Great hike in early 2024, crested saguaro, sparrows, greens of many shades and purples color the cholla. Pink Hills overlook…. a summit of sorts. Great to wish people on the trails a “ good day”.
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This is an excellent intro hike to the desert around Tuscon. I would recommend that a walking stick/polls be used for the mature hiker.
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This is a nice easy trail, mostly level, and suitable for hikers of all skill levels. There are a number of locations where you can access trailheads, for this hike, such as from Mica Picnic area, from the park loop drive Cactus Forest Floor Trailhead and from an entrance just of off Broadway Boulevard. The trail from Mica Picnic area to the Broadway trailhead is blacktop for easy going. Continuing clockwise from the Broadway Trailhead the trail is a mix of sand, rocks and cactus. Beautiful scenery everywhere you look. Enjoy the Saguaro Cactus as you loop around to your starting point. If you do decide to go further the loop trail does intersect with a number of other trails so you are able to create larger loops especially to the northeast. Also located in the immediate area is the Desert Ecology Trail with is interpretive paved trail suitable for everyone. As with all hiking made sure you bring plenty of water, pay attention to the temperature in the summer months, and enjoy the outdoors and the Saguaro Cactus.
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Nice hike. Well marked. Could jog it if you are confident at cross country. Summertime conditions can be dangerous. Beautiful natural tanks should be running in Spring mostly, but some water in winter.
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Easy hike and beautiful weather this time of year. Expansive views of the desert and city. Mild incline at the start.
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Saguaro National Park, near Wild Horse Canyon. Beautiful desert scenery! Several trailheads in this area to park your, link several trails together to make this (or a similar) loop.
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Popular trail system at Eastern edge of Tucson. After major monsoons this summer, the grasses along 3 tanks trail were thick and tall, some above my head.
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A bit longer but still easy hike compared to the popular loops out of Broadway Trailhead, with a variety of habitats. Very quiet today except for a large reddish snake that made a quick exit. I passed nobody else on the trails at all.
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The longest of the 3 easy loops from Broadway Trailhead has some variety of terrain and several iconic and oft-photographed saguaros. Restroom available at Mica View Picnic Area.
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Almost exactly four miles on a windy but pleasant day. A variety of terrains and plant life, nothing difficult but some trenches (and I fell near a wash). Really good hike if you have more time than hiking skills.
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A little shorter loop than expected but the weather was perfect and the scenery was great as usual. This loop has a number of especially large and impressive saguaros.
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I forgot to resume this track after unexpectedly finding myself coming onto Shantz Trail after a wrong turn. Total distance including the unrecorded trek back to the car = 2.6 miles. A bit more work than the very easy trails from the Broadway Trailhead. Being semi-lost at dusk was less than ideal. Beautiful as usual.
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Fun and very desert-picturesque hike from the end of Speedway up to Bridal Veil Falls. Around 1000’ feet elevation gain and very nice trail all the way.
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This is a great 6nmi early season easy hike (for snowbirds), with only 750' of elevation gain. A bonus is seeing a Crested Saguaro along the trail. I'll post a picture later.
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It was an awesome hike but due to dry creek the waterfall weren’t that exciting to see. Need go when it’s raining season.
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I wanted to know where the Pink Hill was, per the name of the trail, and whether it was pink, and whether you could get there, and whether there was anything to see. Yes, you can get there, yes, the dirt is kind of pink, and yes, it’s a beautiful short hike and a nice view at the end, albeit not spectacular. Recommended for “easy” hikers.
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This was just me closing the gap between my hikes from the north end of Cactus Forest Trail and my hikes from the south trailhead of the same trail. I left from Mica View Picnic Area and hiked past Cactus Forest Drive and the foundation (ruin) of the Cactus Shack. Not the most dramatic part of this trail but it’s easy going and parallels the Rincons.
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2 miles up from the south trailhead on Cactus Forest Drive, 2 miles back. Some climbing but nothing too difficult or treacherous. Last half mile past the Lime kiln is basically flat. No shade to speak of.
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An oddball hike because I left my phone on the roof of my car and went back for it, which ate up some time so I took a shorter route, only to detour at the end to fill out 3 miles. Turns out not all trails in this part of the park are alike in terrain. Creosote Trail has steps down into a shallow canyon. Kennedy Trail is a straight line on the map but up and down in real life. Both have dramatic views. Stock Bypass and Shantz are both sandy in spots.
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Just a way to do an easy 3.33 mile loop from the Broadway trailhead without using the paved part of Mica View.
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This was the usual Douglas Spring - Garwood - Wild Horse Loop with a little detour into the Shantz Trail at the end. Saguaros are starting to bloom. It’s hot but wasn’t too bad this evening (6 PM).
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It’s starting to get uncomfortably hot even as late as 5:45 PM. This loop has a little shade but not enough to counter late spring heat. Primarily saguaros, cholla and Palo Verde trees. Still beautiful and interesting. Saguaros are days away from blooming. Actual loop from parking is about 3.4 miles but I continued up Shantz Trail a short distance for sunset photos.
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This is the longest loop I’ve done to date in Saguaro NP: rated 3.7 miles on another app but closer to 4 miles. It’s also the prettiest loop. Some rocky bits, especially during elevation gain, but lots of flat ground and a fair amount of shade, which is important in mid-spring. Terrain changes several times. Watch for bees.
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A smidge more rugged than the trails off the Broadway trailhead and there’s less shade. Still an easy 2.32 mile hike and beautiful. Saguaros are beginning to bloom but heat is beginning to oppress.
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.7 miles of this easy loop is paved. Good side of this is that the hot pavement attracts lizards (and snakes). Very pretty, but it gets hot in late spring and summer. Two miles in 100 degree weather at 5 PM (with pavement and almost no shade) is less pleasant than 3+ miles (no pavement, some shade) in 90-something degree weather at 6 PM on other trails nearby.
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The loop I wanted to take earlier in the week but didn’t have enough time. Beautiful and easy and fun. Only passed ONE person, on a Saturday!
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Easy, short, and beautiful. On different hikes I’ve seen a tortoise and a great horned owl.
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Passed 12 people today, all with good social distancing: 3 couples, 2 families of 3. Well, it is a Saturday, and Road is closed next week.
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Hurried a little this time. Very familiar trail for me. Only passed 2 couples with social distancing.
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Great moderate out and back hike. Close to town. Start early if you want to park near the trail head. Easy to follow trail. Terrain/grade varies. Trail was more crowded on our hike back late morning to mid day. The turn to Bridal Wreath falls is 2.7 miles up the Douglas Spring Trail, well depicted on the Gaia base map. The falls is another .3 miles off the Douglas Springs trail. To reach the pond at the bottom of the falls, you will need to pass over large stones. Watch your footing.
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Easy hike but great flora. Good for all abilities IF everyone carries water!
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Perfect hike for a rainy day. Minimal mud and great views of the misty Rincons.
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