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 Reporter |
Summary: This is a great modeate hike that starts out with a well defined and wide trail. Stay on this path until you reach a trail marker that will turn you right. From the marker, the trail will take a slow elevation gain along Montrose Canyon, which will be to your right. Stay on this trail until you reach the romero pools. The pools is a great place to take a lunch or in the warmer months, go for a swim. After a good rain, you will enjoy flowing waterfalls and streams, as well as gorgeous mountain views and desert landscapes. As a cautionary warning be careful when walking around the pools since the rocks are very slippery and wet. This is always a great hike to take. However, after a good rain storm, the waterfalls and streams will be active, which will add to the overall hiking experience. Trailhead: If you were headed North on Oracle rd. (HWY 77) a couple miles past 1st. but before you get to Tangerine Rd. make a right into Catalina State Park. You should see a sign for the park. Head east until you come to the Ranger Station, there is a $6.00 daily fee. Continue east until you see the parking lot, and few feet south of the parking lot is the trailhead. (Lat:32.42572 Lon:-110.90775) Trail Guides for Romero Pools - Catalina State Park: Tucson Hiking Guide by Betty Leavengood (Pruett Publishing Company) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Ranger Contact: AZ State Park Ranger Service 520-628-5798 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Lawrence Knight, who has posted 5 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Page 1 of 4 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by BWR on 5/18/2009 Hike the trail in early May of 2009, in the morning (started 9am). Nice hike with plenty of views. Keep going up the pools are there and you can jump off the rocks is some spots. Dogs are not allowed up the trial for the area is a Big Horn Sheep Management Area. Make sure you pack plenty water. It's only about 2.5 miles to the pools, but it's all uphill and hot (100+ degrees). All the cactus were flowering, but not much wildlife with the exceptional lizard.
Reviewed by E.M. on 5/4/2009 I took this hike with my four boys (ages 10, 10, 7, and 5). All four of them loved it and did not find it all that difficult. The trail is well defined and replete with wildlife. We went last weekend (beginning May) and saw a small herd of mule deer off the trail by about 50 yards. The water was still running and about 65 degrees. Great family hike.
Reviewed by Kevin O. on 5/23/2008 My wife and I took advantage of the cold front that moved in and took this hike. Trail is well marked and not too bad for the most part. The wildlife was great and the saguaros were all in full bloom. If you go make sure and hike down towards the lower pools and find the cylinder shape hole in the granite bottom. I have never seen a perfect shape in a large slab like this. The walls are smooth like they have been polished. We saw a skunk along the trail just after we left the trailhead! Great Hike! 
Reviewed by John on 2/19/2008 We went just after the rain and snow (in the mtns) this past weekend. Low clouds made for some gloomy but interesting light and temp in the 30's was something to get used to but overall, an amazing experience. Lots of water flowing in the river and streams made for a great soundtrack all along the trail. In fact a portion of the trail near the peak had become a stream, running a couple of inches deep in crystal clear water. The variety of plants was great - entire forests of small ferns and lichen on some of the north facing walls in addition to so many of our other of desert plants. Speaking of plants, the Rangers do a fantastic job of keeping things trimmed back so the trail is clear. One of my best AZ hikes. Highly recommend!
Reviewed by Joel on 11/12/2007 My wife and I hiked this trail this past weekend (November 10), and enjoyed it a lot. Fairly challenging at times, but not too long. Beautiful views and terrain the whole way. The park was also very clean. We would definitely return to the park again, and explore other trails. The pools are a bit small, but in many ways merely provide a nice point at which to rest enjoy the views and surroundings and turn around. 
Reviewed by Lisa on 10/21/2007 Pretty good hike, but the pools at the end were a bit disappointing (wasn't much water). Went in early September. Heard that there were tons of tarantualas, scorpions, rattle snakes when a few friends went near dusk.
Reviewed by The Chavez Fam. on 8/29/2007 we went this past weekend and LOVED it, we were thinking it would be easier and took our 4 and 6 year old... to our suprise they did a GREAT job and made it allll the way to the pools. Would most definatly do it again perhaps without the little ones. Great views and lots of picture opportunities. Also on the way back around 5 or 6pm be careful with the rattle snakes and spiders we saw a few here and there it was cool but must be careful... will be going back the pools were well worth it!!!
Reviewed by Christine on 8/17/2007 This is a great hike - moderately steep but certainly not as bad or as long as the finger rock trail - fairly rocky terrain but beautiful views of the canyon and oro valley - the best part is the water at the end - definitely cold and refreshing with so many crystal-clear pools you can sit in, swim in, and cliff dive into - once the trail hits the pools, go downstream for deeper pools and waterfalls and upstream for some more smaller but more secluded pools - i will definitely be going back many more times! Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Arizona Hiking, Arizona Trails, Arizona Hikes, Pima County Hiking, Pima County Trails, Pima County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||