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| Valley View Overlook Trail |
Some great hikes to that lad to great vistas at the park include…
Cactus Wren/Signal Hill/Manville Loop
Located in the Tucson Mountain (West) district, this loop is the perfect experience for day hikers. Spanning 4.3 miles long, the loop features the Signal Hills Trail, a popular route for viewing true petroglyphs along with sweeping views of northern Tucson Valley. Of course, one doesn’t want to miss out on a jaunt along the Cactus Wren Trail, followed by a climbs over Manville Hill with remarkable views along the way. Finally hikers will adventure back down to the trailhead.
Hugh Norris Trail Big Loop
Located in the Tucson Mountain (West) district, this is a great trail to explore if you’re looking for a real challenge. At 6.6 miles long, it’s not for the faint-hearted but those who take on this trail will be rewarded with some of the most stunning views anywhere around. Starting from the trailhead, work your way up the ridgeline on the Hugh Norris Trail before descending down the Sendero Esperanza Trail and then onto Dobe Wash Trail and Bajada Wash Trail before rejoining Hugh Norris at the trailhead again.
King Canyon Trail
The 7-mile round trip trail heads to Wasson Peak, the highest point in the the park’s Tucson Mountain (West) portion, offering great views of Tucson. The trailhead is on North Kinney Road near the Red Hill Visitor Center. The trail gains 1833 feet of elevation. To avoid the dangerous summer, only do this trail October through April.
Sendero Esperanza Trail
The trail in the Tucson Mountain (West) district spans a length of 3.1 miles with an elevation change of 750 feet. Starting from the northern trailhead, opposite the Ez-Kim-In-Zin backcountry picnic area, it follows an old vehicle track for 1.7 miles before ascending to the top of a ridge on a short and steep incline that leads to Hugh Norris Trail junction. Here begins a longer but smoother descent, taking hikers past Gould Mine down into King Canyon, 0.9 miles away from the main road. Several switchbacks along the hillside lead you back up to Hugh Norris Trail junction, where some take in the ridgeline scenery before heading back to their starting point at Golden Gate Road.
Sweetwater Trail
This 9.3-mile route also heads to Wasson Peak, the highest point in the park’s western portion. In addition to the top notch views of Tucson at the peak, you’ll enjoy great views of the preserve to the north. The trailhead starts outside of the park at the end of West el Camino del Cerro. When the path connects with the King Canyon Trail, take the latter right/northwest, then turn right/northeast onto the Hugh Norris Trail to reach the summit.
Tanque Verde Ridge Trail
Great views of the Tucson basin await at the summit of Tanque Peak. Take the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail about 9 miles (one-way) to the 7040 feet in the park’s in the Rincon Mountain (East) district. The trailhead is at the Javelina Picnic Area off of Cactus Forest Drive.
Turkey Key Trail
Mica Mountain, standing at 8,666 feet, is the highest point in the eastern Rincon Mountain district. Accessing Mica Mountain involves a backpacking journey. As you ascend via the Heartbreak Ridge Trail from the Turkey Key Trail, you will pass through the national park and encounter the striking Man Head Rock, offering stunning panoramic views.
Valley View Overlook
Day hikers can head to a vista of one of Arizona’s densest populations of saguaro cactus on the Valley View Overlook Trail. The 0.8-mile round trip trail sits in the Tucson Mountain (West) district. It’s flat and can easily be traversed by children. The trailhead is off of Hohokam Road. At the ridge’s top is a bench from where you can enjoy fantastic views – a sea of saguaro in Avra Valley to the south with Picacho Peak beyond it. You’re at about 2660 feet above sea level. The summit also is a fantastic spot for watching sunsets. Unlike the taller peaks, getting back to your vehicle in the dark will be much easier as well.
Wild Dog Trail
Set in a backdrop of rugged desert terrain, this trail in the Tucson Mountain (West) district offers hikers an alluring escape into the wild. Featuring a round trip distance of 1.8 miles and an elevation change of 230 feet, visitors can follow it from the trailhead along the southern section of Hohokam Road up to Valley View Trail before making their way to Wild Dog Trail. At the end of this scenic journey lies the junction of Golden Gate Road and a turnoff to Signal Hill picnic area, where one can also opt for a 2.3-mile loop back to the trailhead. There’s surely something special about standing atop Apache Peak and drinking in sweeping views of Avra Valley while trekking through verdant vegetation – Wild Dog Trail is certainly worth braving!
