This is a moderate out and back trail in Catalina State Park. It may be rated as moderate difficulty, but for some of us it was a real challenge. Hiking through a desert must be so interesting. I’ve done a lot more hiking this year but not really in a desert like place such as Arizona. Please explore responsibly! This is a hike with a very beautiful view and definitely worth doing. You then drive to the trailhead parking lot. © 2020 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. I hiked up to Romero Pools with a friend, it is definitely an intermediate hike, we had thought it was 2 miles (she went 10 years ago and memory served wrong) but wound up being closer to 3, but we worked up a good sweat and that snow run off makes the pools very refreshing! Dogs are not allowed on the trail as it’s in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area. Catalina State Park: Romero Pools Hike - See 783 traveler reviews, 495 candid photos, and great deals for Tucson, AZ, at Tripadvisor. In 2020, we here in Arizona suffered from many devastating wildfires, including the Bighorn Fire, which burned throughout the Catalina Mountains. Soon the trail narrows turning left, then right with carved rock stairs. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! Press question mark to learn the rest of the Google Maps should be able to direct you to the park, and you can ask the rangers for directions to the trail when you arrive. Date of experience: March 2012 Ask yellowlabmom about Catalina State Park We hiked out wilderness of rocks to marshall gulch. AZ is one of the most biodiverse states in the US! If you are in Tucson, take the 77 north to the state park. Dragging chains spark and in the dry conditions of Arizona, this can easily spark a fire. Today Jane and I hiked 6.5 miles (1500 ft. elevation gain) on the Romero Canyon Trail in Catalina State Park. 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. After hearing this, we made it a point to hike Romero Canyon Trail to see the popular Romero Pools during our brief visit in Tucson. Here, you will find that the plants become more green, more lush. The lower reaches of the Catalina Mountains, as well as many other places throughout Arizona, were once used as ranching land and during these times, people encouraged the growth of grasses. Hiking Romero Pools Trail, January 23, 2015 Leave a comment. Make sure to check in when you return to your car! Thus, when fires started, they were generally small and didn’t burn at extreme temperatures. This trail goes by Montrose Pools and Romero Pools. The nature there is beautiful! Romero Pools is another incredible waterfall hike in Catalina State Park. Saved from experience-az.com. This looks wonderful! There is an old (bad) joke about the trail condition in Tucson being very gneiss. Thanks for sharing your tips! Roughly 2.8 miles of hiking from the trailhead puts you at the pools. r/Tucson: The subreddit for Tucson, Arizona; Tucson is a city in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert surrounded by multiple mountain ranges, including the … Press J to jump to the feed. Romero Pools. Explore more of our guides to get an inside view on the best places to visit and explore in our state. It also burns extremely hot, making the impacts of fires that are fueled by it more destructive and devastating. Bring lots of water and be careful on the rocks in the pools, as they are quite slippery! To enter the Catalina State Park costs $7 per vehicle with up to four adults. Hike: Romero Pools Location: Catalina State Park, Oro Valley AZ Fee: $6 for a day pass (per car) Distance/Time: 7 miles/3 hours 1000 ft of elevation gain Conditions: 36C (97F) @ 4pm to 25C (80F) @ 7pm, sunset at 6pm Equipment: The desert is far more full of life than many people expect! Bighorn sheep have been reintroduced into the area and at times they can be seen along the Romero Canyon trail. [2] Romero Canyon Trail Description The lower section of this trail is very popular with hikers because it follows along a beautiful creek and is in almost constant shade from large trees. Health and Safety Protocols. Lemmon. 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. The Romero Pools Trail is not appropriate for people that are not prepared via supplies and physical ability. The Canyon Loop trail is an easy hike through the foothills that begins and ends at the Trailhead parking lot. Bring enough water. The water at the pools is usually very cold, which can be really nice on a hot day. I Posted on May 23, 2017 | Comments Off on Hike Report: Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools (near Tucson, Arizona) One of a string of pools. The trail meets with the Mt. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your On the ascent, hikers are treated to breathtaking views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. But there is so much to see in AZ. adventures and follow local regulations. In fact, at the time that buffelgrass was brought to Arizona in those days, it was considered a wonder plant. It’s important that you are honest with yourself if you are feeling too tired or run out of key supplies like food or water. The Romero Pools Trail This is one of my favorite hiking trails near Tucson. Hikers, cyclists and... At the main parking lot of Sabino Canyon, there are a few different trams you can take to nearby trailheads. The Romero Pools are an instant hit for any hiking enthusiast or desert lover, making it one of the more popular trails in all of Tucson. Hiking Summary: Romero Pools is situated in the Santa Catalina Mountains and is part of Catalina State Park. Move those feet about another 1/4 mile to some deep pools. This means that there were many areas of open space between plants. Longer hike - Romero Pools. The wonder grass for Arizona’s ranching days is something that we ecologists call fire-adapted. The well worn trail is easy to follow for it's entire length to the Romero Pools. Gave 5 stars based on memory of post rain or snowmelt falls. If it’s the only option, of course, go for it! Remember that grass I mentioned earlier, buffelgrass? From the Trailhead to Romero Pools is 2.8 miles with an elevation gain of 900 feet. As you can see, the trail … This section is the hardest part of the entire journey, but is worth the challenge. The trail is primarily used for hiking and horses and is best used from September until May. Thanks for sharing about this hike. These pristine grottos are the grand finale to a sweaty hiking trail, invigorating the spirits of exhausted hikers. Most people stop as soon as they get to the water. I wouldn’t have expected a place like this amidst the desert. This cycle will change the landscape of the Sonoran Desert forever, unless we do something. Record a track in Gaia GPS on iOS There is a strong scent of bay laurel in the air. Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén, (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. And of course, Climate change makes this worse by shifting our rain patterns, and making our droughts worse. Cross the Sutherland Wash and hike 2.8 miles (5.6 miles round trip) on the Romero Canyon Trail to get to the Romero Pools. Romero Pools Hiking trail in Oro Valley, Arizona (United States). Most people stop too soon. Catalina Trail, formerly known as Cathy Aguado, is a Mexican-born naturalist and social worker. 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. Poor trail conditions might be encountered as this is an un-maintained wilderness trail. This is a very nice and scenic hike. The first part of the trail is a wide and sandy path crossing the first main wash and leading you to the Romero Pools trailhead. There are 15 private trips. The trail starts across the road from the parking lot and follows the trail signs to Romero Canyon or Romero Pools. The next 1.7 miles are a steep and rocky climb to Romero Pools. 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. Website Listing Tag(s): Hiking ; See More. Refreshing water in the Romero Pools The Romero Canyon Trail is moderate in difficulty and an out-and-back trail that’s about 5.5 miles long. The hike to Romero Pools is about 4 miles. Any car can access this trail-head easily. The well worn trail is easy to follow for it's entire length to the Romero Pools. The hike starts by crossing the wash east of the parking area, and is easy for the first half mile, then becomes a steep, rocky trail to the … Start your hike at the trailhead parking lot, cross Sutherland Wash, and then begin your steep climb up to the pools. After you join the singletrack trail up to Romero Pools you'll climb up and into the mountain. Eight hikers went 5.64 miles then returned to the trailhead. This is a difficult out and back trail to Romero Pools in Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area. Le sentier vous présentera des fleurs sauvages et sa difficulté est évaluée comme modérée. Help hold major polluting companies accountable for their impacts so that they will innovate on solutions. There is one crossing to get to the Romero Pools trail which can have full running water. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Both should only be done with organizations that know how to safely carry out these activities. Distance: 5.5 miles RT | Elevation gain: 1,047 feet. And it is here, that you will begin to see the pools for which this trail is named. These pristine grottos are the grand finale to a sweaty hiking trail… Bring snacks. A popular hiking trail[1] leads to the Romero Pools, which hold water even during the driest parts of the season. Lemmon Trail / Arizona Trail and becomes excellent from here, leading along the ridge to the summit of Mt. Trail crosses a wash so The trail is rocky, with almost 1,000 feet of elevation gain. April 2018 is a dry year. Romero Canyon is a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers. This means that buffelgrass thrives after wildfires; it grows back quickly, it’s seeds benefit from the fire, and in Arizona, fires also wipe out competitive species, making more room for buffelgrass. Description. After passing through the desert, you will begin your true climb into the mountains. I began just before sunrise. The first part of the trail is pretty easy, but it increases in difficulty after that. See More. Beautiful looking hike. TUCSON - Today we're Hittin’ the Trails at a popular hiking spot in Catalina State Park, the Romero Pools Trail!. Lauren Moss KWWL News Anchor and Multimedia Journalist Related Articles Hittin’ the Trails 4 You – King Canyon Trail … It takes most people at least an hour and a half to get there and about the same to get back. Dogs are not allowed on the trail as it’s in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area. *Note: Always check for trail closures and weather information when planning your trip, beforehand or the day of. Romero Pools is located in the Catalina State Park near Tucson, Arizona. Interpretive signs explain the history and culture of the Hohokam village. These pristine grottos are the grand finale to a sweaty hiking trail, invigorating the spirits of exhausted hikers. Great hike. The hike to Romero Pools is about 4 miles. The trail is primarily used for hiking and walking and is accessible year-round. The trail will become steeper and steeper and the hills will shift into the towering expanses of Catalina Sky Island. 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