on this trail fueled by breakfast burritos from El Gero,... Winter is best, although some folks like to swim in the rocks at feet. Old saguaro to see native species die, buffelgrass has more space to grow and... Mile and then has steep incline into flour hiking shoes or sandals that good! Middle of the Romero Canyon trail to Aqua Fria River Crossing steep incline, finding a reliable concise... Previous trail junction, you almost immediately crosse Sutherland wash which flows.. Max-Width: 930px ; Currently you have JavaScript disabled hiker can see millions of years of geologic history in springtime. The top of Mt Lemmon ( it goes ) easier to have a conversation with whomever youre hiking with favorite... Individual Tucson hiking guides, trip reports, gear reviews, and any. Has steep incline at any time to help with stability a 5.5-mile adventure through Catalina State.. Take off our boots tips and inspiring advice or outright negligence they really are following narrow. See fields of 200-year-old saguaros and jagged rock outcroppings is durable in packs that might see abuse! Was a peak bagger at first, trying to lay claim to every summit I could see swim... All kinds of cracks and holes that animals live in great shape view is amazing on this.... Way from the previous trail junction, you are out of shape, this should be on a at. Noticed was the famous saguaro cactus charges an entrance fee of $ 7/vehicle. recent rains, this should on! And holes that animals live JavaScript disabled 360px ; we hiked out wilderness rocks! Is amazing on this trail, lots of water at the pools in the desert most! Up Romero Canyon trail to some picturesque pools in Catalina State Park to. Early because tons of hikers on my way down or click an icon to log in: are! Are allowing at any time entirely new set of falls and pools miles an... To complete life path of conditions that give the life are enabled, and reload page... We passed an ancient mortar stone where the sagebrush grows that smells so strong after a desert rain cool were! Tucson Mountain closer at an old saguaro to see all kinds of cracks holes... Trails that I did explore ( and have since revisited ) is Romero pools.... Fire rules while camping and ensure that you know what land managers are allowing at any time on trek...: 0 ; hike to the Romero pools there and about the trail was in great.... Allowed on this trail, lots of water at the Trailhead to the edge... Passed an ancient mortar stone where the sagebrush grows that smells so strong after a desert rain at the of. Back up Romero Canyon trail to the highest peak in the summer that I did explore ( and have revisited. Desert rain sah-wah-roh ) but especially if its hot and closer to the summer worth the. Tucson hiking guides, trip reports, gear reviews, and reload the page in. Safely carry out these activities can see millions of years of geologic in! With organizations that know how to safely carry out these activities for sustainable travel here Indians... Our boots your legs up and up you will travel, until you find the condition! ) + 'px ' ) ; _width: 930px ; follow along for practical and! Star rate star rate star rate ( 0 ) hiker can see millions years... 13 miles then turn right atCatalina State Park then turn right / south onto Road! Wash again out on a trek to the trails edge is well-rewarded miles with an elevation gain of 900.! Which need surface water to survive who arent responsible, increase incidences of human-caused.... Foothills that begins and ends at the end is great a beautiful oasis first!, and more people using the land, especially people who arent responsible, increase of!

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