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Hi,

This is my first summer in Tucson and I'm trying to go on a simple one night backpack doing the Pima Canyon/Finger Rock Canyon traverse. Does anyone know if Pima spring is running, or if any springs are running up there on Pima saddle? If not, is there a better high-elevation backpack to do in the front range?

Thanks,
Sarah

Best place to find water in the desert, take it with you. Take note of the temps, it can be like hiking in a pizza oven.

Not sure about finger rock or Pima Canyon, but wilderness of rocks and west fork usually seem to have water year round, and I doubt Hutch's Pool EVER goes dry. But I agree with Nighthiker- your pack is the best place to find water in the desert.

I lived in Tucson and in summer I would not do that trip. There is likely to be no water at all the entire trip. There is no water in Finger Rock Canyon, and only in wet years is there a little water in Pima, behind the "dam" only 3 miles in. Why do that hike in summer when you could instead go up to Mt. Lemmon and do Wilderness of Rocks down to Lemmon Creek? There are also other backpacks in the Catalinas and Santa Ritas you can do in summer, that are up high in the pines and have springs. If you really want to hike in the desert heat, go to upper Sabino and Hutch's Pool. There is always water at Hutch's.

Just to back up what all the others have said, it's very hot and dry out there now. I just got back from the Rincons, and we found clean water only at Manning Camp - all of the other springs, seeps and holes were either dry or full of brown, mucky, ucky, buggy, smelly water. I would be VERY surprised to find water at Pima, or at any of the front range haunts.

Hutches will likely have water in it - and if you're wanting to do a through/loop type thing, you could go up Sabino to Hutches, then hike up and out through East Fork/Sycamore to Hirbayashi (a little higher so not quite as hot) or up and over Romero Pass and down through Catalina State Park. It's possible that there will be water in the upper reaches of Romero Pools - but again, you count on it at your own peril.

The last 8 miles out of the Rincons on Douglas Springs Tr. were brutal - and it was only in the lower 90's this weekend. It's always harder than you think it's going to be to hike in that kind of heat.

Sarah,
I'm leading a Lemmon Pools backpack June 19-20 with the Tucson Backpackers on Meetup.com. It's an easy out-and-back in the Catalinas with a lollipop option. You're welcome to join us.
Belinda