mod. hike in tus area, have 3 days, any advice

[kabee2]

Its my first time in Arizona, and I'm staying in Tuscon. I've been doing alot of research but there's just too many choices, between Saguaro West and East and Sabino Canyon. I'm looking for something challenging but not extemely difficult. And I have 3 days so one day I could do flat desert but I would love to get some rock scambing in with some mountain views. Also what clothing is good for day hikes. I'm coming from NY and this is my first time out West so any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks- Kristen

[rally_toad]

I would head to Saguaro West and do the Hugh Norris Trail to Wasson Peak, it is rated by the national park as strenuous but its only about as steep as stairs for the first mile and then its fairly flat until really close to Wasson Peak. I dont know how long of a hike your looking for or how often you go hiking, this trail is 10 miles roundtrip and took me 3 and a half hours, I am used to hiking distances like that though.

Besides that I would recomend the Romero Pools in the Catalinas. 5.6 miles round trip but its a climb most of the way. This area is beautiful and theres probably a decent amount of water in the pools right now, Picacho Peak is a must but its really steep.

Those are my 3 favs in the Tucson area.

Even though its winter here its really not too cold here so for clothing pack a light jacket(which I only need when really early in the morning) and wear shorts and a t-shirt or some cool long pants. If your doing anything that takes even a little bit of exertion you'll be shedding the jacket within a few minutes.

[JoelHazelton]

I haven't done too much hiking in the Tucson area, but I can say that I would recommend pants. The last several hikes I've been on, even though I don't plan on going off trail and getting stuck by cacti all over the place, it still happens. Watch for the jumping cholla. They're like little balls of pain that hook themselves onto your skin through even the thickest of pants (maybe not the thickest, but they were hooking me through jeans the other night!).

Dress in layers. Bringing a heavy jacket is probably pointless unless your camping, because I usually start shedding within a couple minutes after starting a hike. Jackets just get hot and are a pain to carry.

If you plan on going where there is water you may want to bring an extra pair of socks. I'm sure that's the same in any region, though.

[nonot]

Or, since you're from NY, it may be shorts and t-shirt weather ;-)

[fricknaley]

I think Rallytoads recommendations on local hikes are pretty good ones. Those are ones I often recommend as well.

[scorpion scus]

wasson peak is a great choice.

[SkyIslandHiker]

A challenging hike with outstanding views is Blackett's Ridge in Sabino Canyon.
It's 6.5 miles rountrip from the parking lot with 1700' elevation gain,
most of which comes in the final 1.7 mile to the summit. Sevral false summits
tease you along the way.

[azbackpackr]

Ventana and Pima Canyons are also nice, and right next to town on the northside. At Sabino Canyon, I'd also recommend taking the Bear Canyon shuttle bus to the Bear Canyon/Seven Falls trail. I guess I like Seven Falls just about the most of any hike that is right next to town. As I recall (I moved away from Tucson almost 9 years ago, yikes!) the Seven Falls trail is about 2.5 miles one way, IF you ride on the shuttle bus. Add about another mile each way if you walk from Sabino parking lot. Seven Falls is so spectacular it would be a national park or something if it were somewhere else. It is also very popular, a good thing for you when you are new to the area, because there will be people to direct or help you if needed.