Begin this hike from the major trailhead in Catalina State Park and follow the signs for the Sutherland Trail. The trail tread is very wide early on due to the immense popularity of the area, and you can expect to share the trail with dozens of other hikers.

After crossing the stream twice, you’ll walk along a mellow stretch of trail flanked by towering saguaro cacti. Soon you'll reach a third stream crossing, where two different streams join at a fork. In the middle of this fork, a narrower trail branches off to the left up a set of stairs—this is the Sutherland Trail that you’re after. The trail that continues straight is the Canyon Loop, mapped separately.

Once on this section of the Sutherland Trail, the track gets much narrower and offers a more natural experience. After you gain the low ridge and slowly follow it uphill, you’ll finally be treated to the best views of the hike! If you look up, you’ll be stunned by the Santa Catalina mountains filling the horizon. And if you look down, in the springtime you’ll enjoy endless carpets of wildflowers blanketing the sides of the trail and the surrounding hillsides.

While the window of opportunity to enjoy the wildflowers is small, if you make the effort to hike this trail during peak bloom, the reward will be immense!