Creosote Trail - Saguaro NP, AZ

Overview: When the summer monsoons roll into Tucson, they soak the desert and release the smell of creosote. While you can experience this simple pleasure on almost any trail in Tucson, why not experience it on the aptly named Creosote Trail in Saguaro National Park?


Hike: From the Wildhorse Trail, Creosote Trail heads west and immediately enters a small forest of Creosote. This dense section of creosote smells fantastic during monsoon season, yet is close enough to the Wildhorse and Douglas Spring trailheads to retreat during a downpour. Past the forest, the trail dips into Bajada Wash where it meets a signed intersection with the Bajada Wash Trail. Continuing several yards past the marked intersection, you will encounter an unsigned T intersection. You want to take the left fork and follow Creosote Trail up the small hill. A right turn onto this unofficial trail would have you parallel Bajada Wash and intersect with Shantz trail in .2 miles.

Creosote Trail heads almost directly south as it climbs the hill out of Bajada Wash. The trail will momentarily level out, before it begins to head west and drop back into a small valley. You will climb back out of this small valley and immediately dip into a 2nd one. After climbing out of the 2nd valley, the trail will gradually loose elevation until it ends at Kennedy Trail.

Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.

2012-06-16 keepmoving