An ultra-popular loop hike with beautiful stream crossings and towering saguaro cacti.

Statistics

0 - 1

hrs

62

m

62

m

3

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Easy

Description

Catalina State Park is an ultra-popular hub for hiking near Tucson.

A plethora of trails begin in the park, including the [50-Year Trail](https://fatmap.com/routeid/1208108/50-Year_Trail/@32.4416986,-110.8982723,4882.1178497,-18.4759764,102.1393846,927.6252940,normal), [Sutherland Trail](https://fatmap.com/routeid/1203163/Sutherland_Trail_Out-and-Back/@32.4414842,-110.9106845,12230.2208020,-64.7749946,0,945.2192431,normal), and [Romero Canyon](https://fatmap.com/routeid/1203166/Romero_Pools/@32.4621809,-110.9013835,11747.9267798,-24.8201267,102.1393846,907.6091310,normal).

And while you can complete a short out-and-back hike on all three of those lengthy trails, Canyon Loop is hands-down the most popular mellow loop hike in the park. This family-friendly loop crosses the stream several times, offering delightful opportunities for children and dogs alike to play in the sometimes frigid water.

Thankfully for those who don't feel like spending the day with wet feet, it's usually possible to cross the stream without getting wet by hopping from rock to rock. The trail tread throughout this hike is wide and smooth, with stairs built into the occasional steep climb in the trail.

But aside from a couple of staircases, the trail is quite flat, smooth, and achievable for just about everybody. Despite being such an easy hike, the visual rewards are truly stunning! The trail is flanked by towering saguaro cacti, and from the upper reaches, you'll enjoy expansive panoramas of the Santa Catalina Mountains filling the horizon.

In the springtime, endless carpets of wildflowers blanket the sides of the trail and the surrounding hillsides.