I wanted to go out for a hike one more time before foot surgery scheduled for the 11th, and our friend Bev told us about a trail at the base of the Catalina Mountains in Tucson. The hike is rated moderate but we felt we wanted to do this hike regardless. We chose the path strait up, about .75 mile going straight up into the Pusch Ridge of the Mountains. Very stunning. We would climb for awhile, turn around then look back into civilization, amazing that we were climbing so high and see so far into the distance. After climbing and looking - we could see Picacho Peak - where we live, in the distance. We figured we were about 35 miles from the peak. The brittle bush was out in bloom, different cacti showing buds of flowers coming soon. Ocotillo in full bloom, we are jealous since ours are not blooming at all.
Once we got to the top you have an option of going either left or right back down, or, just return on the path we came up on. We talked to a hiker who said that the path on the right was more level, less rocks, a tidge more in length. The path on the left - well, quicker but more strenuous. Maybe some other time we will do that path on the way down.
Lots of people hiking up and down, well traveled and the path was well marked. Good hike. After completing the hike we went to one of our favorite places - Cadillac Chapparel - for dinner. And then was treated to a beautiful ride back to Picacho along Park Link Road - an 18 mile stretch with no homes, no civilization, just saguaros and all types of cacti along the roadway.
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| Sign at entrance to hike |
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| Wide, maintained trail to top |
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| Top of trail - Pusch Ridge in distance |
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| Picacho Peak in distance |
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| Ocotillo plants in full bloom |
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