Very pretty hike. However, for folks who don't have much time in the park, are with friends and family who aren't hikers, or are literally just driving through, the Cactus Forest Loop is the perfect activity. People frequently have to get rescued from this canyon. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. PLEASE REMEMBER TO PACK OUT WHAT YOU BROUGHT IN! I Hiking near a flowing stream is a treat in the Tucson area! Just past the trailhead, there will also be a small parking area on the right and a turn around on the left. Hasibuan IM, Amelia R, Bimantara Y, Susetya IE, Susilowati A, Basyuni M. 2021. I normally I'm not a stickler for things like that, as we are all just trying to enjoy nature, but if another owner refuses to leash when asked to call their dog back and almost creates a fight or potential liability then it's worth noting. The first o ne we chose was pretty easy to climb, but we reached a spot that had a pretty steep drop. The rocks on the way down to the wading pool are soooo slippery. I'm surprised people aren't demanding we put clothes on our pets. Once at the bottom, the rest of the hike will consist of boulder hopping and climbing. Hike well, safe and with at least some clothing! Nothing difficult. It was a rough on the van. (LogOut/ Last weekend, my coworkers and I used the holiday to go on a hike that none of us had ever done before: Tanque Verde Falls. Near the beginning of the trail that descends into the canyon, you'll find a sign for Upper Tanque Verde Falls that has been marked over by . Pay It Forward with the Gear.com Give A Buck Program. Once you get there, you can hike up and down stream. Change). Even when the falls aren't running, the rocks are beautiful and there are usually pools left into the summer. I think we expected to see more cars at the trailhead but there were none (save the nomad). Generally considered a moderately challenging route. As we kept driving past where we should have stopped to access the trailhead, the road became more treacherous and a tad scary. (LogOut/ Fun hike, areas of moderate difficulty, gorgeous rocks colored and shaped by seasonal water flows. A scramble above the first fall leads to the base of a beautiful second and larger fall tumbling into a large swimmable pool . After this, an interesting, mile-long scramble over boulders in the stream bed leads to a pretty waterfall in a narrow part of the canyon. The purpose of this project is to create a system of trails and trailheads that will be ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable. Tanque Verde Falls. Follow the narrow, well-trodden path downhill for 0.4 miles to reach the beach above the falls. ParkFlo's rating. That one leads way into areas much less traveled, quiet, varied vegetation and beautiful (north and east of the outlined route). The stream had created a large pool of water at the beach and was actually quite deep as Xander found out on accident. Know that youll be doing your own exploring and following your own path. A 3 rattler wouldnt let us go down the path. The intent of TucsonTopia is to provide ideas for family-friendly activities, events, and resources. The plan provides a framework for maintaining, enhancing, and expanding the area's 250 mile trail network. Lower Tanque Verde Falls Trail is one of the most popular trails in the Tucson area. I'm rating this trail a 4 star not because of the trail itself, but because of the type of people that frequent here. This video showed me that I can make that hike with a little assistance & enjoy the nature beauty. The trail sometimes is hard to follow to the base of the falls but it is worth the effort as this is a sight to see. Those who wear clothes are welcome as well and and seem to accept nudity up there. . Tanque Verde Falls is one of the few hikes in Tucson that allows dogs so there are plenty of hikes to visit if you prefer to avoid them. From here you will cross the road to the well worn trail which switchbacks from the ridge down into the wash. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The trail above the waterfall is nudist friendly, not this one. This is a fun canyon hike. A sub-two-mile hike leads to several waterfalls, the taller of which takes some scrambling to get to, though it's worth the extra effort. Once at the trailhead, signs will lead you into Bear Canyon and eventually to 7 Falls. While this area is known for cliff jumpers, we didnt encounter any waterfalls/cliffsthat could be jumped. Lots of water!! This is a short hike up the Tanque Verde wash to an 80 foot waterfall. It took us about 15 minutes from Tanque Verde Falls to Aqua Caliente Park. So many places for dogs and humans to slip off directly into the water. I was happy to not be driving my little car as the road was a little treacherous in some areas the high clearance was definitely a benefit! Thank you! feet) and adequate safety railing. Just over a mile in length with most of that distance being downhill from the parking area, the trail follows the river to the Falls. Thats what I found out when I went chasing the waterfall thats only three minutes from the Proctor Trailhead parking lot. Be cautious and know the forecast before you go! Although the distance is short, the hike is typically rated as moderate due to a steady climb in elevation and a number of steep, slick rocks to navigate on the trail. Change). Well marked. 3 hours to go just over 3 miles! No conditions reported in the past 7 days. We only went to the waterfall and back so easy. As far as we know, leashed dogs are permitted at Tanque Verde Falls. Wish I had snapped a picture of them! Its position along the Mount Lemmon Highway makes Molino Basin a perfect basecamp for further adventures in the Santa Catalina Mountains, and the Arizona Trail passes right through the Basin along Molino Creek which flows strongly in the S Drive through the gate of Saguaro National Park and continue straight onto Cactus Forest Drive. There is a whopping 2,000 miles of shoreline here and the lake is quite well-known for its boating, jet skiing, and kayaking. The human body is just as natural as any animals exposed body. Not sure how many people actuallyget naked out there, but just be forewarned if you check it out. A few times we were looking for the best track and had to backtrack a bit. The start of the trail there was a big yellow warning sign about not cliff jumping, and many hikers had written on the sign about nudity. However, the entire trail is not clothing optional - and while I can imagine a nude dip in a pool of water may be refreshing, I cannot see the joy in hiking nude in Arizona and having the prick of a cactus get you! Change). And the big waterfalls at the end we're amazing. Be sure to arrive early on weekends and holidays as it does tend to fill up. (LogOut/ (LogOut/ NR ST. JOHNS, AZ. Ill check it out and may even reblog a few. $275,000. bringing mutts will lead to more poop than the natural animals would leave, because people will bring them to the same locations , never picking up the poop. Beautiful beach. Great hike, very beautiful. Challenging for dogs. There is no specific trail you just have to pick your way along the creek bed. Overall great hiking experience! Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Easy hike. Also popular . Be prepared for some significant rock scrambling and being extra socks in case you fall in. Tanque Verde beach is a hidden gem in AZ and the waterfall is a stunning spot to hike to and enjoy, no matter if it's wet or dry! Sarah thought it would be cool to draw in the sand and take a few family pictures, she wrote: Tucson 2017. Yearning for more cascading waters? Wonderful hike with views & water running. FYI, it is clothing optional. tucson, az. December 11, 2020Updated: December 31, 2020, January 14, 2019Updated: December 31, 2020, Your email address will not be published. Early Saturday, started with a group, but this is a wonderful and rare space to scramble on the rocks, enjoy the water, and take ones sweet time. Directions:Head East onTanque Verde and take it all the way to the mountains where it turns into Reddington Rd. A few turns later down the trail there was another posting that read Clothing Optional Area. There should be nothing going on besides simple nudity, except about 100 yards up stream from the nude area it gets a bit too much as a "pick up" spot for gay men. It can be done, as I witnessed two individuals in their mid-twenties make it to the falls and back. Many Tucsonans know it as the dirt road to the awe-inspiring Tanque Verde Falls. Tucson, AZ 85748. They were Michele Margaret Balser, Ralph Leroy Chatam, 27, Ronald Clark, 19, Jeffrey Fieffer, 28, John Anthony Parker, 19 Darla Roberson, 18, Michal Waid, 11, and . Tanque Verde Falls. Call the Forest Service (749-8700) or visit one of their locations for a copy of this map. A 4x4 would probably make the last half mile or so easier when the road turns . It had warmed up and was beautiful at park. Flash floods can occur at short or a moments notice, especially during the monsoon season (June September). Highlights on the trail include: Multiple waterfalls (including a signature waterfall at the end), scrambling/boulder hopping, and some nice views. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Tanque Verde Falls is about 20 miles east of Tucson, but feels more remote than its location lets on. A short ways up Redington Road in Tucson, a steep, dirt trail across from a parking lot leads down to Tanque Verde Falls. Literally you are rock climbing and up to your armpits in water. While I dont know much about the birding scene in Madera Canyon, I have some tips for those of us that are more into waterfalls than birds. If youre not afraid of a moderate-level trail and the dryness of Arizona, Tanque Verde Falls Beach is a great pick for a hike to a sometimes-there waterfall. Getting to the final falls area is tough, I recommend the 'high' trail on the right. However, the entire trail is not clothing optional - and while I can imagine a nude dip in a pool of water may be refreshing, I cannot see the joy in hiking nude in Arizona and . LITTLE COLORADO R ABV LYMAN LAKE NR ST. JOHNS, AZ. We reached a point where we could see a couple of waterfalls from a distance, but only one person in our crew made it all the way back. It's a little bumpy, but my Toyota Corolla made it just fine to the lower parking lot which isn't very far once the road becomes dirt. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Arizona based adventure and lifestyle blogger Agua Caliente near sunset. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. This hike started out with some fun knowledge that there is nudist in the area and it is possible to encounter naked people on the trail. Saguaro National Park in Pima County is 91,327 acres and offers several trails on both its east and west side as well as camping opportunities and of course, tons and tons of saguaro cacti. Great place to hike or hang out. The Sonoran Desert routinely goes through long stretches without precipitation and during these periods, the falls dry up. Fairly easy trail down to the wash and back. There are no restrooms along the trail or at the trailhead. Very fun hike with some rock scrambling. 3 Beds. Get more stories delivered right to your email. The Cactus Forest scenic drive is one of two scenic drives in Saguaro National Park (the other is in the West district location). The hike down is less than 1/2 mile. This entry was posted on May 28, 2017 by Luke Parsons. Read my Best Hikes in Tucson article or check out our individual Tucson Hiking Guides. After scrambling around on the rock shelves for a few minutes, I found a spot that allowed me to photograph both the cascading water and the striations in the cliff face. The trail starts of with a steep incline into the canyon. The Tanque Verde Falls trailhead has a small dirt parking lot. ***This trail can be dangerous - and even deadly - during and after storms. So, we spent the next couple hours exploring the area and playing on the beach (Xanders favorite part). Sure, you can go to Madera Canyon to see birds. Site and Upper Tanque Verde Falls would be closed with vehicle barriers. There are two approaches to Upper Tanque Verde Falls and they both start from Redington Road. Why not add this to your bucket list for a future adventure? Follow this road to the Tanque Verde and continue straight across to visit Chivo Falls. 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