Sutherland Trail in the Catalina State Park

Our hike this week was the Sutherland Trail. The Sutherland Trail is an ‘out and back’ trail which is  approximately 5.2 mi. round trip and has an elevation gain of 700 ft.  It is located in the Catalina State Park in the Catalina Mountains and is listed as a relatively easy hike, but there is enough climbing to give you a really good workout.  One of the things I really like about this hike is the elevation gain is so gradual, a lot of members didn’t realize we had actually climbed 700 feet until I told them at the end of the hike.

Our group of 9 set out at 8:00 a.m. on a beautiful Tucson morning, and included JoAnn, Danielle, Connie, Judy, Dave, Barbara, Ernie, Eugenia and little old me.  

There several trails that originate from the same parking area, but they are very well marked (something a "novice hiker" is always thankful for). To get to the Sutherland trailhead you must cross three washes.  Sometimes there is quite a bit of water in the washes, but they were all completely dry this trip.  

Unbelievably breathtaking views!

This hike boasts some of the most breathtaking views in the Catalina Mountains.  We brought along our binoculars because this was the area where they released bighorn sheep last year and we hoped to spot a few while on the trail.  Of course we were terribly disappointed when no one spotted any.  

We did spot a few little wildlife representatives though…

Watching us "like a hawk"

Watching ....the hawk maybe?

The Sutherland Trail was named for a family that settled in this area in the 1800s.  In 1892, William Henry Sutherland sold his interest in the Arizona Stage Company, which ran from Casa Grande to Tucson. He felt cattle ranching would be more lucrative and, with his sons, built a ranch house and well at the mouth of Cargodera Canyon; one can still see the ruins today.   Cattle usually range within one and one-half miles of a water source, and the Sutherland ranch stood on the banks of a wide wash, now named after him, to insure his cattle had water.  Like many ranching families, Sutherland owned a home in Tucson and the family spent only part of the year on the ranch. Today Sutherland's ranch can be identified by two-foot high adobe walls, slowly melting into the desert. The ranch house is 28 feet long and 18 feet wide. An old road is still visible, running out of Sutherland Wash and heading northeast toward the mountains. 

 






The weather was perfect for hiking – in the mid 70s, but we stopped plenty of times for water breaks and to take in the sights.  It is absolutely wonderful to be out on the trail with friends, catching up with what everyone I did during the off-season.    We talk about their children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends. 

 

If you want to make friends – I mean real friends – join a hiking group.  There is a closeness that transcends backyard fences, because of how we depending on each other for our safety and well-being.  When we are out there on these mountain trails anything can happen.  There are real wild animals in these mountains; mountain lions, bears, bobcats, coyotes, and more.  It’s a good feeling to know that someone has your back up there. 

We follow the trail for a little over 5 miles until we reach an old iron gate.  We have to go through this gate and there is a sign that says to make sure you close the gate so cattle can’t get out, but I’ve never seen any cattle….

Lunch time

Wait Connie!  We're not ready to go yet!

Okay, enough about the trail….how about more views?

                  

Even little bits of color stand out in the desert......

 

Another successful hike under our camelbacks.

A special thanks to Judy for forwarding some of her beautiful pictures which are included in this week's hike.

Thisis my expression on every hike (when it's break time

See you on the trails....

Catalina State Park

I have to give a shout out to our hike on Wednesday, January 9^th.  I was unable to do the blog that week, but we had an awesome time at the Catalina State Park.  We hiked the Canyon loop Trail combined with the Romero Ruins Interpretive Trail.  The total is approximately three miles with 100 ft. elevation gain.  Here are a few pictures of the hike....

The most amazing saguaro I have seen to date!  

It actually had a prickly pear cactus growing between it's arms!

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.  

See you on the trails!

Romero Pools - Catalina State Park

On Wednesday, Feb. 29th we hiked in beautiful Catalina State Park in the Santa Catalina Mountains.  Our fearless leader Joanne gave us a choice between two trails. The reason for this was because of the difference in the difficulties of the trails.

Hike A was an easy hike of a total of a little more than three miles.  The Canyon Loop Trail was 2.3 miles with an elevation gain of 100ft.  This was combined with the Ruins Interpretive Trail of 3/4 of a mile.

 Hike B was The Romero Pools Trail. This hike is considered a moderate plus trail.   It is a total of five miles long – 2.5 miles up with an elevation gain of 1000 feet and then 2.5 miles back down.  WHEW!

Of the two choices and I had decided waaaayyyy last week that I felt more comfortable following the first hike, the easier hike.  After all, I am still a novice at this.  This would just be my 5^th hike.

Don't let this innocent smile fool you

The blog title indicates trails and trials….well, I think you know where I’m going with this one, and this one was a bit of a trial.  As we gathered in the parking lot of the community center, I allowed one of the seasoned hikers, Ernie a seemingly nice guy with an honest enough face to talk me into Hike B.  He told me he was SURE I could do it.  And yes, you guessed it, I fell for it. 

Our group of 13 hikers headed off to Catalina State Park at 8:30 a.m. with confidence high and arrived approximately 30 minutes later. Today, as in previous hikes – the weather was gorgeous.

Peeling off layers as the sun warms

This trail is very popular because of the beautiful scenery, it’s not too hard, and leads to the natural waterpark of Romero Pools.

                                                                            

The first 15 or 20 minutes of the trail is over the desert floor, but then it gets very rocky and starts climbing steeply up the north side of Montrose Canyon. About 45 minutes in from the trailhead you get to the top of the ridge between Romero and Montrose canyons, and then head up canyon near the top of the ridge. This area on the top of the ridge is very beautiful, since it has rock formations, great views, and it takes some work to get up there.

 The trail winds through the rocks at the top of the ridge for about 20 minutes, generally climbing, but with some short descents, until you drop down to the stream crossing at Romero Pools. There are pools and waterfalls up and down the stream from this point. To return, you just retrace your route back to the trailhead.

The Fork

Both trailheads started at the same place and our group divided in two.  One group of 5 took the trail to the nature trail to the left and the other group of 8 took the fork to Romero Pools.  This would be my last chance to change my mind and go on the easier hike….I didn’t.  I believed in my ability (and Ernie) and I wanted to try it. 

The wildflowers were spectacular! We saw poppies, foxgloves, brittle bush (I have since purchased several of these for my yard), fairy dusters, daisies, and more.  I am sorry I could not take photos of these beauties, because if just wasn’t that type of hike.  I had to keep my eyes on the trail and on my feet and the person ahead of me.  I just was too whimpy to try to take pictures while I hiked. 

The pictures I was able to snap of scenery were mostly when we stopped for a quick drink or at our lunch break. 

One of the things that kept me going and from complaining too much was a young man on the trail with his four, yes I said four children.  One was in a child carrier on his back and the others were probably ages 4, 7 and 10.  These ages are approximations but the skill of these kids was amazing.  I refused to be beaten by this group of super-humans! 

Reaching the pools

 I have to say once we got back down and were walking back to the parking lot, I felt a great sense of accomplishment.  I am glad I took the high road. 

People dive off the rocks into this pool-CRAZY!

Heading back down

Until next time…keep tumbling along like tumbling tumbleweed.