username
X
password
register
for free!
help
ArticlesGuidesRoutes
 
Photosets
 
 Comments
triplogs   photosets   labels comments more
Cactus Forest Trail - Saguaro NP - 6 members in 46 triplogs have rated this an average 3.2 ( 1 to 5 best )
1, 2, 3  Next
46 triplogs
login for filter options
Sep 03 2025
avatar

 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,124

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Saguaro East Foothills Sweatfest, AZ 
Saguaro East Foothills Sweatfest, AZ
 
Run/Jog avatar Sep 03 2025
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,124
Run/Jog10.65 Miles 1,057 AEG
Run/Jog10.65 Miles   2 Hrs   27 Mns   4.56 mph
1,057 ft AEG      7 Mns Break4 LBS Pack
 no routesno photosets
Nice Loop in the foothills. the humidity was pretty brutal. only saw one person all day
_____________________
hi
  1 archive
Apr 17 2025
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 262
 Photos 864
 Triplogs 266

51 male
 Joined Mar 24 2021
 Tucson, AZ
Cactus Forest Mica View loop, AZ 
Cactus Forest Mica View loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Apr 17 2025
JackluminousTriplogs 266
Hiking2.02 Miles 93 AEG
Hiking2.02 Miles      39 Mns   3.11 mph
93 ft AEG
 
no photosets
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
 
Mar 22 2025
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 262
 Photos 864
 Triplogs 266

51 male
 Joined Mar 24 2021
 Tucson, AZ
Mica View Cactus Forest loop, AZ 
Mica View Cactus Forest loop, AZ
 
 Hiking avatar Mar 22 2025
JackluminousTriplogs 266
 Hiking2.00 Miles 87 AEG
 Hiking2.00 Miles      40 Mns   3.00 mph
87 ft AEG
 
no photosets
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Another recovery walk with wifey. Did the loop counterclockwise today.
  1 archive
Mar 12 2025
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 262
 Photos 864
 Triplogs 266

51 male
 Joined Mar 24 2021
 Tucson, AZ
Cactus Forest Mica View loop, AZ 
Cactus Forest Mica View loop, AZ
 
 Hiking avatar Mar 12 2025
JackluminousTriplogs 266
 Hiking2.03 Miles 78 AEG
 Hiking2.03 Miles      38 Mns   3.21 mph
78 ft AEG
 
no photosets
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Recovery hike after my four day AZT trek. Wifey came along.
  2 archives
Feb 18 2025
avatar

 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,124

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Douglas Springs/Cowhead/Tanque Verde, AZ 
Douglas Springs/Cowhead/Tanque Verde, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Feb 18 2025
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,124
Hiking28.44 Miles 5,569 AEG
Hiking28.44 Miles   10 Hrs   11 Mns   3.14 mph
5,569 ft AEG   1 Hour   7 Mns Break15 LBS Pack
 no routes
1st trip
Working on the Rincon trails in SNP. Put together a huge loop. Highlight is the Tanque Verde ridge trail between Cow Head Saddle and TV Peak. WOW - sensational views.

Felt really good and had perfect weather for a big day in the Rincons
_____________________
hi
 
Dec 13 2024
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 262
 Photos 864
 Triplogs 266

51 male
 Joined Mar 24 2021
 Tucson, AZ
Cactus Forest Mica View loop, AZ 
Cactus Forest Mica View loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Dec 13 2024
JackluminousTriplogs 266
Hiking2.02 Miles 110 AEG
Hiking2.02 Miles      41 Mns   3.03 mph
110 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
no photosets
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Evening stroll with wifey. Saw two trail runners, a couple ladies and small child, and a coyote. Just not all at once.
 
Sep 27 2023
avatar

 Guides 187
 Routes 989
 Photos 12,068
 Triplogs 864

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Cactus Forest Lime Falls, AZ 
Cactus Forest Lime Falls, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Sep 27 2023
markthurman53Triplogs 864
Hiking6.40 Miles 537 AEG
Hiking6.40 Miles   2 Hrs   52 Mns   2.25 mph
537 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Partners partners
mamakatt22
Another hike today in Saguaro National Park, this one was 6.4 miles. Ginny and I are trying to get to 80 miles by the end of September, we have 5 more to go. We started this hike at 6 in the morning and finished by 9. Nice to hike before the sun comes up. Yesterday we started at 7 and by the time we finished 5 miles it was pretty warm. Unlike yesterday no rattlesnakes but we did see a tarantula.

Lime Falls was dry as would be expected with so little rain. The Bees were happy with a few spots of damp sand along the creek to Lime Falls, probably where water seeps out from the rocks in the wash. Surprisingly very few people on the trail. One guy concerned about rattlesnakes, a guy on a bike, a gal that was running/walking and another gal having a loud conversation with herself or maybe on a cell phone, normal day in the park.
_____________________
 
Feb 24 2023
avatar

 Guides 187
 Routes 989
 Photos 12,068
 Triplogs 864

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Javelina Cactus Forest Loop, AZ 
Javelina Cactus Forest Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Feb 24 2023
markthurman53Triplogs 864
Hiking7.22 Miles 550 AEG
Hiking7.22 Miles   3 Hrs   1 Min   2.39 mph
550 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Partners partners
mamakatt22
We decided to take advantage of the good weather between storms but needed to stay close to home, so we went to Saguaro National Park again. I had been on these trails before but Ginny hasn't. Beautiful weather for a hike.

Started at the Broadway trailhead and headed south on the Mica View Trail. This is a short paved (kind of) walk way to Mica View picnic area. Lots of people from many different places and in a variety of conditions. Good views of both the Catalina and Rincon snow capped mountains. We then took Javelina Wash West branch to the Cactus Forest Trail. Found another rather impressive crested saguaro along Javelina Wash. Probably saw this one before when I hiked this wash but I don't seem to remember it. We headed back to the start point along the cactus forest trail. Nothing really spectacular about this hike but it is a pleasant walk, good workout along Javelina Wash hiking in sand. I think the best time to hike this is during or just after the monsoons on a cool day or early morning.
_____________________
 
Feb 09 2023
avatar

 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,124

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Saguaro East Foothills, AZ 
Saguaro East Foothills, AZ
 
Run/Jog avatar Feb 09 2023
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,124
Run/Jog12.40 Miles 1,135 AEG
Run/Jog12.40 Miles
1,135 ft AEG      5 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 no routesno photosets
big loop from douglas springs th. hit scott's knob along the way. had fun with this one but the calf hurts more so gonna take a few days off

Ran the first 2 miles easy, then the first minute of each additional mile at 1/2 marathon pace.
_____________________
hi
 
Jan 26 2023
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 262
 Photos 864
 Triplogs 266

51 male
 Joined Mar 24 2021
 Tucson, AZ
Cactus Forest Mica View loop, AZ 
Cactus Forest Mica View loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 26 2023
JackluminousTriplogs 266
Hiking2.01 Miles 82 AEG
Hiking2.01 Miles      31 Mns   3.89 mph
82 ft AEG
 
no photosets
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Nice easy stroll while nursing the nasty blister I got wearing water shoes for eight miles in Sabino Canyon. Ow.
 
Jan 11 2023
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 262
 Photos 864
 Triplogs 266

51 male
 Joined Mar 24 2021
 Tucson, AZ
Pink Hill Loma Verde Cholla Loop, AZ 
Pink Hill Loma Verde Cholla Loop, AZ
 
 Hiking avatar Jan 11 2023
JackluminousTriplogs 266
 Hiking4.12 Miles 181 AEG
 Hiking4.12 Miles   1 Hour   9 Mns   3.86 mph
181 ft AEG      5 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Contribution to step count. Cool evening. Saw a young buck near Pink Hill.
 
Nov 11 2022
avatar

 Guides 16
 Routes 81
 Photos 1,269
 Triplogs 1,144

51 male
 Joined Apr 30 2008
 Tucson, AZ
Cactus Forest Trail - Saguaro NPTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 11 2022
azdesertfatherTriplogs 1,144
Hiking10.10 Miles 518 AEG
Hiking10.10 Miles   3 Hrs   23 Mns   3.06 mph
518 ft AEG      5 Mns Break
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Hiked a loop that took the Javelina West Wash Trail north from the Rincon visitors center to Shantz Trail to the Broadway Trailhead, then Cactus Forest Trail back to Javelina East Wash Trail to complete the loop. On the Cactus Forest Trail we visited the ranger cabin ruins, the lime ovens and Lime Falls, which was dry except for a few small pools.
_____________________
"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
 
Nov 28 2021
avatar

 Guides 187
 Routes 989
 Photos 12,068
 Triplogs 864

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Loma Verde Javelina Wash Loop, AZ 
Loma Verde Javelina Wash Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Nov 28 2021
markthurman53Triplogs 864
Hiking5.55 Miles 231 AEG
Hiking5.55 Miles   2 Hrs   16 Mns   2.47 mph
231 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
Another short hike in Saguaro National Park. Needed to get out and get some walking in so we picked a spot close to home. We started at the Loma Verde Trail Head within the park and took the Mesquite Trail to Javelina Wash, then the Vanover and returned on the Loma Verde Wash and Cholla Trails. Lots of sand walking on this hike, over half. This is not a terribly interesting hike but doing it around sunset made it rather pleasant.
_____________________
 
Nov 08 2021
avatar

 Guides 187
 Routes 989
 Photos 12,068
 Triplogs 864

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Cactus Forest Loop, AZ 
Cactus Forest Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Nov 08 2021
markthurman53Triplogs 864
Hiking11.23 Miles 765 AEG
Hiking11.23 Miles   5 Hrs   7 Mns   2.28 mph
765 ft AEG      11 Mns Break
 
We needed to get out and do some hiking for November but our schedule is kind of busy. We opted to do a short hike in Saguaro National Park which only required a short 5 minute drive to get there. From the Cactus Forest trail Head on Old Spanish Trail we hiked the Cactus Forest then the Mica View to the Trail Head on Broadway then returned on the Shantz and Javelina Wash trails. We did a side trip to Limestone falls near the limestone kilns. I had done these trails before a few years back but was nice to do them again. There isn't a lot of elevation change on these trails just up and down small hills. the 2.3 miles along Javelina Wash was a bit tiring because it is in sand, luckily there were areas of hard pack sand from the rains this last summer. This trail in Javelina Wash is not traveled much as evident from the few tracks in the sand. The only water we saw was short section near Limestone Falls and it was just barely a trickle and some small pooling on rocks. The weather was nice probably in the 70'swith a thin layer of cirrus clouds. You have to hand it to these clouds they stretch all the way to the equator to shade us on this hike.
_____________________
 
Sep 28 2021
avatar

 Routes 1
 Triplogs 11

24 male
 Joined Jan 11 2016
 tucson, az
Cactus Forest Trail - Saguaro NPTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 28 2021
mitchelllTriplogs 11
Hiking5.20 Miles 1,105 AEG
Hiking5.20 Miles   1 Hour   52 Mns   3.09 mph
1,105 ft AEG      11 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
_____________________
 
Jul 31 2017
avatar

 Guides 187
 Routes 989
 Photos 12,068
 Triplogs 864

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Cactus Forest Freeman Homestead, AZ 
Cactus Forest Freeman Homestead, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jul 31 2017
markthurman53Triplogs 864
Hiking12.70 Miles 1,122 AEG
Hiking12.70 Miles   4 Hrs   29 Mns   3.22 mph
1,122 ft AEG      32 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Partners none no partners
Wanted to do the Cactus Forest Trail because HAZ needed a description of this route and while searching the trails in SNP I found one I have never been on before, Freeman Homestead Loop trail. I enjoyed the short Freeman Homestead Trail but I think I enjoyed looking up the history on the internet more. Found out a lot more on the origins of Houghton road, Harrison road and of coarse Freeman road. I explored a route that takes you from Javelina Picnic grounds to cactus Forest Trail, this comes in handy when coming off Tanque Verde Ridge and need to get to Old Spanish trail Irvington Trail Head for your ride home. From the Freeman Loop I followed Cactus Forest Loop Road backward crossing Javelina Wash West and Javelina Wash East. Took me .4 miles to finally figure out I passed Javelina Wash east and had to back track (I really need to pay more attention to my GPS). Took Javelina Wash East down to Lime Falls and continued on back to the Cactus Forest Trail and back to the Broadway Trail Head. Javelina Wash east had water in some of the small pools but it was pretty raunchy looking, luckily I didn't need water. It looked like Javelina Wash West was running a bit at least where it crossed Cactus Forest Loop Road.
_____________________
 
Jan 25 2014
avatar

 Routes 5
 Photos 5
 Triplogs 6

59 male
 Joined Jun 29 2013
 Tucson, AZ
Shantz Trail - Saguaro NPTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 25 2014
davidbwingsTriplogs 6
Hiking10.20 Miles
Hiking10.20 Miles   5 Hrs   30 Mns   2.55 mph
   1 Hour   30 Mns Break
 
no photosets
Started at the Broadway trailhead and made a loop first going south via Shantz and then the Javelina Wash to pick up the Cactus Forest trail to the Lime Kilns and Lime Kiln Falls.

Tracking back north and staying on the Cactus Forest to make a loop to the east via Mesquite and Squeeze Pen to the Pink Hill trail. Nice views from the top of Pink Hill.

Had what looked to be a falcon land in a tree just to the edge of the Cactus Forest trail as we passed.
_____________________
 
Apr 19 2013
avatar

 Guides 28
 Routes 20
 Photos 672
 Triplogs 169

47 male
 Joined Jan 30 2008
 Old Pueblo
Cactus Forest Trail - Saguaro NPTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 19 2013
JeffshadowsTriplogs 169
Hiking9.60 Miles 1,520 AEG
Hiking9.60 Miles
1,520 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Did Cf and a few other little jaunts related to it. Nice breeze. Lots of blooming cacti and wildflowers.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
_____________________
AD-AVGVSTA-PER-ANGVSTA
 
Mar 17 2013
avatar

 Guides 187
 Routes 989
 Photos 12,068
 Triplogs 864

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
SNP Cactus Forest Mesquite Trails, AZ 
SNP Cactus Forest Mesquite Trails, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Mar 17 2013
markthurman53Triplogs 864
Hiking9.80 Miles 918 AEG
Hiking9.80 Miles   3 Hrs   44 Mns   3.06 mph
918 ft AEG      32 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Nice hike for winter or spring if you live in the area. Trails are in good condition but not a trail if you are looking for solitude. The Kilns are pretty interesting but would recommend doing some research on them before visiting, makes the experience better. I was doing a lot of these trails when I first got back into hiking after retiring, I think it would be interesting to come up with a plan to try and do all the trails in the lower park by linking them together and doing it in as few a trips possible, minimizing duplication, keeping it under 20 miles a day. Sounds like it could be a contest. The Superstition wilderness is kind of the same way.
_____________________
  1 archive
Feb 25 2013
avatar

 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Feb 24 2013
 Tucson, AZ
Cactus Forest Trail - Saguaro NPTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Feb 25 2013
Smiles7269Triplogs 10
Run/Jog3.80 Miles
Run/Jog3.80 Miles
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
no notes... yet :y:
_____________________
 
average hiking speed 2.49 mph
1, 2, 3  Next

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.

helpcommentissue

end of page marker