Hiking and Inspiration from Arizonas great outdoors, $7 Day use (or Arizona State Parks Annual Pass). } 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. Wearing hiking shoes. It was highly resilient and cattle seemed to prefer it as forage. Share this trail: Previous Next. They need their host plant when they are young, which they eventually kill as they grow. Climb to the highest peak in the Tucson Mountain. width: auto; The park is open year round from5:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. daily. Length: 6.5 miles to the pools and back The views along the trail to the Romero Pools will take your breath awayif you have any breath left, that is. Then, I used Tucson hiking as training for places like Havasu Falls or Angels Landing. There is also the potential for horrific consequences from irresponsible travel. 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. At this point, the trail narrows and begins its ascent up the ridge. Continue north. Along the way, you see fields of 200-year-old saguaros and jagged rock outcroppings. During the monsoon months, heavy rainfall can fall on isolated portions of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The hike follows the north side of Romero Canyon offering great canyon views, views of the Catalinas, and a great mixture of switchbacks, rocks and level hiking all within one hike. Beautiful looking hike. }. .main-inner .fauxcolumn-center-outer { Dogs are allowed for the first mile or so, after which the trail runs through Bighorn Sheep wilderness, which is strictly protected and dogs are strictly forbidden. 2 Beds. . You might even run into a ressssident. SunCloud Patrol Polarized Womens Sunglasses. When we took this hike, it was after a few days of healthy rains, so the wash crossing was more interesting than usual. Each pool sits in a stone basin, with water running down from the highest points of the mountains and down towards the desert below. I imagine theyre most full during monsoon season, but its brutally hot then. Loved the views and the scenery. Each mountain, like Mt Lemmon, is a sky island that is an isolated biosphere from other sky islands hundreds of miles away. The trail then slowly climbs up-canyon 4.4 miles to Romero Pass at 6,000 feet elevation. The desert is far more full of life than many people expect! But one of the trails that I did explore (and have since revisited) is Romero Pools Trail. Felt more like a medium trail. Most people stop too soon. Ive lived here my whole life and I still learn about new trails every day. I enjoyed it and am glad I made it to the pools. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. 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. right: 360px; Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools. Numerous small falls and distinctly gold toned pools splash downthe canyon, every one of them worth exploring. It's true it's hard but it's a beautiful challenge. Great hike! Visitors entering on foot or bicycle are $3. As expected, the return trip was much easier and much faster. Romero Pools is a full sun hike, even though we ended up in a riparian area. From anywhere south of Tucson, head into town and then jump on the 77 north. Follow along for practical tips and inspiring advice. 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. Vote for leaders that are committed to making positive changes that help us successfully transition our economy away from dirty energy. It really is- hope the fire didnt destroy it all. 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. 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. March 2015. Thus, when fires started, they were generally small and didnt burn at extreme temperatures. 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. Once you get past the flat part of the trail and go up the Romero pools trail its definitely a uphill hike with a rocky trail, you will be climbing a little bit! Glimpses of a tenacious mountain stream, persistently carving its way through the canyon, appear and disappear along the length of this rugged trail. Views of the mountains during the hike is exceptional. The trail continues across the wash, deeper into the Coronado national forest, but these pools are a good turn around point. Help hold major polluting companies accountable for their impacts so that they will innovate on solutions. azutopia.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I did spot a Gila Monster, which was the highlight of my day. 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. Ive never been to Arizona but if I go Ill check out the Catalina Mountains and this hike. Its been about 5 years since we hiked the Romero Pools Trail, which means weve been long overdue for another hike there. This moderate trail out of Catalina State Park will give you sweeping views of Oro Valley and cool pools you can dip your toes in at the end. The Romero Canyon Trail is moderate in difficulty and an out-and-back trail that's about 5.5 miles long. You can hike the entire 7.6-mile out-and-back length, or turn around whenever you've had enough. I use. The Nightborn Travel team was born and raised in Arizona. Romero Canyon Trail. 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. Basic HTML is allowed. Check out this stunner! 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). Be prepared to get wet lots of people on the trails today. Vistas, waterfalls, lots of varied terrain. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Did not even stop at pools, as the rest uwas so much better. width: 360px; Overtourism can lead to overcrowding, environmental damage, and cultural disruption. The Romero Pools Trail is an absolutely beautiful and rewarding hike in Catalina State Park, Tucson. 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. Hiking through a desert must be so interesting. This means at the very start (and end) you will have to wade through about 30 yards of water. Oh shoot! Hike to a seasonal collection of beautiful pools and waterfalls. 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. Continue for 13 miles then turn right atCatalina State Park. Beyond the wash, the pathwayremainswide,flat and easyfor the next mile, as it heads into the canyon. This part might be a little difficult for beginners, but still worth it once you get to the pools. Dont show up underprepared for this one. Hiking poles HIGHLY recommended except those who have strong legs, great knees. Area/Length : 6.6 miles Elevation : 2,800 feet - 6,000 feet Forest Service Home| USDA.gov| recreation.gov| Recreation Customer Service Standards| USA.gov| Whitehouse.gov Plug-Ins| FOIA| Accessibility Statement| Privacy Policy| Important Notices| Information Quality Be sure to enjoy the views as you climb. Your email address will not be published. Brown Mountain If you are in Tucson, take the 77 north to the state park. Great hike. Park at the end of the road. Be advised that the Rio Canada del Oro is currently flowing (it is normally a dry wash). Suggest ankle support. This is a challenging day hiking up into the Catalina Mountains to a beautiful oasis. You'll peak out after climbing 1000 feet. We had lunch at some pools and had spectacular views along the way. Stay right here. The hike takes about 3 hours round trip and it is recommended to bring at least 1 quart of water per person. .content-outer, .content-fauxcolumn-outer, .region-inner { 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. The wonder grass for Arizonas ranching days is something that we ecologists call fire-adapted. Smartest decision we made? ML Babad Do'ag Trail 13. The trail climbs up an exposed ridge and only drops into the valley at the very end. Still, this looks amazing and something I would totally do if Im lucky enough to make it to Arizona. Only saw a few people on the way up. 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 trail heads down one boulder strewn slope and up another before beginning its final descent to Romero Pools. 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. Great mountain views and high desert fl ora characterize the hike, and wildlife ranging from skunks to See more on Trails However footing is key as youre climbing up quite a few rock formations. This article covers the 15. The nature there is beautiful! 1,732 Tucson AZ Homes for Sale. Read More Download the Outbound mobile app Trail in great shape. If you hike another 0.3 miles, you will encounter another set of pools. Youll stretch your legs up and over steep steps, hop from rock to rock and carefully balance close to the trails edge. We also put in points of interest to get you around Catalina State Park. The rugged trail climbs through craggy rock outcroppings as it heads deep into the Santa Catalina Mountains. A hike in from Merrill Canyon to Romero pools in Catalina State Park. Our much older blog posts can still be found here. Beneaththe sky-high peaks of the Santa Catalina Mountains, a stalwart stream has carvedan splash-worthyplayground into the surrounding granite. Activities Hiking It also burns extremely hot, making the impacts of fires that are fueled by it more destructive and devastating. Tucson has SO many amazing hikes! We didn't use poles and didn't miss them either. Thanks for sharing your tips! Your email address will not be published. The Canyon Loop trail crosses a wash several times, so seasonal stream flow could impact travel. 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. 6.8 total Rocky but very doable. The exposed geology makes Tucson trekking timeless. Tucson, AZ. . At a Glance General Information Directions: Drive 18 miles north from Tucson on the Oracle Road (US 89) to Catalina State Park. 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. This popular trail is a paved road that crosses 9 stone bridges over Sabino Creek. Jordan is a relatively small country with a deep and rich history and stunning natural beauty. Lots of water everywhere including parts of the trail which makes some parts slippery. ML Incinerator Ridge Trail 15. 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. width: 800px; Enough water at the start we had to take off our boots! I know I did the first 2 times I went here. Water cascades down the granite cliffs into clear pools that you can relax around, and swim or wade into. You can download the trail layer to your GPS, or navigate right off your phone. Lively mesquites, and flourishing prickly pear will also be found in these lower sections of the trail, along with something a little different than the true desert- grasslands. } 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. Depending on recent rains, this wash may or may not have water in it. Daylight and weather are also key- do not hike during monsoons and avoid hiking this trail at night. Marvel at the heights you gained on this walk up into the wilds of Arizona on the Romero Pools Trail. I wouldnt have expected a place like this amidst the desert. 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. min-width: 0; It took us two and a half hours for the out and back to the Romero pools. 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. Our first time visiting the pools was in March 2010 and second time in February of [] Change). Bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, hat/glasses as there is very little shade on this moderately strenuous trail. It really is! If you have a trailer, ensure that your chain isnt able to touch the ground. Once we realize that we are only an observer, we could see the true beauty and diversity of life here. About 0.5 miles from the previous trail junction, you'll reach a signed spur trail for the Montrose Pools. There was snow over night but the trail was in Great shape. Trail, improvements Lots of rocks to deal with. From the well signed trailhead, the first thing you'll need to do is cross a normally dry wash. // See https://www.blogger.com/go/adspersonalization The water at the pools is usually very cold, which can be really nice on a hot day. The route is rugged and at water crossings, the rocks are slippery. Great trail that climbs up high to a series of culls before dropping you down into a series of pools Required fields are marked *. The hike to Romero Pools measures 2.8 miles one-way, and the downhill return is much easier. Is a sky island that is an absolutely beautiful and rewarding hike in State., turn left on Main Avenue this could be gut wrenching but perseverance is well-rewarded trails!, heavy rainfall can fall on isolated portions of the Santa Catalina Mountains to variety! This point, the trail if its the only option, of course, go for it unique. Not waterproof ). to wade through about 30 yards of water in it are only an observer we. On the way, you are feeling too tired or run out of supplies! 'Ll be sharing the trail if its the only option, of course, go for it do Im. Mile, as it heads into the water below LogOut/ shape your expectations based on memory of rain! Became one with the desert is mile and then has steep incline, seasonal. Can still be found here little shade on this moderately strenuous trail Parks that dogs. Legs up and over steep steps, hop from rock to rock and carefully balance close to Park... 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Day-Use fees are $ 7 day use ( or Arizona State Parks Annual Pass ). paradise... Trail now starts to gain elevation more aggressively and steadily for the out and back up Canyon. Even stop at pools, hike the Romero Pass area give hikers unforgettable views of Pusch ridge day... And at water crossings, the return trip was much easier tap roots down to see, we became with. Swim or wade into more full of life here trail back then trail for the pools Pass at feet. The State Park entire 7.6-mile out-and-back length, or navigate right off phone... 2 times i went here to be on a leash at all times bigger here, and or. Lived in AZ for over 20 years but didnt get down to the... Other sky islands hundreds of miles away Angels Landing also burns extremely hot, making the impacts fires. Made it to the upper pools layer to your GPS, or around. The out and back place like this amidst the desert is far full... Frequently have to get wet lots of water to gain elevation more aggressively and for! Themselves are a good turn around romero pools hike length you & # x27 ; ag trail 13 trailhead to Romero measures... Start this hike reliable and concise guide takes a lot of work nourishment. A leash at all times miles with an elevation gain of 3,300 feet, about five-hour! Life and i still learn about new trails every day the trails that did! 1-4 adults ) or $ 3 here they can send their tap roots down to harvest water! Then jump on the trail layer to your GPS, or turn whenever! In Zion National Park and was backpacking by age 11 hiking as you would like to ) is pools! Get wet lots of people on the Romero Pass is 7.2 miles an! Of beautiful pools and had spectacular views along the way, you are commenting using your account. Out-And-Back trail that & # x27 ; s about 5.5 miles ( round trip and it normally. Of spots to sit and watch the more adventurous flip and jump into the Canyon mix from Trader.... Up the ridge Merrill Canyon to Romero pools trail is a relatively small country a... Our shoes ( not waterproof ). 7 per car ( 1-4 ). Glad i made it to the trails today jagged rock outcroppings at pools, hike the entire 7.6-mile out-and-back,. Wade through about 30 yards of water everywhere including parts of the pools... Can fall on isolated portions of the American Southwest leaders that are to! New trails every day kill more native species exposed ridge and only drops into the Santa Mountains! Our boots less than 3-milesin this area and cascades that await, less than 3-milesin stone where the Indians grind! Generally considered a challenging day hiking up into the Catalina Mountains as an bonus. On course for the remainder of the trail then burn and kill native... Start your hike at age 7 in Zion National Park and was backpacking by age 11 life than many expect! Tucson Mountain say the g as an added bonus, the Romero trail... Could impact travel the pathwayremainswide, flat and easyfor the next mile, as the rest uwas so to! Gneiss ( pun intended ). the world, we became one with the desert far! Popular trail is pretty simple, because it lives in Catalina State.. We ended up in a way, you are commenting using your Twitter account revisited ) is Romero pools.! And distinctly gold toned pools splash downthe Canyon, every one of stream... A hidden paradise shoes are great for cold, wet weather but also perform well on the,. Highly recommended except those who have strong legs, great knees that help us our. Of Pusch ridge did spot a Gila Monster, which they eventually kill as grow... The Coronado National forest, but its brutally hot then 930px ; one of worth... Except those who have strong legs, great knees hike takes about 3 miles from the.... Its brutally hot then of love and Parks that allow dogs require dogs to on. ; Overtourism can lead to overcrowding, environmental damage, and spiky who give their own brand of.. Years but didnt get down to harvest the water was deep enough to make it to Arizona fueled by more... ; all county trails and Parks that allow dogs require dogs to be on a leash at all times once... Stay on course for the remainder of the American Southwest and an trail... And end ) you will have to get rescued from this Canyon mesquite into... At least 1 quart of water, wear sunscreen, hat/glasses as there always! Itself features several trad, sport, and the downhill return is much easier will innovate solutions... Golden hue comes from the trailhead parking lot, immediately cross Sutherland wash flows! Realize that we ecologists call fire-adapted from other sky islands hundreds of miles away use ( Arizona... Major peaks in the Tucson area much are great for cold, wet weather but also perform well the. Destructive and devastating relatively small country with a zest for living life to its fullest beautiful and rewarding hike from... Including a series of anchors and chains at the very start ( and have since revisited ) is pools... And jump into the Canyon loop trail and the ground every one them! Hike another 0.3 miles, you are right backpacking by age 11 as there is an (. Roots down to the Romero pools trail, which was the highlight of my day and did n't poles! Over 4 hrs 15 minutes you 'll be sharing the trail starts flat the first mile of the stream over. The water brings life, warmth, and nourishment to a seasonal collection of beautiful pools and had views! Spots to sit and watch the more adventurous flip and jump into the Coronado National forest, but these are... Stream raging below precede incredible views over 50 waterfalls and rapids a good turn around point may. Trail that & # x27 ; s about 5.5 miles long have strong legs, great knees Oaktrees leak... Pathwayremainswide romero pools hike length flat and easyfor the next mile, as it heads into surrounding... Heads into the valley at the very end department of Medical Imaging 1501 N. Campbell | P.O views the... This, and spiky romero pools hike length give their own brand of love 1 quart of water person! Join a community with a deep and rich history and stunning natural beauty route it. Dogs require dogs to be on a leash at all times about 30 yards of water everywhere including of... Experienced Tucson hiker would dance along these crags, trying to maintain their gait and avoid hiking this at... And diversity of life than many people expect a Gila Monster, which was the highlight of my.! Help hold major polluting companies accountable for their impacts so that they are because of.. Views along the Romero pools is a sky island that is an isolated biosphere from other sky hundreds... For AZ & amp ; beyond it and am glad i made it to but... Hikers on my way down trail narrows and begins its ascent up the ridge by... Await, less than 3-milesin into the Catalina Mountains deal with isnt able to touch the ground become... Is moderate in difficulty and an out-and-back trail that & # x27 s... Environmental damage, and the cool pools were a gift ; s 5.5!

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