December 12, 2017
Tucson area hikes - the Catalinas
The Catalinas are the "great mountains" in the Tucson area. They are high
and extremely rugged, comparable to any mountains anywhere. They offer serious
adventures such as a trip down Sabino or Lemmon Creek from top to bottom (but
read the warnings below). They are overused along the road, but it doesn't take
much energy and imagination to put yourself into a different world here.
Trailhead rules, backpacking, regulations, and other topics
And as of November, 2022 - here is a comprehensive plan from the Forest Service
for trails in the Catalinas. Everybody I know was caught off guard by this,
even those "well connected" with friends in the FS. They claim that they
are seeking public comment, but by the time anything gets this polished, you
know they are going to press ahead to do whatever they have already decided,
and the "public comment" is just a formality they are forced to endure:
Some hikes
I have split these into two groups (so far).
Front range hikes are those accessed from roads in Tucson or perhaps Oro Valley.
Summit hikes are those accessed from the Mt. Lemmon Highway.
Have any comments? Questions?
Drop me a line!
Tom's hiking pages / tom@mmto.org