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| Canyoneering | 9.00 Miles |
2,100 AEG |
| | Canyoneering | 9.00 Miles | | | |
| 2,100 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Right in the midst of the most popular outdoor area in Tucson (Sabino Canyon Recreation area) lies an unmarked gem of a hiking experience. Just a few years ago, this canyon route was a tangle of overgrown mesquite, requiring either dedication or blood sacrifice to make your way up and through the lower portions, but a flood a few years ago changed all of that. In fact, it changed that entire drainage for a few years. What had been a flat, sandy bottom stroll turned into a rock filled jumble for awhile. The sand is now back, and the tangle has yet to return.
What this route offers is a getaway from the surrounding crowds who mostly confine themselves to the marked trails and paved roadways, not realizing that immediately adjacent to all of those overcrowded trails lies this classic desert hiway... a sandy bottom, winding drainage hike. The charactersitic of this hike moves from the more open flat river bottom, to more narrow rock defiles, with a variety of small waterfall (usually dry)obstacles to enjoy working around. These little challanges grow in stature as you work your way higher up into the drainage, with views of Rattlesnake Peak and McFall Crags towering above... but not really that far above. There are numerous opportunities to head off and up to any of those surrounding ridges and peaks. Breakfast Canyon lying just over the ridge to the right provides an alternative return route if a loop sounds more desirable.
If you take the time to hike up the upper end of this drainage, the challenge obstacles continue to grow, with 70' to 150' side drainage waterfalls to enjoy scaling.
This hike begins around 2800' and effectively works up into the 4800' range. Since it is effectively off trail, be prepared to address lose and unstable foot placements throughout the hike. Even large rocks in there can tend to be teetor-totters at times, and the riverbank sides, ever changing, remain unstable.
It is easy to spend three hours wandering up to the head of this canyon, and there are numerous side splits to distract more time. It is well worth the efforts to keep moving; it only gets better as you go further in.
Take plenty of water... it is a fully exposed hike. If you decide to loop up and over to Breakfast Canyon for the return trip, be very aware of the unstable nature of most of those side cliffs.
There is a large population of deer that enjoy the refuge provided in the upper reaches of Breakfast Canyon, and numerous javalina wandering in both.
The greatest benefit of this hike is the out and away feel it provides, while originating at the very same parking lot for those hundreds of other park goers nowhere nearby.
There is an entry fee for parking in the Sabino Canyon parking area. |
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| Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is... |
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