Alamo Springs to Ridge Crest Peak, AZ

2013 Route Modification Access is now from the Ritz.

Ridge Crest Peak is the distinctive pyramid-shaped peak in the Tortolita Mountains, the high point of the south wall of Wild Burro Canyon. You can see it from all over Tucson, and I have been staring at it for years, wondering if, when, and how I'd get up.


Take off from the common Wild Burro Trailhead and go through the hikers' gate. Drop down into the wash. This is Wild Burro wash. There is a signed, maintained trail, or you can take the wash. It doesn't matter. Your objective is the interior of the Tortolitas via Wild Burro Canyon. The wash passes through a yet uncompleted golf resort. Nothing special with this part of the hike... just make hay to the canyon. There is some lovely desert vegetation along the way.At 1.3 miles, you enter the canyon and come to signed intersections for multiple trails into the Tortolitas. For this hike, hang a right onto the Alamo Springs trail. This beauty climbs rather briskly up the south wall of Wild Burro Canyon. At 1.5 miles, the Lower Javelina trail breaks off to the left. Keep on the Alamo Springs Trail and keep climbing. This trail will ultimately drop you off on the south ridge of the canyon, and now you cruise along this excellent trail as it winds along the ridge with periodic ups and downs. There are nice rock formations all along the way, and at the right time of year, there are tons of flowers. As you go, you can see the Ridge Crest Peak looming before you. You're getting closer and closer. The saguaro display is superior. You're looking for a takeoff point from the trail to bushwhack to the top of Ridge Crest Peak. There is no correct way, but looking at a topo, you can see where to go. At 3.5 miles from the trailhead, the trail breaks away left to a small saddle then drops down the other side towards the Alamo Springs. Just before this saddle is an ideal point to go for it.

Head towards the nearby gully and cross over it. Then head due south straight up the ridge. This is a somewhat brutally steep climb. The footing is pretty good. However, avoid shindaggers and cholla. From the takeoff, it's only about 1/4 mile to the summit. If you can hit the west slope that rides up east to the summit, you are home-free. Scramble as necessary, and you can generally see where to go. When you hit the ridge, you may pick up a trail that apparently comes up from the other side up the ridge (from Canyon Pass). If so, take it up 5 minutes to the summit. Otherwise, keep on grinding. The views from the top are sweet. The Catalinas are laid out like never before, a who's who of Pusch Ridge. The Tortolita interior is everywhere. Great looks at Picacho, Santa Ritas, and the Tucson mountains abound. Baboquivari is in the background too. Be careful on the way down and angle back towards the Alamo Springs trail... please study a topo map and consider a GPS for this desert peak. It's worth it.

2008-03-08 fricknaley