If you're coming to Jordan, you will definitely be planning a Petra tour. a memorable climb. Great hike! Romero Pools. Required fields are marked *. Its anything but nice to walk on because its often rough and jagged. ML Incinerator Ridge Trail 15. The difficulty increases with the length of the hike. Was in and out in four hours. The first mile is relatively flat and an easy walk which makes for a great warm-up for the hills. 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. .main-inner .fauxcolumn-center-outer { Along the way, you see fields of 200-year-old saguaros and jagged rock outcroppings. Right from the start, the Romero Hiking Trail hints at therefreshing oasisof pools and cascades that await, less than 3-milesin. This cycle will change the landscape of the Sonoran Desert forever, unless we do something. We're a husband and wife team documenting our part-time explorations of the outdoors and historical sites of America (and sometimes outside of America). These pools are also home to bighorn sheep, which need surface water to survive. March 2015. Even if you cant physically explore the world, we hope that you enjoy the escape our site provides. Find TrailDEX Filter . There are lots of spots to sit and watch the more adventurous flip and jump into the water. Gave 5 stars based on memory of post rain or snowmelt falls. The hike starts at Romero Canyon Trailhead, where it crosses a sandy wash and continues on a wide footpath. You might even run into a ressssident. The hike to Romero Pools is Catalina State Parks most popular trail. margin-left: -0; I use. Your email address will not be published. These invasive plants cover ground previously open, allowing fires to spread further, faster, and hotter. Its for the strong, and spiky who give their own brand of love. This hike begins in the town of Summerhaven in Mount Lemmon, Tuscon AZ. Today, however, things are different. Before you go, please check outthe latest CDC recommendations for travelers. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. 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. The Romero Canyon Trail continues past the Romero Pools, but it seems like most of the cool rocks stop here. Tucson has SO many amazing hikes! 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 . Learn more about overtourism and tips for sustainable travel here! We also put in points of interest to get you around Catalina State Park. The enigma of Saguaros having thorns and housing birds at the same time made me respect the strength of and forgiveness of the powerful people in my life. Lemmon) and West Fork Sabino Trail (to Sabino Canyon). width: 800px; The Catalina State Park is a popular destination and it's easy to see why. margin-right: -360px; Hiking Romero Pools is a tried and true Tucson classic. It is not a dangerous flow. 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. Thanks to his dad and the Boy Scouts, he was able to spend a lot of time hiking at an early age. The next couple miles are steep and the rocky trail climbs to the Romero Pools. Explore more of our guides to get an inside view on the best places to visit and explore in our state. The trail heads down one boulder strewn slope and up another before beginning its final descent to Romero Pools. It took us two and a half hours for the out and back to the Romero pools. Romero Canyon Pools. The hike takes you to a beautiful desert oasis set in a canyon with water that flows most, if not all of the year. The pools are full and water is running. Bring water and snacks. Id estimate 1.8 of those were pure elevation gains, baby. 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. Continue along the Romero Canyon trail as the trail switchbacks higher and higher. --> In fact, at the time that buffelgrass was brought to Arizona in those days, it was considered a wonder plant. August 29, 2017Updated: December 31, 2020by Max Karren. Starting from the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area you'll want to follow signs for the Bear Canyon Trail. Here, you will find that the plants become more green, more lush. document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Angels Landing: The Best Hike In Zion National Park, Cozumel Dive Guide & Interactive Map - Everything You Need to Know Above and Below the Water. Your safety is your responsibility. The hike to Romero Pools is Catalina State Park's most popular trail. 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. The Romero Pools Trail is a day hike, not a short romp, and you will be traveling into wilderness areas, where rescues arent easy, safe, or cheap. As for jumping in the water, you actually have to be careful because if the water isnt deep enough you might not be safe there. Numerous small falls and distinctly gold toned pools splash downthe canyon, every one of them worth exploring. Making the final descent, acascade of small waterfalls and shallow poolsbegin to spread out below the trail, while the high peaks ofthe Santa Catalinas peerdown from above. Also, thanks to the Good Samaritans who gave my wife some items to hold her shoes together when they both broke about 2 miles in. Hiking Romero Pools is a tried and true Tucson classic. Your email address will not be published. 1,732 Tucson AZ Homes for Sale. Even though Mt Lemmon is 100 miles away, they have their own flavors of squirrels living at Summerhaven. Romero Canyon is a significant drainage and has the potential for flash flooding, so be cautious and look up the forecast before you go. During the summer time be sure to watch out for rattle snakes! Enough water at the start we had to take off our boots! 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. The trail will become steeper and steeper and the hills will shift into the towering expanses of Catalina Sky Island. I hope you can make it out! right: 360px; Bring a map of where you are going. 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Sutherland Trail Out-and-Back. The vast majority of fires that get out of hand, here in AZ and elsewhere, are human-caused. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Romero Canyon is in the heart of the Pusch Wilderness, where Bighorn Sheep have been reintroduced and are protected. We rested for about 20 minutes before heading back to the car. Did not even stop at pools, as the rest uwas so much better. Trailhead: Catalina State Park Fee: $7/vehicle Attractions: Scenic trail, plunge pools Romero Pools is located in the Catalina State Park near Tucson, Arizona. 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. Wear ankle hiking boots and bring plenty of water. Beyond the wash, the pathwayremainswide,flat and easyfor the next mile, as it heads into the canyon. Length: 6.5 miles to the pools and back. We know our state well and we love it. Nature, and everyone that loves nature will thank you! Great hike to Romero Pools today. It's been about 5 years since we hiked the Romero Pools Trail, which means we've been long overdue for another hike there. Ready for a hike? On the ascent, hikers are treated to breathtaking views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. 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. 4. The trail now starts to gain elevation more aggressively and steadily for the remainder of the hike to the pools. Youll look dumb but feel ridiculously smart. From the well signed trailhead, the first thing you'll need to do is cross a normally dry wash. Trail is very well maintained and easy to follow to the water pools. Bring enough water. 2 Beds. Its in these washes where we have seen the black and yellow spotted gila monsters, the largest lizards of the desert. An observant hiker can see millions of years of geologic history in the rocks at their feet. Keep your spirits up and your hands clean. From your vantage point, storm activity may not always be visible. I knew there was some serious fault activity in this region at some point in the past. If its the only option, of course, go for it! Both should only be done with organizations that know how to safely carry out these activities. Saguaros are the perfect example of life in the desert. This was a hard hike. Lost trail there. From the trailhead parking lot, immediately cross Sutherland Wash which flows seasonally. However, Romero Pools has recently been impacted by a massive wildfire that happened in 2020- so besides being an attraction for its beauty and work out status, this trail is also a showcase of what fire can and does do in Arizona. Great trail that climbs up high to a series of culls before dropping you down into a series of pools Romero Canyon Trail takes you to Romero Pools with amazing views of the state park below. I was a peak bagger at first, trying to lay claim to every summit I could see. (Did you know that if a saguaro is burned 30%+, it will die?) They are worth taking the short side trek down to see. Hiking poles HIGHLY recommended except those who have strong legs, great knees. 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. 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. 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. place Pima County, Arizona . 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. This means at the very start (and end) you will have to wade through about 30 yards of water. 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. From the trailhead parking lot, immediately cross Sutherland Wash which flows seasonally. The water at the pools is usually very cold, which can be really nice on a hot day. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Its good to have hiking poles especially for heading downward. 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. On the ascent, hikers are treated to breathtaking views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Trail in great shape. One of the most accessible major peaks in the Catalinas. #layout { I advise you start this hike as early as possible. But there is so much to see in AZ. 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. During the monsoon months, heavy rainfall can fall on isolated portions of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools Hard 4.6 (2919) Catalina State Park Photos (3,289) Directions Print/PDF map Length 8.9 kmElevation gain 403 mRoute type Out & Back Explore this 8.9-km out-and-back trail near Catalina, Arizona. Why you should hike here: From water to cactus to mountains, you'll get a taste of everything you need to energize you for 5.5 miles of hiking and still leave with a smile on your face. I loved how fiercely independent yet interdependent each plant and animal was with each other. What are your favorite Tucson hikes? 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. This article covers the 15. 2nd pool has a nice waterfall. Each mountain, like Mt Lemmon, is a sky island that is an isolated biosphere from other sky islands hundreds of miles away. 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