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| Signal Hill Trail |
Here are a few excellent trails to see to them.
Abington Long Loop
The trail spans just under five miles and takes you through some truly breathtaking scenery in the Tucson Mountain (West) district. To access the trailhead, park at the small turnout on Abington Road off of Belmont Road and walk about 0.2 miles up to Trailhead A7. From there, take Abington Trail to Gila Monster Trail to Cactus Canyon to Coyote Pass and then follow the remainder of the Abington Trail to finish off your hike. One of the unique features of this trail is a sandy wash, where you’ll come across a natural rock dam that holds some impressive Hohokam Morteros, or Native American grinding tool depressions. Don’t miss the old windmill with a stock tank just below the rock dam too. For a shorter 2.4-mile version of the hike, take Abington Trail to Vertical Cliffs Trail to Veterans Trail to Abington Trail and return to Trailhead A7.
King’s Canyon Wash Trail
King’s Canyon Wash Trail is a real hidden gem located in the Tucson Mountain (West) district. The trail stretches for 2.2 miles and features not one but two incredible petroglyph locations. The first spot is a rock in the canyon bed covered with desert varnish, where you can see a few petroglyphs. Further along, you’ll encounter an entire wall covered in dense petroglyphs. This dry river bed trail is prone to flooding, so avoid it during wet weather. If the path is still dry, it’s easy to navigate and immensely enjoyable too. As you hike down, prepare for some fun jumps off a series of small dry waterfalls. The trailhead is conveniently located on Kinney Road.
Picture Rocks/Prophecy Wash Loop
For a scenic hike within the Tucson Mountain (West) district, visitors should take the 7.6 mile Picture Rocks/Prophecy Wash Loop. Petroglyphs can be see on rocks along the way. To begin, follow Cam-boh Trail east and then Ironwood Forest Trail south, before veering left or southwest onto Picture Rocks Wash Trail. Continuing along this winding course, you’ll eventually reach Prophecy Wash Trail, which takes hikers back to the original trailhead from which they started. This also is an excellent hike for anyone looking to enjoy stunning desert views.
Signal Hill Trail
Day hikers can see more than 200 ancient petroglyphs on the Signal Hill Trail in the national park. The 0.3-mile round trip is less a hike than a stroll into prehistory. Petroglyphs of spirals, circles and a variety of other geometric shapes were created by Native American groups that resided in the desert between 500-1100 A.D. Many consider the trail to be the best in the park to see petroglyphs. The trail sits in the park’s Tucson Mountain (West) district. The trailhead is off of Signal Hills Road; the gravel road ends in a turnaround where you can park.
