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Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation Area - 49 members in 194 triplogs have rated this an average 4 ( 1 to 5 best )
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 10  Next
194 triplogs
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Sep 27 2025
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 Guides 3
 Routes 639
 Photos 8,420
 Triplogs 611

54 male
 Joined Apr 13 2011
 Gilbert, AZ
Sabino - Bear Canyon LoopTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 27 2025
ddgrunningTriplogs 611
Hiking14.87 Miles 3,278 AEG
Hiking14.87 Miles   5 Hrs   48 Mns   2.75 mph
3,278 ft AEG      24 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
The last weekend in September is our annual rim to rim hike. But the Dragon Bravo fire scuttled this year’s plan.

So, instead, we opted to do a substitute hike in the Catalinas.

We were hoping that the rain this week would result in some running water on Bear Canyon and at the 7 falls, but just some damp ground in the creekbed and pools at the falls. I’m sure it was my decision hike in Tevas that guaranteed we’d keep our feet dry.

Above the falls was new tread for me. And the more I hike in the Catalinas, the more I like them. The canyon and the surrounding mountains have a lot of character. Although the rains didn’t result in flowing water, the desert was clearly soaking up the moisture. Much more green everywhere, and flowers blossoming and butterflies flying around like it was spring.

Didn’t think we’d see anyone past the falls until the sabino side, but this is clearly a trail running staple, as we crossed paths with no less than 6 groups or single runners on the loop.

Once we reached the sabino junction, our prayers for running water were answered, and the flows could be heard gurgling along below us.

The clouds threatened rain most of the day, but other than a brief light sprinkle, nothing materialized on the trail.

As we reached the shuttle junction, the sun came out and we opted to take the ride back to the TH, as we’d done the Phoneline previously.

We were happy with our choice and used the saved hour to make the drive up Mount Lemmon and back—a first for me. What a gorgeous drive!

They were having an Octoberfest event at the ski resort. We popped our heads in a looked around a bit before making the device back down.

Grabbed dinner at the Viva Mexican restaurant right off the road as we got back to Tucson. Food was fine, it we were the only customers on a Saturday evenly at dinner, which makes me think the restaurant’s days are numbered.

Beautiful sunset as we drove back to Phoenix.
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  1 archive
Mar 31 2025
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 5,002
 Triplogs 4,151

50 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Sabino - Bear Canyon LoopTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Mar 31 2025
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,151
Run/Jog17.90 Miles 3,075 AEG
Run/Jog17.90 Miles   4 Hrs   37 Mns   4.08 mph
3,075 ft AEG      14 Mns Break8 LBS Pack
 
beautiful day for one of my local favorites. came back on phoneline to the link then along sabino creek. felt quite good today :)
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hi
 
Aug 10 2024
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 Routes 7
 Photos 45
 Triplogs 7

male
 Joined May 22 2024
 Tucson, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 10 2024
hewenthatwayTriplogs 7
Hiking7.16 Miles 1,099 AEG
Hiking7.16 Miles   3 Hrs   30 Mns   2.44 mph
1,099 ft AEG      34 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
 
Feb 25 2024
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 Triplogs 71

male
 Joined Jan 23 2025
 Seattle, WA
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 25 2024
dhelderTriplogs 71
Hiking8.60 Miles 1,400 AEG
Hiking8.60 Miles
1,400 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
 
Feb 15 2024
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 5,002
 Triplogs 4,151

50 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 15 2024
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,151
Hiking8.60 Miles 1,400 AEG
Hiking8.60 Miles
1,400 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
one of those magical days at seven falls where all the creek crossings are nearly to your knees and the falls are all blasting. gorgeous day
_____________________
hi
 
Sep 02 2023
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 5,002
 Triplogs 4,151

50 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Sep 02 2023
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,151
Run/Jog8.10 Miles 958 AEG
Run/Jog8.10 Miles   2 Hrs   2 Mns   4.50 mph
958 ft AEG      14 Mns Break3 LBS Pack
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
got started late because of work and just died in the heat and humidity
_____________________
hi
 
May 16 2023
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 5,002
 Triplogs 4,151

50 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Run/Jog avatar May 16 2023
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,151
Run/Jog8.30 Miles 968 AEG
Run/Jog8.30 Miles   1 Hour   45 Mns   4.98 mph
968 ft AEG      5 Mns Break3 LBS Pack
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
water was starting to dry up but there was still some running. hot morning. love running out to seven falls
_____________________
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Apr 12 2023
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 Guides 16
 Routes 81
 Photos 1,269
 Triplogs 1,150

52 male
 Joined Apr 30 2008
 Tucson, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 12 2023
azdesertfatherTriplogs 1,150
Hiking8.91 Miles 1,070 AEG
Hiking8.91 Miles   3 Hrs   59 Mns   2.44 mph
1,070 ft AEG      20 Mns Break4 LBS Pack
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
From visitors center up to 4th fall and back
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Substantial

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water less than max Seven Falls - Catalina Medium flow Medium flow
_____________________
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." — Henry David Thoreau
 
Jan 28 2023
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 5,002
 Triplogs 4,151

50 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Sabino - Bear Canyon LoopTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Jan 28 2023
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,151
Run/Jog16.72 Miles 2,621 AEG
Run/Jog16.72 Miles   3 Hrs   56 Mns   4.54 mph
2,621 ft AEG      15 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 
Ideal day for this loop. Beautiful weather and tons of water everywhere. Even some snow on the East Fork Trail. I wasn't pushing the pace too much, and it wasn't the day for it with all the water in the crossings. Could see or hear water a lot of way currently, which is a real treat. managed to keep my feet dry until sabino road - several of the bridges were run over with water. Nothing to do there but plow on through :lol:

Bear Canyon: Trail is in fine shape to seven falls. Currently there is a lot of water in all of the crossings though i was able to make them all keeping my feet dry - though it took some work. Beyond the falls, the trail sees much less traffic. It isn't overgrown per se, but there is a lot of growth along the sides of the trail. Some it is catclaw-like and I was bleeding from a few spots by the end. The route is still easy to follow. The only tricky part is after the last creek crossing before climbing up the thimble flat - that is always a little tricky to find if you don't know where it is (quickly to the left and up the rocky incline). Up at the top about a mile before the Bear saddle there was some ice and mud hanging on. Someone came through on horses recently and tore up the muddy part of the trail a little bit. The upper parts of the trail have seen some erosion from all the rain the last year

East Fork: Never any route fining issues here. Bunch of hard pack snow on the trail but it wasn't very slippery. Again, torn up in the muddy spots from horses a little. Otherwise glorious as always. Little bit overgrown between palisade and box canyon but easy to follow still.

Sabino 23: No issues really. Pretty wide open.
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  1 archive
Oct 14 2022
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 Guides 2
 Routes 513
 Photos 5,596
 Triplogs 4,311

male
 Joined Mar 01 2009
 Aztec, NM
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 14 2022
PivoTriplogs 4,311
Hiking8.60 Miles 1,400 AEG
Hiking8.60 Miles
1,400 ft AEG10 LBS Pack
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
Sep 20 2022
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 5,002
 Triplogs 4,151

50 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Sep 20 2022
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,151
Run/Jog8.25 Miles 1,015 AEG
Run/Jog8.25 Miles   1 Hour   50 Mns   4.71 mph
1,015 ft AEG      5 Mns Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
This one beat me up but it was still beautiful. Great to see the falls going
_____________________
hi
 
May 06 2022
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 Guides 170
 Routes 148
 Photos 5,914
 Triplogs 2,097

male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
 Hiking avatar May 06 2022
PrestonSandsTriplogs 2,097
 Hiking9.50 Miles 1,700 AEG
 Hiking9.50 Miles
1,700 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
After work bike-and-hike combo to Seven Falls. Date night so I had to move fast to get home in time. Locked my bike up at the end of Bear Canyon Road and then hiked quickly up Bear Canyon Trail, having soaked myself at the water faucet to ward off the 100 degree day’s lingering heat. Spent a few magical minutes wallowing in the big lower pool at Seven Falls. So nice. Jogged the non-rocky portions of the trail on the way back. 4.65 miles of actual hiking trail, 4.85 miles of road-biking.

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water less than maxwater less than max Seven Falls - Catalina Light flow Light flow
Lower flow than on 5-3-2022, down to roughly 2 gallons per minute coming over the falls today.
_____________________
"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
May 03 2022
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 Guides 170
 Routes 148
 Photos 5,914
 Triplogs 2,097

male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
 Hiking avatar May 03 2022
PrestonSandsTriplogs 2,097
 Hiking9.90 Miles 1,740 AEG
 Hiking9.90 Miles
1,740 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
After work bike-n-hike. Biked to the end of Bear Canyon Road, then hiked up Bear Canyon Trail to Seven Falls, arriving at the tail-end of sunset. Spent a few minutes enjoying the water along with the ducks. Hiked back to my bike and followed the road back in the dark, with side trip to Sabino Dam.

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water less than maxwater less than max Seven Falls - Catalina Light flow Light flow
Roughly 3 or 4 gallons per minute going over the falls.
_____________________
"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
  2 archives
Oct 22 2021
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 Guides 2
 Routes 513
 Photos 5,596
 Triplogs 4,311

male
 Joined Mar 01 2009
 Aztec, NM
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
 Hiking avatar Oct 22 2021
PivoTriplogs 4,311
 Hiking8.60 Miles 1,400 AEG
 Hiking8.60 Miles   3 Hrs   13 Mns   2.67 mph
1,400 ft AEG8 LBS Pack
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
Jun 11 2021
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 5,002
 Triplogs 4,151

50 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Jun 11 2021
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,151
Run/Jog8.35 Miles 1,033 AEG
Run/Jog8.35 Miles   1 Hour   37 Mns   30 Secs5.30 mph
1,033 ft AEG      3 Mns Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
love running out here at sunrise
_____________________
hi
  1 archive
May 05 2021
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 5,002
 Triplogs 4,151

50 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Run/Jog avatar May 05 2021
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,151
Run/Jog8.30 Miles 1,027 AEG
Run/Jog8.30 Miles   1 Hour   37 Mns   5.47 mph
1,027 ft AEG      6 Mns Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
gorgeous morning run out to seven falls. started at 550. had the whole canyon to myself
_____________________
hi
 
Jan 27 2021
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 Guides 187
 Routes 994
 Photos 12,145
 Triplogs 869

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Seven Falls, AZ 
Seven Falls, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 27 2021
markthurman53Triplogs 869
Hiking7.51 Miles 1,367 AEG
Hiking7.51 Miles   4 Hrs   21 Mns   1.96 mph
1,367 ft AEG      31 Mns Break
 
Partners partners
mamakatt22
Ginny and I took a hike up to seven Falls to see if they were flowing after the snows this week. They were not flowing yet but there were some pools of water. Still a scenic hike. Not too many people on the trail but more than I'm use to seeing on my hikes. Masks were not the norm but every once in a while a few people would quick mask up when they saw us like I caught them with no cloths on. I have been hiking this trail since the early sixties but it has been at least 5 years since my last time and I have forgotten just what a nice hike this is, in spite of its popularity. Hopefully in the next week or so the creek will be flowing, mount Lemmon got quite a bit of snow and another storm is due this week.

dry Bear Canyon Dry Dry
Some pooling of water at the falls.

dry Seven Falls - Catalina Dry Dry
Pooling of water but not flowing
_____________________
 
Dec 20 2020
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 Guides 4
 Routes 216
 Photos 101
 Triplogs 213

male
 Joined Aug 08 2020
 Phx az
Sabino - Bear Canyon LoopTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 20 2020
ScaredyCatTriplogs 213
Hiking17.90 Miles 4,268 AEG
Hiking17.90 Miles   9 Hrs   28 Mns   2.12 mph
4,268 ft AEG   1 Hour   1 Min Break
 
1st trip
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Be ready to literally dedicate the entire day to this 1. Woke 530 am, home 10 pm. I drove up from n phx. Completely worth it.

Once u get past 7 falls, u will find solitude. To your left u will be able to see the trails u just came from. When u get even further out, u will b surrounded by beauty.

The landscape will change and u will pass multiple junctions. All of which provide ample info. Great escape.
 
Jan 01 2020
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 Guides 3
 Routes 639
 Photos 8,420
 Triplogs 611

54 male
 Joined Apr 13 2011
 Gilbert, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 01 2020
ddgrunningTriplogs 611
Hiking9.56 Miles 1,261 AEG
Hiking9.56 Miles   4 Hrs   29 Mns   2.16 mph
1,261 ft AEG      3 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Wow! What a great day for my first visit to Seven Falls. Perfect way to kick off the new year. Tons of water at the falls. We started the hike in the early afternoon, which limited the crowds encountered ant treated us to a fantastic AZ sunset on the hike out. Totally exceeded my expectations .... :y:
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Sunset
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Nov 06 2019
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 Photos 5
 Triplogs 1,065

female
 Joined Oct 04 2012
 Phoenix, AZ
Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 06 2019
WaitingForRainTriplogs 1,065
Hiking5.00 Miles 1,400 AEG
Hiking5.00 Miles   1 Hour   46 Mns   2.83 mph
1,400 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I can't tell you how many times I have tried to do this trail and started way too late in the day. I did it again, but at least I can say I've already been to the end. :)
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average hiking speed 2.42 mph
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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