Finally, please help us find solutions to climate change. Remember that grass I mentioned earlier, buffelgrass? The Romero Pools are situated about 3 miles from the trailhead and are beautiful. 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 . This isnt an easy trail. 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. Emerald Pools. Ive done a lot more hiking this year but not really in a desert like place such as Arizona. I wouldnt have expected a place like this amidst the desert. We ran out of water on a hot day, so make sure to bring lots. It's true it's hard but it's a beautiful challenge. Back when I was in undergrad, I thoroughly messed up, and didnt enjoy the AMAZING hiking opportunities that abound in the Tucson area. Its good to have hiking poles especially for heading downward. From there, we walked a little more than 3 miles. ML Incinerator Ridge Trail 15. Was in and out in four hours. And chill for awhile. Smartest decision we made? margin-right: -360px; As an added bonus, the Pools themselves are a unique sight in the desert. Trail in great shape. You may think that wildfires are natural to the Sonoran Desert, and in a way, you are right. Like blood flowing through a body, the water brings life, warmth, and nourishment to a variety of desert plants and animals. The hike takes you to a beautiful desert oasis set in a canyon with water that flows most, if not all of the year. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 58 min to complete. 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. Some of these were native and others, like buffelgrass, were introduced from other parts of the world. (End of the road when you enter Catalina State Park from Oracle Rd - entrance fee required) Great hike to Romero Pools today. The signed entrance to the park is at Milepost 81. .main-inner .columns { Your email address will not be published. For instance, if you develop blisters and/or hot spots, you can use your supplies to prevent further damage to your feet and continue moving. I was a peak bagger at first, trying to lay claim to every summit I could see. padding-left: 0; Rocky and steep, but we enjoyed the views and the water at the top was very refreshing! Here they can send their tap roots down to harvest the water below. These pools are also home to bighorn sheep, which need surface water to survive. Well maintained, well marked trail! Wear ankle hiking boots and bring plenty of water. The trail now starts to gain elevation more aggressively and steadily for the remainder of the hike to the pools. Your email address will not be published. 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. Bring appropriate clothes (it can get cold in the higher reaches of the mountains in the mornings and in the fall/winter/spring). 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. Oh darn! 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. The fire sounds devastating but nature is resilient! For us, it was a bit of a slug fest. The views along the trail to the Romero Pools will take your breath awayif you have any breath left, that is. Romero Canyon Trail takes you to Romero Pools with amazing views of the state park below. Crossed it by taking off our shoes (not waterproof). Hiking: 5.10 Miles: 1,179 AEG: Hiking: 5.10 Miles 2 Hrs 32 Mns . The Romero Pools section is an extremely popular portion of this scenic trail, but there's so much more after the pools! Here, the trail will bring you across cliffs that stretch over narrow valleys. After passing through the desert, you will begin your true climb into the mountains. The hike to Romero Pools is Catalina State Park's most popular trail. I loved it! } If you are in Tucson, take the 77 north to the state park. 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). 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. Dogs are not allowed. The Nightborn Travel team was born and raised in Arizona. min-width: 0; Be sure to enjoy the views as you climb. Id love to hike there. You should also insure that you limit your impact on the trail and the environment. The Catalina State Park is a popular destination and it's easy to see why. This is challenging hike. The first mile is relatively flat and an easy walk which. Park at the end of the road. Check out this stunner! 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. What we have on our hands, with buffelgrass and other exotic plant species that are spreading rapidly and hurting our native species (e.g. Continue north. Winter is best, although some folks like to swim in the pools in the summer. Lots of rocks to deal with. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. #layout { Then, I used Tucson hiking as training for places like Havasu Falls or Angels Landing. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Ive lived here my whole life and I still learn about new trails every day. Length: 5.5 miles (round trip) Elevation change: 1,300 feet; Time (including travel): 4 to . Every view is amazing on this trail, and for any hiker, local or visiting, this should be on your bucketlist. If its the only option, of course, go for it! adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []; width: 360px; 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. HAZ uses cookies . "All county trails and parks that allow dogs require dogs to be on a leash at all times. At this point, the trail narrows and begins its ascent up the ridge. The hike along the Romero Canyon Trail to the Romero Pools is a great way to enjoy this area. If you arrive and the first pools feel a bit crowded, just continue up the wash. You are sure to find a serene location to take a dip. Once you reach the first junction, bear right to stay on course for the pools. The trail then slowly climbs up-canyon 4.4 miles to Romero Pass at 6,000 feet elevation. One of Tucsons favorite hikes, I write up my experience on a trek to the Romero Pools. Romero Canyon is in the heart of the Pusch Wilderness, where Bighorn Sheep have been reintroduced and are protected. However, finding a reliable and concise guide takes a lot of work. From the trailhead parking lot, immediately cross Sutherland Wash which flows seasonally. parseInt("0") - Don't miss Hutch's Pools along West Fork Trail at 3.4 miles after Romero Pass. You might also consider donating to this work. We've got hundreds of well documented Arizona hikes. The trailhead is located at the end of Catalina State Park road, 0.87 miles further along. width: auto; Up and up you will travel, until you find the trail arching down into one of those narrow, mountain valleys. First 1.1 miles is easy walking, smooth well-traveled trail to the Montrose pools. Home Home FAQ Contribute Shop. They are old and slow growing. I knew there was some serious fault activity in this region at some point in the past. 945 Sq Ft. 816 S Langley Ave Unit 204, Tucson, AZ 85710. Id estimate 1.8 of those were pure elevation gains, baby. They are fully grown at 200, reaching a height of 45 with roots growing more than 60 around in all directions. Quick Facts Stay right here. On the ascent, hikers are treated to breathtaking views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. What are your favorite Tucson hikes? CF Finger Rock Trail 7. The water was deep enough to cut off the trail right at the start. The first 1.1 miles is relatively flat and an easy walk (up to the end of this point, no dogs are allowed). Login and be the first to review! 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. Hiking and Inspiration from Arizonas great outdoors, $7 Day use (or Arizona State Parks Annual Pass). Bring a map of where you are going. Lots of water everywhere including parts of the trail which makes some parts slippery. Bear Mountain, Sedona. The golden hue comes from the roots of the Mexican Oaktrees which leak color into the stream. If It doesnt load the first time, hit your reset button . margin-left: -0; // Supply ads personalization default for EEA readers Day three of a through hike, from AZT Section 11 to Romero Canyon Trail. The Canyon Loop trail is an easy hike through the foothills that begins and ends at the Trailhead parking lot. In the past, lightning could light fires in the desert, but the pre-colonial Sonoran Desert was patchy. 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. 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 All content is for entertainment purposes only. This 13-day luxury Jordan itinerary takes you from the green hills of the north, Berry Creek Falls Loop at Big Basin Redwoods State Park- A Hiking Guide. This means that there were many areas of open space between plants. .main-inner .column-right-outer { Bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, hat/glasses as there is very little shade on this moderately strenuous trail. } Thus, for your sake and the sake of the local community, go prepared. Did not even stop at pools, as the rest uwas so much better. This is a challenging day hiking up into the Catalina Mountains to a beautiful oasis. Trail Length: 5.60 miles: Trail Type: Out & Back: Hike Difficulty: Intermediate: Elevation Gain: 1046 feet: Trails/Routes: 2.8-3.5 mi I use. Max's early childhood was spent in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains in Northern Utah and his teenage years in the red rock desert of Southern Utah. Marvel at the heights you gained on this walk up into the wilds of Arizona on the Romero Pools Trail. The trail climbs up an exposed ridge and only drops into the valley at the very end. adventures and follow local regulations. . From the trailhead, you almost immediately crosse Sutherland Wash, which flows seasonally. Upper section of Romero Canyon shows recent work, but still a few issues. The creek itself is pretty dry most of the year, but after a rain it's a wonderful place to cool off and escape from the merciless desert heat. Hike and Swim at Romero Pools near Tucson, Arizona. This trail goes by Montrose Pools and Sutherland Trailhead. 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. The pools are full and water is running. And of course, Climate change makes this worse by shifting our rain patterns, and making our droughts worse. } ML Wilderness of Rock 18. Brown Mountain 2 Baths. 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. Trail is very well maintained and easy to follow to the water pools. The mountains are also powerful and awe-inspiring, with craggy peaks that reach up from the desert to heights that make forests possible. 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. 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