36th Street Trail, AZ

Overview
This is Tucson’s version of South Mountain, with more than 40 trails accessible from 11 different THs. The 36th Street Trail is most easily accessed from the Enchanted Hills TH. This TH does not offer a lot, there is enough parking for about 20 cars, but there are no amenities. Surprisingly, there is no comprehensive map of the Tucson Mountain trail system at the TH. However, you only need to walk to the beginning of the trail to see a map of the trails in the vicinity….kind of. The trails take off directly to the west of the parking area, past a line of rock boulders. The 36th Street Trail is about 20 yards straight ahead and has a map of the Tucson Mountain trails. To the north of the rock boulders, is the El Grupo Trail and a map of the Enchanted Hills Trail System. Be aware that these maps cover different areas of the park and do not overlap.


Hike
The 36th Street Trail starts about 20 yards west of the parking area. At that point, the trail is signed and there is a map showing the 36th Street Trail and all the trails to the west of it. From the map you know the trail is going to heading west and you wonder how it is going to navigate the hills in front of you. The trail immediately starts to zigzag and then it hits the shoulder of the hill and starts to wrap around it in a southward direction. There are quite a few more hills than you might expect, but the trail never tackles them. It continues south until it reaches the end of the hill and then continues to follow it in a westward direction, never gaining or losing elevation of any note. As the trail swings to the west, a large wash will open up below you to the south with custom-built homes on the other side of the wash.Around 0.34 there is a split in the trail. The 36th Street Trail will be marked with an arrow and hold its elevation. At 0.76 the trail will briefly descend into the wash and immediately climb onto a bank, that runs a few feet above and adjacent to the wash. This wash encounter will have an arrow to help you keep on the right trail. Around this time, the hills that you have been circumnavigating start to fall away from the trail. At .84 the trail appears to officially enter Tucson Mountain Park. The trail passes an old, beat-up park sign that is leaning haphazardly against a tree. You have finally left the homes behind and entered a small basin surrounded by hills and mountains. At 1.32 miles the trail junctures with Max Shemwell Trail and turns sharply to the north. The 36th Street Trail only continues for a short distance before ending at 1.49 miles when it connects to the Starr Pass Trail.

From here, you can continue to enjoy the beauty of Tucson Mountain Park. All the trails are signed and most of them have maps at the junctures so you can create a lasso of your choosing. Unfortunately, it would be a lasso. The 36th Street Trail is the only trail that connects the Tucson Mountain Park with the Enchanted Hills TH.

Water Sources
There is no water available on this trail so plan accordingly.

Synopsis
The 36th Street Trail provides another option for entering and enjoying Tucson Mountain Park and as an added bonus is the only trail that connects TMP to the Enchanted Hills Trail system. Even with the homes invading your view this trail and the surrounding area is beautiful. Between the dramatic rock formations that seem almost pristine and untouched by mankind and the healthy variety of vegetation that covers the mountain landscape, this is a very easy way to appreciate a touch of the Sonoran.

2025-04-06 mt98dew