The Arizona Trail, which runs the length of the Grand Canyon State from Mexico to Utah, is divided into 43 “passages” or sections. Passage 9 crosses Saguaro National Park’s eastern district, rambling 24.6 miles one-way through the park.
No roads in the park offer trailheads, which in part explains why it’s not crowded. There are a couple of different approaches to the trail, however, that will get you on the trail as it crosses the park.
Northern trailhead
From Interstate 10 in Tucson, exit east onto West Speedway Boulevard. Turn left/
North onto North Wilmot Road. As the street veers east, it naturally becomes East Tanque Verde Road. Upon entering Coronado National Forest, the highway becomes Forest Road 371/Redington Road. Watch for the small Arizona Trail sign and park in the dirt lot next to it.
Passage 9 heads south from Redington Road while Passage 10 goes north.
The trail crosses desert scrub that few visitors venture to see. At about 3 miles, the trail reaches a wash and the edge of the Rincon Mountains. From there, the trail ascends into the mountains. For a day hike, this is a good spot to turn back for a 6-mile round trip.
If you’ve got the energy and want to camp out overnight in the wilderness, the next 14 miles is a trip through many of Arizona’s major ecosystems. The trail climbs about 6000 feet over that distance across desert grassland, oak then pine–oak woodlands, pine forests, and mixed-conifer forests. Along the way, you’ll also enter the national park.
At the ridge top, you can take the Fire Loop Trail right/west for 0.1 miles to the fairly flat top of Mica Mountain. Incredible views await from the 8,668-feet peak. Tucson is to the west.
From there, you can head back for a 34.2-mile round trip hike.
Alternately, you can descend the ridge on a 16-mile trek to the Hope Camp Trail. Turn right/west onto it and go to the Camino Loma Alta Trailhead, where you can arrange to have a shuttle vehicle pick you up, for a 30.2-mile one-way hike.
Overnight camping is available at Grass Shack or Manning Camp in the national park. Permits and reservations are required for overnight camping. Campfires are not allowed in the park.
Southern trailhead
From Interstate 10 in Tucson, exit north onto East Colossal Cave Road. After crossing the Pantano Wash, turn left/north onto South Camino Loma Alta. The road ends at the national park boundary on the Camino Loma Alta Trailhead and parking area.
Head briefly north then go right/northeast onto the Hope Camp Trail. The sandy path crosses the Sonoran Desert with the Rincon Mountains rising to the north. Parts of the trail can be quite lush as it follows a wash flowing out of the range.
After crossing S Wash, the route at 2.8 miles finally reaches the Arizona Trail. Go left/north onto it.
The trail gradually ascends.
At 4.5 miles, you’ll reach a steep portion of the ascent as you enter the Rincon Mountains. This marks a good spot to turn back, making for a 9-mile hike – though you can trek all the way to the ridge line and beyond.
TOPO MAP
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