Sycamore Reservoir Photoset • markthurman53 • 2021-04-13 • HikeArizona.COM

Sycamore Reservoir, AZ

	2021-04-13
	17 by markthurman53

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Sycamore Reservoir, AZ

Hiking	8.45 Miles	1,315 AEG

Hiking	8.45 Miles	4 Hrs 39 Mns	1.96 mph
	1,315 ft AEG	20 Mns Break

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Santa Catalina Mountains - AZT #11

Sycamore Reservoir Trail #39

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mamakatt22

This hike was a rehash of a section of trails I did a few years ago. Arizona Trail #11 or the Sycamore Reservoir Trail from Gordon Hirabayashi Campground. We hiked to the ridge that separates Bear Canyon from Sabino Canyon. There is a short section of trail that Connects the Bear Canyon Trail to the Sycamore Trail that I was not able to locate the last time I hiked this area so I wanted to locate it and get a GPS route for it on this hike.

The Sycamore Trail is in good condition starting at the Gordon Hirabayashi Campground crossing Soldier Canyon(dry)and ridge Separating Soldier from Bear Canyon then dropping into Sycamore Reservoir. The ridge between soldier and bear is just slight increase in elevation when heading west but a good 500 feet when approaching from the bear Canyon side. Not a difficult climb but it gets your attention after the easy walking in Sycamore Creek. Bear Canyon Creek had a light flow over the dam at sycamore Reservoir. The Sycamores were just coming out of their winter sleep with lush green leaves.

We headed east up Sycamore Creek to the ridge that separates Bear Canyon from Sycamore/Bear Canyon. Not much of a ridge, maybe 30 feet of elevation separates these two water sheds. This looks like a great example of stream piracy if sycamore creek ever breaches that ridge. There is a good 500 foot drop into East Sabino Canyon Creek. Before we got to that ridge I looked for the Spur Trail that connects up with the Bear Canyon Trail. My route shows me searching for it. Found the trail and continued up to the Bear Canyon Trail. Not sure how I missed the trail before, great condition but not marked on either end. From the junction with the Bear Canyon Trail we headed down (north) the Bear Canyon Trail to the Sycamore Canyon Trail at the ridge. East Sabino Canyon is about 500 feet below to the west and Sycamore Creek is about 30 feet down to the East. Along this trail we spotted an animal that resembled a racoon or badger but didn't quite fit either of those, turned out to be a Coatimundi. First one I have seen in the Catalina's. Sycamore Creek had water flow in the lower end near the reservoir.

Stopped for a lunch break in the shade of some trees in upper Sycamore Creek. Headed back to our start point after lunch. Great weather the whole hike with a slight breeze to ward off the suns heat.

Sycamore Canyon

Light flow

	Sycamore Reservoir	1-25% full	1-25% full
	The reservoir is filled with sand and gravel but there was pooling above the dam and light flow over the dam.

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