Romero #8

A desert canyon stream and great views of Pusch Ridge and the Santa Catalinas await you along this popular trail. The hike starts in Catalina State Park and uses scenic Romero Canyon as an access route into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. Even along its early stretches, this trail offers good views of the Santa Catalina Mountains and of Cathedral Rock towering over the pinnacles of Pusch Ridge. The climb toward Romero Pass includes several sections of steep switchbacks, some of which are rocky and rutted. Along initial stretches of the trail, heavy use has made the route hard to pick out from a maze of opportunistic pathways that branch off to random destinations. As you make your way toward the pass, however, broad vistas continue to increase in drama and occasional sightings of desert bighorn sheep add an extra element of excitement to an already rewarding hike. At Romero Pass you have a number of trails to choose from. Connecting trails provide routes to the summit of Mt. Lemmon, to the Wilderness of Rock area, and to the scenic Sabino Basin and Sabino Canyon area to the south and east. Cathedral Rock Trail #26, a rugged and difficult route, provides access from Romero Pass to all the Front Range trails.

At a Glance