Paul is hiking solo in Catalina State Park in Arizona today. Read about my hiking experience including seeing 2 roadrunners! We are staying in Tucson this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, and I have a free afternoon. To read about our road trip here, check out: Our Road Trip from Florida to Arizona and Back.
Becky is helping prepare for Thanksgiving so I am on my own. I have been checking out some places to go and have been itching to do some good hikes. So far on our road trip we have been limited due to Becky’s broken foot. But I have been able to do a few short solo hikes. However, now I have time to explore all the trails at nearby Catalina State Park. This park is at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains and has 8 different trails in varying lengths. To see more information about this park, check out their site at: Catalina State Park | Arizona (azstateparks.com)
Romero Ruin Trail at Catalina State Park
Catalina State Park was only about 15 minutes from our resort. Once I got there, I paid the park entrance which is $4 per adult or $7 per vehicle. Once through the gates, the first parking lot is not far on your left. After parking, I saw the sign for Romero Ruin Interpretive Trail. This trail is 0.75 mile loop that takes you to the Romero Ruin, the site of a former Native American village turned ranch. Francisco Romero, a Mexican rancher, built a house here in the 1800’s where the former Hohokam village was.
The trail starts at the parking lot, crossing a seasonal wash which was dry. All of the washes are dry around Tucson at this time. There are interpretive signs along the way explaining about the Hohokam village and the Romero Ruin. Once past the wash, it climbs 80 steps to the ruins. Two things are up here. First is the ruins of the Romero homestead and traces of the Hohokam village. And from the elevation, you can see spectacular views of the surrounding area. I also see some large Saguaro cactus. These cactus are all around Tucson, not just in Saguaro National Park we found out. To read about our separate day in search of saguaros, check out: Saguaro National Park East & West in a Day.
I head back the way I came crossing the wash and back to the parking lot. I drink some water before heading down the road. The road ends but there is a large area to turnaround. And right before is another parking lot so I park there.
Birding Trail at Catalina State Park
Like the last trail, the Birding Trail starts across the road from the parking lot where you see a trail marker. There are other longer trails that you can start here, but I stick with this 1 mile loop trail. It is a very clear trail like the last one with hard packed dirt and rocks and steps. I just think there is no way Becky could have done these trails, but very appreciative she let me.
As I walk to the start of the loop, I wonder why they call this the Birding Trail. At the sign for the start of the loop, it looks like I can go either way. As soon as I look to the left, I see a roadrunner on the trail! Of course I have heard of a roadrunner from Looney Tunes, but I wasn’t expecting to see one. I keep my distance and try to take some pictures as the roadrunner skirts down the trail in front of me looking for food. It blends in with the surroundings but is recognizable by its large tail and distinctive crest. I watch him for a couple minutes and then he vanishes in the bushes.
I continue down the trail where it opens up to a wash with hills ahead. Once to a hill, I climb steps past a large saguaro to the top of it. At the top, there are again great views of the mountains and surrounding area. The trail then heads gradually down the other side past a basin full of large rocks. I continue down steps to an area with more vegetation and trees considered a desert oasis. And then I return to the beginning of the loop, but the roadrunner is long gone.
Nature Trail Loop at Catalina State Park
The Nature Trail Loop is another 1 mile loop but starts on the other side of the parking lot. So, I head back to my car for some more water and a snack first. I then head to the start of the trail. This trail starts with a steep incline up a hill and then starts a loop. There are signs along this trail about the animals in the area. Most of them I am hoping I don’t see on the trail like rattlesnakes, Gila monsters and coyotes. So, I proceed cautiously.
I spot a lizard on a rock, but thankfully, no sign of venomous creatures. However, as I continue walking I see yet another roadrunner! This one is off the trail and skirts under the bushes. As I get closer, this one keeps getting farther away. I continue walking on the trail and he gets out of sight. Again, there are great views of the surrounding area and I am enjoying the hike. I come across another bird in the brush. I am able to identify it as a pyrrhuloxia, or a desert cardinal. Happy to spot some desert creatures, I return to the start of the loop and down the start to the bottom.
At this point I have done 3 relatively short trails in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. I am really enjoying hiking through this park and want to do more. As I leave the Nature Trail loop, I am close to the end of the road past the parking lot. There I see the start of another trail.
Sutherland Trail
I see a trail marker just labeled “Trail”, but based on my map, this is the start of the Sutherland Trail. I know this a longer trail, it connects to another trail where I can loop back. It is around 3:30 meaning the sun is already starting to set. This 9.1 mile trail actually goes past the park boundary into the Coronado National Forest all the way to Mount Lemmon. But my plan is to hike until I need to come back, so I head down it at an accelerated pace.
As I start down the trail, the moon is already visible. I hike down until I cross a wash and continue along it in a canyon. It is already getting dark here. There is also some ups and downs before I get to an open area where I see some other hikers. They are coming from what looks like a trail on the other side, but I decide to continue straight. The trail continue up and I want to see where it goes.
So, I climb up and keep going. I figured I passed the loop connect to go back, but I can just return the way I came. As I look back, I see the Sun setting behind me and know I won’t be able to go far. Eventually I get to a sign that reads Coronado National Forest Wilderness behind this sign, and decide this end for me. I got here in less than 30 minutes and plan to head back before it gets dark. On the way back I am hiking faster, and spot a bunny hop by the trail. Nice way to end hiking before I get to my car safely before dark.
Summary
I hiked about 3 hours and feel great, but ready to get back for dinner with our family. All of the trails were great and each offered a little something different. Though the first 3 listed as easy trails, there are no paved trails and all have elevation changes. The shorter trails especially the Romero Ruin and Birding trails would be best for families. I really went farther into the desert here and seeing roadrunners was definitely a highlight. I am really glad I was able to go hiking and see roadrunners at Catalina State Park!