Prophecy Wash Trail, AZ

Background
This is an easy short hike into the desert, heading south towards the northern Tucson mountain foothills. It's easy, following a broad and sandy wash. It's a nice hike for before/after work or just getting out and stretching those legs.


Hike
Take off on the Cam-Boh trail from the aptly named Cam-Boh picnic area. The trail runs east and is flat. You will only hike on this for about 0.3 miles. Just enough to cross a wash and get some nice views of Sombrero Peak and Panther Peak to the north. Quickly, you'll cross another broad wash. This is Prophecy Wash. A sign marks the wash and trail. Take a right and head south on the Prophecy Wash trail. This is a rather large wash and therefore it's easy to follow. No route finding, no real physical challenge (other than walking in sand)...just a pleasant stroll through the desert. Oftentimes ahead are great views of Wasson Peak and the Catalinas to your left. The wash is lined with cholla, creosote, ocotillos and saguaro.In about 0.6 miles from the intersection, the Prophecy Wash trail hits the dirt Golden Gate Road heading out towards the Esperanza trailhead. A small sign on the other side of the road picks up the trail again, which winds ever so briefly through the desert before dumping you back into the wash. From here it's another 1.3 miles of washy walking to the end of the trail sign. As you get farther into the interior of the wash, it narrows down a bit. There are nice views of the ridgeline to your left, and the backside of Peak 3263 comes into view, a nice little climb itself. Eventually, the trail ends at a sign in a narrow spot of the wash, which continues south but appears quite overgrown.

2008-11-09 fricknaley