KEY INFO
LOCATION Gordon Hirabayashi Campground to Romero Pass
DISTANCE 11.7 miles one-way; 18.5 miles one-way to the summit of Mt. Lemmon
DAY-TRIP OPTION See turnaround note in the trail description.
SHUTTLE RECOMMENDATION Not applicable
DIFFICULTY Difficult to strenuous
LAND MANAGER Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina Ranger District, www.fs.usda.gov/coronado, 520-749-8700
RECOMMENDED MONTHS Year-round
GATEWAY COMMUNITIES See Tucson and Summerhaven.
GEOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS See “The Mighty Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains”.
As with the other passages on the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) that traverse sky islands, this section presents difficulties because of its extreme elevation ranging from 3,500 feet up to 8,500 feet, and the climate that comes with it.
It’s hard to believe temperatures at the top of the mountain are 20 degrees cooler than in the valley. So, even though you may wear shorts and a T-shirt for the first part of this hike, be sure to throw in some warmer clothes for the high forests.
Hikers should also be prepared for strenuous trail miles. After leaving Hutch’s Pool, the AZT climbs almost a vertical mile to reach the end of the passage. This undertaking is even more demanding if you’re carrying supplies for the next passage, instead of stopping at the village of Summerhaven atop Mount Lemmon. The total distance from the beginning of this passage to the end of Passage 12, near Oracle, is about 34 miles. And although every step is beautiful, it’s tough going.
About halfway through this passage, you can enjoy the refreshing waters of Hutch’s Pool. This large, deep swimming hole is a unique reward for the weary AZT hiker after a gritty hike through parched desert. This spot can attract a crowd on a hot spring or summer weekend, so if you’re looking for solitude, try to plan your trip so you arrive on a weekday, especially if you want to camp nearby. Please practice Leave No Trace camping ethics to help Hutch’s Pool retain its natural beauty.
Using techniques for properly storing your food in bear country is important along this passage. Hikers regularly report black bear and mountain lion sightings here, but these incidents are rare and should not cause undue concern—both animals are usually quite wary of humans. Nevertheless, keep your campsite clean and put all of your food in a bag or other container that can be hung high above the ground. For more information on safe travel in bear country, consult this U.S. Forest Service website: ncrs.fs.fed.us/epubs/ht66.html.
If you’re planning to end your hike atop Mount Lemmon—the high point of the Santa Catalina Mountains—add 6.8 miles to the length of this passage, bringing it to 18.5 miles. Vehicle access is at Marshall Gulch Trailhead at the end of the Wilderness of Rocks and Marshall Gulch Trail, a component of Passage 12. Equestrians should not attempt this passage because of a very steep and rocky section near Romero Pass. Other trails in the Santa Catalina Mountains offer safer, more enjoyable routes to the top of the mountain.
Head right (west) from the intersection with the short access trail from Gordon Hirabayashi Campground (4,820 feet). Soon you follow an old dirt road downhill to a confluence of roads. Walk straight (west-northwest), following a sign for Sycamore Reservoir Trail. The road immediately passes through a wash and then bends right (northwest). You’ll find many nice places to camp in this shady, oak-lined valley.
This is the site of a former Japanese internment camp, and the campground and trailhead were called Prison Camp before being renamed in honor of Gordon Hirabayashi, a sociologist and educator best known for his resistance to the Japanese-American internment during World War II; he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom post-humously in 2012.
Although Hirabayashi at first considered accepting internment, he ultimately became one of three to openly defy it. In 1942 he turned himself in to the FBI and, after being convicted for curfew violation, was sentenced to 90 days in prison. He did this in part to appeal the verdict all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court with the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union. However, the court unanimously ruled against him in 1943. Because they would not pay for him to be sent to prison, he hitchhiked from Washington, D.C., to the Arizona prison where he was sentenced to reside. When new information surfaced 44 years later, Hirabayashi’s case was reheard by the federal courts. In 1987, his conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Think of this history as you hike, and in less than 0.5 mile, the road turns into a wash. Continue along a gentle, winding climb. The trail leaves the wash to the south (left) and climbs to a metal AZT sign and the Pusch Ridge Wilderness boundary in a low saddle. Descend into the wilderness on the singletrack Sycamore Reservoir Trail (Trail 39).
As the trail reaches a road, watch for an obscure singletrack branching to the left (northwest). Follow this trail down a steep, rocky descent that lasts for 0.1 mile and ends in a lush valley of oak, willow, and riparian flora. At the bottom, you pass between a large boulder and the remnants of an old wall.
From here, you can make a side trip to Sycamore Reservoir by continuing straight ahead to the northwest for 100 yards. Although completely silted in, this small reservoir usually contains a reliable flow of surface water in the spring.
To continue on the AZT from the old wall, make a big U-turn to the right (southeast) and follow a singletrack trail 35 yards to a large cairn. The trail forks here. Turn left (northeast) and follow the trail as it bends farther to the left (north).
In another 0.2 mile, the trail disappears into a sandy wash. Follow cairns and traces of singletrack north, staying close to the slopes on the left. Keep your eyes open for a clear trail that exits this valley to the left (west-northwest). Avoid the temptation to stay in the valley as it ambles to the northeast.
Daylight makes its way toward Hutch’s Pool, an unforgettable destination along Passage 11.
Follow an old roadbed over a low ridge in 0.1 mile. On the other side, switchbacks lead into another lush valley of juniper, sycamore, and willow. At the bottom, turn sharply right (north) at a T-intersection to follow a clear singletrack. The trail parallels a seasonal streambed and then joins it. Bear left where the stream forks, following an intermittent trail. In 0.3 mile, avoid an obscure trail marked by cairns that breaks off to the left (west). Instead, continue straight (north). After passing through a thick forest of manzanita, the trail descends to the left to cross the rocky main drainage and then climbs to a saddle (4,590 feet). Take the right (north) fork here, and descend through countless switchbacks into the East Fork of Sabino Canyon.
At an intersection with the Palisades Trail (Trail 99), turn left (west) and continue to descend toward Sabino Canyon. Avoid Box Camp Trail at another intersection, continuing straight ahead (west) on the East Fork Trail. The AZT reaches a junction in a sycamore grove at the bottom of a side canyon. Saguaro cacti on the hillsides seem out of place near this oasis. You may find a small amount of water here; if not, there is reliable water 1.7 miles ahead at Hutch’s Pool. Turn right (north-northeast) toward the West Fork Trail (Trail 24). Watch for poison ivy and poison oak in the canyon over the next 8 miles.
Water is abundant throughout the Santa Catalina Mountains … if you know where to look. See water sources along the AZT.
Cairns mark an immediate bend left to cross the East Fork of Sabino Canyon. Climb out along a rocky, dry streambed, and continue on a very clear singletrack into a veritable desert botanical garden, with saguaro, yucca, agave, mesquite, ocotillo, prickly pear, and dozens of desert species. You soon have a fleeting view down narrow Sabino Canyon with the Tucson sprawl in the background. Cross to the left (southwest) side of the drainage on large boulders.
At a junction, the AZT heads left (northwest), while the right fork descends north 100 yards and then climbs a short distance to Hutch’s Pool. You have missed this cutoff to the pool if the main trail immediately switchbacks to the left (south) and climbs high above the canyon bottom.
TURNAROUND NOTE: Beautiful Hutch’s Pool is a popular swimming hole for Tucsonans and tired AZT hikers, and is a picture-perfect destination if you are attempting an out-and-back adventure for the day. It’s also the last source of water near the trail until the intermittent sources in the next passage about 8 miles away.
Hikers who are stopping at the parking area on Mount Lemmon have 12 miles of hiking and more than 5,000 feet of elevation gain remaining. At a trail intersection, avoid the Cathedral Rock Trail (Trail 26) and turn sharply right (east) to continue on the West Fork Trail (Trail 24). The scenery just keeps getting better as you reach an intersection at 6,080-foot Romero Pass with the Romero Canyon Trail and Mount Lemmon Trail (Trail 5) and the end of Passage 11.
Passage 11 is almost entirely within the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, and bicycles are prohibited. Instead, follow a series of trails (including the Bug Spring, Green Mountain, Incinerator Ridge, and Butterfly Trails, to name a few) to Summerhaven, on the east side of General Hitchcock Highway. Even though more time on the dirt may be appealing, the elevation gain is so intense that you’ll likely be walking your bike most of the time—pedaling up the pavement is always an option. For detailed information about scenic mountain biking routes around wilderness areas, visit aztrail.org.
Follow Tanque Verde Road east from Tucson and turn left (north) on Catalina Highway. Drive about 9 miles and pass Molino Basin Campground. Continue 1.7 miles after the campground and take the left turn to Gordon Hirabayashi Campground. Drive 0.3 mile to a parking area. Follow a trail out of the south end of the parking lot to reach a T-intersection with the AZT. Turn right and follow the trail description for this passage.
If you want to hit the trail from here, please follow the trail description in reverse order. Even though this passage ends at Romero Pass, the closest vehicle access from Tucson is at the Marshall Gulch Picnic Area. Take Catalina Highway into the Santa Catalina Mountains. Near the top of the mountain range, bear left to the community of Summerhaven. Continue 1.5 miles south to the end of the road at Marshall Gulch Trailhead. The trail begins on the west side of the parking area. The Marshall Gulch Trail connects to the Wilderness of Rocks Trail, reaching Romero Pass in about 7 miles.