margin-right: -360px; This article covers the 15. . This is why there are no dogs allowed past the first mile of the trail. The trail then slowly climbs up-canyon 4.4 miles to Romero Pass at 6,000 feet elevation. --> 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. Romero Canyon Trail. This is a very beautiful hike that leads to a really nice set of falls and pools. Thats why the water is there to jump in just in case. Emerald Pools. 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 There is always something going on (bird tours, music nights) and many trails to travel. Here exposed points of bedrock (Gneiss) poke through the alluvium. #layout .content-outer { Just past aspur trail to Montrose Pools (a scenic, sometimes flowing, stream bed) the Romero Hiking Trail begins to climb in earnest. Trail then starts to climb and get more challenging. SC Blackett's Ridge Trail 19. 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. parseInt("0") - 3.3 mi Distance 1 hrs 59 min Time terrain 187 ft Elev Gain Overview This is a easy loop trail in Catalina State Park. Romero Pools. width: 800px; What are your favorite Tucson hikes? No matter what your level of physical fitness is, you are sure to break a sweat on this climb. The Canyon Loop trail crosses a wash several times, so seasonal stream flow could impact travel. by Paul Riedinger. This is the source for everything you need to know about Arizona Hiking. The Romero Pools are situated about 3 miles from the trailhead and are beautiful. } And more people using the land, especially people who arent responsible, increase incidences of human-caused fire. Then, I used Tucson hiking as training for places like Havasu Falls or Angels Landing. 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. These pools are also home to bighorn sheep, which need surface water to survive. Drive north out of Tucson on Oracle Road, which becomes Arizona 77. Our much older blog posts can still be found here. We had to ford the stream at the start of the hike. And chill for awhile. This is challenging hike. 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. 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. In fact, at the time that buffelgrass was brought to Arizona in those days, it was considered a wonder plant. 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. Explore more of our guides to get an inside view on the best places to visit and explore in our state. Ready for a hike? The water at the pools is usually very cold, which can be really nice on a hot day. Marvel at the heights you gained on this walk up into the wilds of Arizona on the Romero Pools Trail. About 0.5 miles from the previous trail junction, you'll reach a signed spur trail for the Montrose Pools. The route is rugged and at water crossings, the rocks are slippery. Activities Hiking The Romero Pools Trail is not appropriate for people that are not prepared via supplies and physical ability. 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. Hi! Drive0.71miles on Oracle Road to the entrance toCatalina State Park. This popular trail is a paved road that crosses 9 stone bridges over Sabino Creek. This section of the hike gains a little elevation, but is mostly flat for about 0.6 miles until you reach the next signed trail junction (JCT_1R on the map) with the Canyon Loop trail. Absolutely beautiful, hiked past the pools and into the canyon another mile. 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. min-width: 0; The first plant we noticed was the famous Saguaro cactus. *Note: Always check for trail closures and weather information when planning your trip, beforehand or the day of. I could see the rose quartz crystals on the trail with the bedding plane shifted 90 degrees. The Canyon Loop trail is an easy hike through the foothills that begins and ends at the Trailhead parking lot. The trail now starts to gain elevation more aggressively and steadily for the remainder of the hike to the pools. Don't miss Hutch's Pools along West Fork Trail at 3.4 miles after Romero Pass. During our hike, it had a ton of water in it! Its been about 5 years since we hiked the Romero Pools Trail, which means weve been long overdue for another hike there. 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. Lemmon) and West Fork Sabino Trail (to Sabino Canyon). Home Home FAQ Contribute Shop. There will be a restroom and a very small shop there. AZ is one of the most biodiverse states in the US! It is not a dangerous flow. Rugged Ocotillo, with their branches covered in thorns, claim the sun and the rocks while the majestic Saguaros dominate the north and east slopes that provide just a little relief from the blazing sun. Catalina State Park: Return visit after many yeard - See 809 traveler reviews, 543 candid photos, and great deals for Tucson, AZ, at Tripadvisor. Cheers! The views along the trail to the Romero Pools will take your breath awayif you have any breath left, that is. Climb is tough, but the water at the end is great. The next 1.7 miles are a steep and rocky climb to Romero Pools. During the monsoon months, heavy rainfall can fall on isolated portions of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Tucson, AZ. 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. The last portion of the trail gets more difficult as the incline increases. This cycle will change the landscape of the Sonoran Desert forever, unless we do something. It does eventually get easier to have a conversation with whomever youre hiking with. But otherwise great trail! } Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools. Be sure to pack a bathing suit as the trail leads to a refreshing swimming pool at the base of a waterfall. . } Busy area even on Wednesday. To enter the Catalina State Park costs $7 per vehicle with up to four adults. Catalina State Park Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools To reach Romero Pools, hike the Romero Canyon Trail within Catalina State Park. And make whatever changes you can in your own life to help- donate, volunteer, plant trees, and save energy. }. Romero Pools is a full sun hike, even though we ended up in a riparian area. The hike to Romero Pools measures 2.8 miles one-way, and the downhill return is much easier. It also takes the perfect combination of host plants and weather for them to sprout in the first place. Great mountain views and high desert fl ora characterize the hike, and wildlife ranging from skunks to See more on Trails Was in and out in four hours. /* IE6 does not respect left and right together */ // Supply ads personalization default for EEA readers Beyond the wash, the pathwayremainswide,flat and easyfor the next mile, as it heads into the canyon. The hike starts at Romero Canyon Trailhead, where it crosses a sandy wash and continues on a wide footpath. Cool breezes on your sweaty forehead help a bit. Credit: Troy McKaskle via Flickr These invasive plants cover ground previously open, allowing fires to spread further, faster, and hotter. 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. Hiking Romero Pools is a tried and true Tucson classic. The Nightborn Travel team was born and raised in Arizona. Change). max-width: 930px; Well maintained, well marked trail! 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. Petrified Forest National Part and North Eastern AZ, Granite Mountain (McDowell Sonoran Preserve), Box Canyon (Christopher Creek- *Technical), San Tan Regional Park - San Tan trail loops, Petrified Forest National Park and North Eastern AZ. Continue your trek upwards, exploring the small riparian forest and particularly bushy grasses surrounding the water. 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. A scenic hike through a desert landscape with a refreshing waterfall reward at the end. We could have taken the Romero Trail all the way to the top of Mt Lemmon (it goes). Romero Canyon is in the heart of the Pusch Wilderness, where Bighorn Sheep have been reintroduced and are protected. We know our state well and we love it. ML Wilderness of Rock 18. Our first time visiting the pools was in March 2010 and second time in February of [] 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. Smartest decision we made? Even though it had rained pretty heavily a few days before we got there, the Romero Pools were pretty low. 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. Oh shoot! We've got hundreds of well documented Arizona hikes. Views were beautiful as you got farther into the mountains. We would be hiking through more climate zones than if we drove from Mexico to Canada. Continue east onTangerine Road for 13.91 miles, then turn right / south onto Oracle Road. This is the location of the Romero Pools and the turn around point for this hike. AZ is one of the most biodiverse states in the US! Along the way, you see fields of 200-year-old saguaros and jagged rock outcroppings. min-width: 0; I love Catalina State Park! After 1.7 miles from the Montrose pools, the trail will drop into a canyon and cross the wash again. This means at the very start (and end) you will have to wade through about 30 yards of water. Join a community with a zest for living life to its fullest. And then eventually, eventually, youll hear running water. } You'll peak out after climbing 1000 feet. No problem crossing the creek in hiking boots. You can hike the entire 7.6-mile out-and-back length, or turn around whenever you've had enough. The trail climbs up an exposed ridge and only drops into the valley at the very end. I enjoyed it and am glad I made it to the pools. To request permission for use email us at lisa@azutopia.com. min-width: 0; 4 hrs This rocky trail follows yet another of the many gorgeous canyons climbing into the Catalinas. Romero Pools Rating: Round Trip Distance: 6 miles Difficulty: Strenuous Elevation: 2710 - 3803 feet Cellphone: 2-5 bars Time: 3 hrs. Also, no dogs on the second part of the trail due to bighorn sheep. Find TrailDEX Filter . Hike in to enjoy the sunshine and cool water of this famous natural swimming hole and make a memory as well. Journey was great not necessarily the destination. Some of these were native and others, like buffelgrass, were introduced from other parts of the world. Basic HTML is allowed. It has a slippery chute worn into the sandstone. .main-inner .fauxcolumn-left-outer { Youve paid your seven bucks to get in. Grub: none of that M&M-filled stuff. 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. The views along the trail to the Romero Pools will take your breath awayif you have any breath left, that is. Quick Facts They are worth taking the short side trek down to see. Each mountain, like Mt Lemmon, is a sky island that is an isolated biosphere from other sky islands hundreds of miles away. Its anything but nice to walk on because its often rough and jagged. 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. The views were pretty but the pools were not impressive enough to endure the long, rocky hike. 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. a memorable climb. Dragging chains spark and in the dry conditions of Arizona, this can easily spark a fire. 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). document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Thanks for sharing about this hike. Suggest ankle support. Lots of water everywhere including parts of the trail which makes some parts slippery. On the ascent, hikers are treated to breathtaking views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Windows create a light filled interior with well placed neutral accents. Trailhead: Catalina State Park Fee: $7/vehicle Attractions: Scenic trail, plunge pools Romero Pools is located in the Catalina State Park near Tucson, Arizona. The park is open year round from5:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. daily. 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