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Catalina Front Range

These steep, rugged trails in the front range of the Santa Catalina Mountains offer quick access from town to trail and lead into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. 

While ascending these trails, you can experience most of the habitats encountered when driving from Mexico to Canada! If your lungs and legs are fit for the challenge, you can hike from Sonoran desertscrub at the trailheads, through semidesert grassland, up into oak woodland, and on into pine forest—all in one day! 

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As you look toward the Santa Catalinas from metropolitan Tucson, one of the most distinctive landmarks on the 

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There are good views along both Pontatoc trails and plenty of evidence of mining activity left over from the days when the Santa Catalinas were the focus of extensive miner

October 2023 photo of the Pontatoc Ridge Trail in the Santa Catalina Ranger District. The view is overlooking Finger Rock.

There are good views along both of these trails and plenty of evidence of mining activity left over from the days when the

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Ventana Canyon is one of the most beautiful canyons in the Santa Catalina front range, and one of the least visited.

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Though the stream in Pima Canyon is dry for most of the year, it supports an excellent example of a desert riparian habitat located conveniently close to the Tucson metropo

Last updated April 9th, 2025