The elevation gain ought to get your heart rate up, but in the hottest part of the day you are asking for trouble. parseInt("360px") + 'px'); Want to hike Tucsons best trails? Each pool sits in a stone basin, with water running down from the highest points of the mountains and down towards the desert below. A scenic hike through a desert landscape with a refreshing waterfall reward at the end. 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). This means that there were many areas of open space between plants. Daylight and weather are also key- do not hike during monsoons and avoid hiking this trail at night. Search, find, map and plan hikes for AZ & beyond! Well maintained trail. The difficulty increases with the length of the hike. Continue your trek upwards, exploring the small riparian forest and particularly bushy grasses surrounding the water. 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. adsbygoogle.requestNonPersonalizedAds = 1; Beautiful views, though very busy. Glad I came up early because tons of hikers on my way down. 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 From there, we walked a little more than 3 miles. Depending on recent rains, this wash may or may not have water in it. Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools Hard 4.6 (2944) Catalina State Park Photos (3,326) Directions Print/PDF map Length 5.5 miElevation gain 1,322 ftRoute type Out & back Try this 5.5-mile out-and-back trail near Catalina, Arizona. The water was deep enough to cut off the trail right at the start. We paid $7 for a day pass (check the calendar to time your visit with an event and get the most bang for your buck) and followed the road to the trail head. Romero Canyon Trail. The Nightborn Travel team was born and raised in Arizona. 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. Bring water and snacks. width: auto; This means that buffelgrass thrives after wildfires; it grows back quickly, its seeds benefit from the fire, and in Arizona, fires also wipe out competitive species, making more room for buffelgrass. D 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 just inside the entrance to Catalina State Park. As a result, so is this trail. I know I did the first 2 times I went here. The park is open year round from5:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. daily. Nice refreshing hike when theres water. Ive never been to Arizona but if I go Ill check out the Catalina Mountains and this hike. You have the option to either hop on a tram that will take you to the 7 Falls trailhead for $4 a person, or walk the 2 miles yourself. Just past aspur trail to Montrose Pools (a scenic, sometimes flowing, stream bed) the Romero Hiking Trail begins to climb in earnest. don 8 months, 2 weeks ago. Not hard but moderate difficulty. ML Incinerator Ridge Trail 15. . Edit Sights to See Sutherland Trailhead Montrose Pools Add a Report donnasitesrealtor 1 week, 6 days ago dudic.gary 1 year, 10 months ago The pools are a system of puddles and streams, ranging from relatively still to flowing waterfalls that feed deep swimming holes surrounded by smooth rock. Some of these were native and others, like buffelgrass, were introduced from other parts of the world. Type: Out and back Length: 8.2 miles Difficulty: Moderate One of the best hikes near Tucson is the trek from Bear Canyon along the Seven Falls Trail. You can hike the entire 7.6-mile out-and-back length, or turn around whenever you've had enough. The trail then slowly climbs up-canyon 4.4 miles to Romero Pass at 6,000 feet elevation. Drive0.71miles on Oracle Road to the entrance toCatalina State Park. Thanks to his dad and the Boy Scouts, he was able to spend a lot of time hiking at an early age. width: 0; Windows create a light filled interior with well placed neutral accents. Journey was great not necessarily the destination. AZ Utopia makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties, including without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property or other violation of rights. parseInt("0") - While the land will heal to some extent, please know that this process will take many many years. Thanks for sharing your tips! Bring appropriate clothes (it can get cold in the higher reaches of the mountains in the mornings and in the fall/winter/spring). I fully admit that this hike kicked my butt, and there were several pauses where I found myself asking, Can I do this? All I can say is KEEP.GOING. They are fully grown at 200, reaching a height of 45 with roots growing more than 60 around in all directions. In the past, lightning could light fires in the desert, but the pre-colonial Sonoran Desert was patchy. 2nd pool has a nice waterfall. Its been about 5 years since we hiked the Romero Pools Trail, which means weve been long overdue for another hike there. The Nala shoes are great for cold, wet weather but also perform well on the trail. Either a Diamondback or a King Snakedidnt want to get too close! Thats why the water is there to jump in just in case. The first plant we noticed was the famous Saguaro cactus. Length: Hike as much as you would like to. It can be very breezy and cold at times. The hike along the Romero Canyon Trail to the Romero Pools is a great way to enjoy this area. CF Canyon Loop Trail 6. Romero Pools is a short hike that starts at the Romero Canyon Trailhead in Catalina State Park, northeast of Tucson, Arizona. Same on the way back. There are lots of spots to sit and watch the more adventurous flip and jump into the water. 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. You'll be sharing the trail with 20-40 other hikers. From the well signed trailhead, the first thing you'll need to do is cross a normally dry wash. Romero Canyon Trail takes you to Romero Pools with amazing views of the state park below. Getting to the Romero Pools Trail is pretty simple, because it lives in Catalina State Park. When native species die, buffelgrass has more space to grow, and thus, provide more fuel for fires. Experience the brilliance of poppies in the springtime on the Sutherland Trail. The Canyon Loop trail is an easy hike through the foothills that begins and ends at the Trailhead parking lot. This article covers the 15. HAZ uses cookies . ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Glimpses of a tenacious mountain stream, persistently carving its way through the canyon, appear and disappear along the length of this rugged trail. They are a juxtaposition between strength and vulnerability, taking and giving that forms this world in balance. These pools are also home to bighorn sheep, which need surface water to survive. From anywhere south of Tucson, head into town and then jump on the 77 north. This fire destroyed many of the landscapes that we locals have loved and enjoyed for decades, and this means that our familiar trails are no longer familiar. 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. Do not enter any private driveways please! 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. jeannettefalk@aol.com 1 month, 2 weeks ago. This is after about an hour long drive up a 25 mile paved, winding road. The next couple miles are steep and the rocky trail climbs to the Romero Pools. All copy and images contained in this website are the property of AZ Utopia. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The last portion of the trail gets more difficult as the incline increases. The pools are full and water is running. This is a very beautiful hike that leads to a really nice set of falls and pools. Once you reach Summerhaven, drive up Carter Canyon Rd. April 2018 is a dry year. This isnt an easy trail. Below, Ive listed the five things I always keep in my Camelback (other than water, duh). Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your To request permission for use email us at lisa@azutopia.com. Today, however, things are different. This is the location of the Romero Pools and the turn around point for this hike. Some water and a water crossing at the beginning. If its the only option, of course, go for it! And then eventually, eventually, youll hear running water. Join a community with a zest for living life to its fullest. One of Tucsons favorite hikes, I write up my experience on a trek to the Romero Pools. } August 29, 2017Updated: December 31, 2020by Max Karren. // Supply ads personalization default for EEA readers March 2015. However, best just to not be out there if a fire is out of hand, and part of the work is teaching people to stop starting the fires on accident or otherwise. Romero Canyon is in the heart of the Pusch Wilderness, where Bighorn Sheep have been reintroduced and are protected. On the Trail We had lunch at some pools and had spectacular views along the way. width: 360px; This trail goes by Montrose Pools and Sutherland Trailhead. Romero Pools via Romero Canyon Tucson, Arizona 4.8/5 based on 4 reviews Save View all 6 photos Review Directions Add Photo Details Distance 5.52 miles Elevation Gain 1155 ft Route Type Out-and-Back Description Added by Dofo Salazar This is a very beautiful hike that leads to a really nice set of falls and pools. Its important that you are honest with yourself if you are feeling too tired or run out of key supplies like food or water. Our work will help you visit bucketlist destinations that everyone sees, but more importantly, to find mind-blowing destinations that most might not be aware of. } Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. CF Ventana Canyon 12. Bring enough water. SunCloud Patrol Polarized Womens Sunglasses. 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. Here exposed points of bedrock (Gneiss) poke through the alluvium. 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. 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. Was in and out in four hours. What are your favorite Tucson hikes? For us, it was a bit of a slug fest. Jordan is a relatively small country with a deep and rich history and stunning natural beauty. padding-left: 0; after 1.1 miles, we reached the foothills. Home Home FAQ Contribute Shop. The Pinnacle itself features several trad, sport, and top rope routes including a series of anchors and chains at the top. Its in these washes where we have seen the black and yellow spotted gila monsters, the largest lizards of the desert. It's one of the few Tucson hikes with water year-round; and there are plenty of trees that provide greenery in spring/summer and pretty foliage through the fall (and most of the winter). The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Up and up you will travel, until you find the trail arching down into one of those narrow, mountain valleys. Catalina state park is very popular. The nature there is beautiful! This looks wonderful! The Romero Canyon Trail is moderate in difficulty and an out-and-back trail that's about 5.5 miles long. Remember that grass I mentioned earlier, buffelgrass? I love Catalina State Park! No matter what your level of physical fitness is, you are sure to break a sweat on this climb. Here they can send their tap roots down to harvest the water below. $175,000 Open Wed 9AM - 7PM. 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.