Catalina State Park sits at the base of the majestic Santa Catalina Mountains. The park is a haven for desert plants and wildlife and nearly 5,000 saguaros. The 5,500 acres of foothills, canyons and streams invites camping, picnicking and bird watching — more than 150 species of birds call the park home. The park provides miles of equestrian, birding, hiking, and biking trails which wind through the park and into the Coronado National Forest at elevations near 3,000 feet. The park is located within minutes of the Tucson metropolitan area. This scenic desert park also offers equestrian trails and an equestrian center provides a staging area for trail riders with plenty of trailer parking. Bring along your curiosity and your sense of adventure as you take in the beautiful mountain backdrop, desert wildflowers, cacti and wildlife.
Map of the Santa Catalina Ranger District of Coronado National Forest in the USFS Southwestern Region 03 in Arizona. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of Santa Catalina Ranger District in Coronado National Forest (NF) in Arizona. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Pima and Santa Cruz County Map of Arizona Surface Management Responsibility. Published by Arizona State Land Department and U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Brochure and Map of Arizona State Parks and Trails. Published by Arizona State Parks & Trails.
Catalina SP
https://azstateparks.com/catalina
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalina_State_Park
Catalina State Park sits at the base of the majestic Santa Catalina Mountains. The park is a haven for desert plants and wildlife and nearly 5,000 saguaros. The 5,500 acres of foothills, canyons and streams invites camping, picnicking and bird watching — more than 150 species of birds call the park home. The park provides miles of equestrian, birding, hiking, and biking trails which wind through the park and into the Coronado National Forest at elevations near 3,000 feet. The park is located within minutes of the Tucson metropolitan area. This scenic desert park also offers equestrian trails and an equestrian center provides a staging area for trail riders with plenty of trailer parking. Bring along your curiosity and your sense of adventure as you take in the beautiful mountain backdrop, desert wildflowers, cacti and wildlife.
Nearby Parks
Hiking Trails
Oracle State Park (24 miles) The park offers dayuse picnic areas, over 15 miles of hiking trails, and
intersects with the Arizona Trail. (520) 896-2425
Picacho Peak State Park (37 miles) This park offers
day-use picnic areas, overnight and RV camping,
and hiking trails on and off the peak. (520) 466-3183
50-year Trail: A 8.6-mile trail that begins at the
park’s equestrian center and follows a ridgetop
for 2.6 miles on the northern half of the park.
Continues another 5.2 miles on State Trust Land. A
2.2-mile trail link connects the 50-Year Trail with the
Sutherland Trail. Plan four hours hiking each way.
Trail Etiquette
•
•
•
•
•
Hikers traveling uphill
have the right-of-way.
Horses always have the
right-of-way.
Move to the side to allow
hikers to pass.
Please recreate responsibly and
pack out what you pack in.
Shortcutting switchbacks causes erosion.
Catalina State Park
waterfalls and water crossings.
Birding Trail: A 1-mile loop that crosses a wash.
Seasonal streamflow may occur. Hikers and
bicycles only.
Bridle Trail: An easy 1.4-mile flat trail connecting
the equestrian center to the Trailhead.
Canyon Loop Trail: A 2.3-mile loop that starts at
the park trailhead on the Romero Canyon Trail and
follows a crosscut to the Sutherland Trail. The trail
crosses a wash with seasonal streamflow.
10/24
Sitting at the base of the majestic Santa Catalina
Mountains, Catalina State Park is a haven for
desert plants, wildlife, and archaeology. The
5,500 acres of foothills, canyons, and riverbeds
invite camping,picnicking, and bird watching.
Located in an Important Bird Area, more than
150 species of birds call the park home.
The park provides miles of hiking and biking
trails that wind through the park and into the
Coronado National Forest. The park also hosts
an equestrian center where visitors can saddle
up their horses in our staging area and take the
trails on horseback. Trails in the national forest
provide beautiful scenery to some of the area’s
most challenging hikes, so be sure to bring
plenty of water before you start your journey.
Bring along your sense of adventure as you
take in the beautiful desert mountain scenery.
Thank you for visiting!
11570 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85737
(520) 628-5798 | 1-877-MYPARKS
AZStateParks.com/catalina
AZStateParks
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General Rules
•
•
Alamo Loop: A 3.2-mile loop with seasonal
Hiking Safety Tips
• Tell someone where you’re going, when you
plan to return, and then stick to your plan.
• Take plenty of water. When your water is
halfway gone, your hike is halfway over.
• Keep an eye on the sky! Thunderheads may
signal flash floods, even if it’s not raining.
• If you get lost and find a road, stay on it.
• Get out of the sun when you’re not moving:
use available shade or make shade with
blankets, tarps, umbrella, or coats.
• Bring a charged cell phone for emergencies.
• Wear a hat or other head covering. If
necessary, improvise a head covering.
• Rest at least 10 minutes per hour, 30 minutes
if you are not regularly physically active.
Park Rules
1-877-MYPARKS | AZStateParks.com
•
•
•
•
•
Fires
•
Cañada Del Oro (CDO) Ridge Trail: A 1.5 mile
trail overlooking the CDO wash. Connects to the 50
-Year Trail to create a 3.2 mile loop.
Nature Trail: An easy 1-mile loop through lower
foothills and desert scrubland. Hikers and
bicycles only.
•
Romero Canyon Trail: A moderately difficult
•
•
hike that starts at the park trailhead and immediately
crosses a wash with seasonal streamflow. Montrose
Pools (usually dry) are within one mile of the trail.
Romero Pools are within three miles of the trail after
an elevation gain of 1000 ft. After Romero Pools,
the trail enters unmaintained wilderness. Trail ends
at Romero Pass where it intersects with the Mt.
Lemmon Trail and West Fork Sabino Trail. Horses are
not recommended and bicycles and dogs are not
allowed past Montrose Pools.
Romero Ruins Interpretive Trail: A 0.8-
mile loop that starts at the parking lot on the
main road near the Romero Ruins Ramada. Trail
crosses a wash so seasonal streamflow crosses a
seasonal streamflow. Hikers Only.
Sutherland Trail: A difficult 9.9-mile trail that
climbs 700 ft, from the park into the Coronado
National Forest, through Cargodera Canyon
and intersects with the Mt. Lemmon Trail. A
2.2-mile trail link connects the 50-Year Trail with
the Sutherland Trail. The trail crosses a wash so
seasonal streamflow may occur.
Do not litter! Recreate responsibly and pack out
what you bring in, or use the trash receptacles
provided in the park.
Drive your vehicle only on designated roads.
Park only in designated parking areas, not on
the side of the road.
Stay on designated trails. Cutting trails degrades
habitat and harms the landscape.
Do not use glass containers in the park.
All of our parks adhere to firearm and hunting
regulations.
E-bikes only allowed on designated roads.
No drones allowed in park.
Wood fires are only allowed at the
Eques
Hiking Etiquette & Tips
Follow Leave No Trace Principles.
Preparation:
• Inform someone of your plan, when
you will return, and then stick to it.
• Drink at least 1 litter of water per
person per 2 miles. Don’t wait until
you get thirsty.
• Avoid hiking in the hottest part of
the day.
• Be aware floods may occur anytime,
even if it’s not raining were you are.
• Carry a cell phone.
• In an emergency dial 911.
Trail Use:
• Yield to someone traveling faster.
• Keep groups small, do not block
the trail.
• Those traveling uphill should have
the right-of-way. Equestrians always
have the right-of-way.
• Stay on designated trails, desert
environments are easily damaged
and slow to heal.
• Stay in the middle of the trail.
• Don’t shortcut switchbacks as this
can cause severe erosion problems.
Waste:
• Pack out what you pack in.
• When restrooms are unavailable dig
a hole for waste & cover when done.
• Use as little toilet paper as possible.
• Be at least 200 feet away from the
nearest water source.
• Remove pet waste in disposal bags.
Respect Land & Animals:
• Leave what you find, no collecting
is allowed.
• No wood or ground fires.
• Give animals their distance; do not
feed wildlife.
• Keep pets on a leash.
Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area
& Desert Bighorn Sheep
Management Area
The Pusch Ridge
Wilderness Area
is located within
the Coronado
National Forest.
The first 30
Desert Bighorn
Sheep were reintroduced into
the Wilderness Area in November 2013, with
the overall goal of more than 100 animals
after three consecutive years of transplants.
Special management restrictions are needed
to limit disturbance to the sheep population
and to maintain the wilderness character of
the area. Please note that Catalina SP is
not located in the Management Area, but
select trails leaving from the park are.
Please ask park staff for more information.
1) It is prohibited to bring in, possess, or
allow dogs in the Bighorn Sheep Management
Area year round (this includes the Romero
Canyon Trail from Montrose Pools to beyond
Romero Pools, and parts of Sutherland Trail).
2) Between January 1 through April 30,
it is prohibited to enter beyond 400 feet off
designated Forest Service trails (e.g., Romero
Canyon and Sutherland).
3) It is prohibited to use a campsite or
other area by more than a maximum daygroup size of 15 individuals, and maximum
overnight group size of six individuals year
round.
1300 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Reservations (520) 586-2283
Info & TTY (602) 542-4174
Fax (602) 542-4180
Equal Employment Opportunity
Agency. This document is
available in alternative formats.
Contact the ADA Coordinator
at (602) 542-4174.
State Park • Trails Guide
11570 North Oracle Road
Tucson, AZ 85737
Park Phone: (520) 628-5798
Reservations: (520) 586-2283
Canyon
Loop Trail
2.3 miles, loop
Easy hike through the foothills that begins
and ends at the Trailhead parking lot. The
loop is created by a link connecting the
Romero Canyon Trail and the Sutherland
Trail. The trail is relatively flat, about halfway
around there is a slope with approximately
90 stairs. There is a bypass trail around
the steps for horses. Plan on 90 minutes
of walking time to complete the loop. The
Canyon Loop Trail crosses a wash several
times, so seasonal stream flow may result in
wet feet.
Sutherland
Trail
9.1 miles, one-way — no dogs in Desert
Bighorn Sheep Management Area — no bikes
in Wilderness Area
First few miles are easy hiking. Beginning at
Trailhead parking lot, trail gradually climbs
700 feet. Plan on 90 minutes of walking
time from the Trailhead to park boundary.
After one mile trail weaves in and out of
the park and the Coronado National
Forest (including the Desert Bighorn Sheep
Management Area and the Wilderness
Area which is closed to dogs and bicycles
respectively). There is a 2.2-mile Trail Link
on the north end of the park that connects
the Sutherland Trail with the 50-Year Trail.
Continuing on Sutherland, this difficult trail
climbs through Cargodera Canyon with a
steep and rocky ascent to roughly 8,600 feet
elevation ending at the Mt. Lemmon Trail
(to Mount Lemmon). Total elevation gain of
5,900 feet.
50-Year
Trail
8.6 miles, one-way
A moderate trail that
is especially popular
with equestrians and
mountain bikers. Trail
begins at the park’s
Equestrian Center
and follows a ridgetop
2.6 miles. A 2.2-mile
Trail Link connects
the 50-Year Trail with
the Sutherland Trail.
Or after leaving the park, trail continues
for 6 miles through open desert. Terrain is
up-and-down through the foothills with a
few-hundred feet of elevation gain. Plan on 4
hours of walking time each way for the entire
8.6-mile length of this trail.
Romero
Canyon Trail
7.2 miles, one-way — no dogs in Desert
Bighorn Sheep Management Area, beyond
Montrose Pools — no bikes in the Pusch
Ridge Wilderness — not recommended for
horses beyond Montrose Pools
Progressively difficult trail. Montrose
Pools and Romeo Pools are shallow
catchments on canyon streams that flow
seaso
CDO
11570 N. Oracle Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85737
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Catalina State Park
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Park Phone: (520) 628-5798
Reservations: (520) 586-2283
Equestrian Center
Trailhead
Trail
Parking
Picnic Area
Wash
Dump Station
Amphitheater
Ranger Station
Showers
Rest Rooms
Equestrian Center
Oro
l (1
rai
eT
del
Ringtail
Loop
le
mi
.4
sh
Wa
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Gila Monster
Group Area
Granite
Group Area
Oracle Road
Campground B
Campground A
Nature Trail
(1 mile)
Ringtail
Group Area
Flycatcher
Group Area
Trailhead &
Gift Shop
Picnic Area
Ramada Romero Ruins
Ramada
Bobcat
Amphitheater
Ranger Residences
Emergencies Only
er
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ut
S
d
lan
as
W
Romero Ruins
Interpretive Trail
(.75 miles)
Montrose
Canyon
Ala
mo
o
LT
C During periods of heavy rain some roads may be impassable.
Do not attempt to drive through heavily flooded washes!
i l es )
Or
3.2 m
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de
Online campground reservations
at AZStateParks.com/catalina
op (
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as
W
Catalina State Park is located
in Coronado National Forest.
n Lo
TME
N T OF AGRIC U
ny o
U RE
Ca
D EP A R
Ranger Station
& Gift Shop
Sutherland
Trail
Romero
Canyon
Trail
Birding Trail
(1 mile)
h
Tucson
Map not to scale
Please Recycle
idl
da
Florence
Campground
Br
a
Cañ
Legend
Paved Road
1110 W. Washington St., Ste 100
Phoenix, AZ 85007
For reservations, call or visit:
1-877-MY-PARKS | azstateparks.com
9
Bobcat
Amphitheater
n
0.1
Ridge Trail
1.5
1.
5
C DO
0.
Canyo
Alamo oop
L
0.1
o Canyon Loop
2
lam
3.
A
Amphitheater
Desert Bighorn Sheep
Re-Introduction Regulations
The first thirty Desert Bighorn Sheep were re-introduced to
the Pusch Ridge Wilderness in November 2013, with the
overall goal of more than 100 animals after three consecutive
years of transplants. Special management restrictions are
needed to limit disturbance to the sheep population and to
maintain the wilderness character of the area.
1) It is prohibited to bring in, possess, or allow dogs in the bighorn sheep
management area year round (this includes the Romero Canyon trail from
Montrose pools to Romero pools and up to Romero Pass).
2) Between January 1 through April 30, it is prohibited to enter beyond 400 feet off
designated Forest Service trails (e.g., Romero Canyon and Sutherland).
3) It is prohibited to use a campsite or other area by more than a maximum daygroup size of fifteen (15) individuals, and maximum overnight group size of six
individuals year round.
No DOGS in Bighorn
ar
Tr
a
il
Flo
ren
ce
Sheep Management Area
2.6
a
Tr
50
ye
-
Trailhead
BOUNDARY
NATIONAL
Tu
RO
PARK
BOUNDARY
Romero
Pools
ME
RO
CA
Coronado National Forest
0.3
4000'
Legend
Trail Mileage Between Dots
Elevation Above Sea Level
Bighorn Sheep
Management Area
0.8
8600'
AIL
1.7
Montrose
3600'
Pools
Ranger
Station
4800'
CANYON LOOP
TRAIL
To Mount
Lemmon
4.3
2.3
N YO
2.1
N TR AI
L
TR
0.6
0.9
0.5
To Samaniego Ridge
Trail & Cañada del
Oro Trail
SU T
HER
LA
2.
ND
8
M
6000'
Romero
Pass
2.4
8
0.
2700'
FOREST
3400'
1.8
Equestrian
Center
on
cs
k 2 .2
T.
L EM
MO
N
Catalina State Park
AIL
TR
Oracle Road
il
lin
To Wilderness
of Rocks Trail
1.9
To West Fork
Sabino Trail &
Cathedral Rock
Trail
This map is intended only as a guide. Persons
planning to use the longer trails should carry
a topographic map. Each person should carry at
least 1 gallon of drinking water per day. Pools are
seasonal and may be dry parts of the year.