Tucson Sky Islands Trails
Listed here are the major national park, national forest (FT), state, and other accepted trails in the Tucson vicinity. This work is the result of several years of collecting, cataloging and formatting GPS data into usable map information.
When I first started working on this project in 1997 the only trail data was in paper format from sources such as USGS, National Park Service, trail guide books, trail clubs, and the revered Tucson hiker, Pete Cowgill, who published "Trail Guide to the Santa Catalina Mountains" (with Eber Glendering - unfortunately out of print) and several print maps with Rainbow Expeditions. Scanning these maps into OziExplorer, retracing the trails into waypoints and tracks and then adjusting based on landmarks and names described in books, I began assembling a library of trails into Maptech's Terrain Navigator, my preferred editing tool. I augmented this with my own hikes recording each step with a GPS unit.
Today most of this would be considered child's play, but at the time I struggled with clumsy conversion tools, non standard formats and computers that had difficulty handling the large amounts of topography data. Some of these issues still persist, but the advent of Google Earth and more powerful processors has simplified and expanded the possibilities. Consequently I still consider this a work in progress as I continue to enhance my data: most recently reworking the trail data using aerial images and adding linked photos and scenic landmarks.
So please enjoy (after reading my disclaimer), and as with all my pages use the resources found in the vertical banners to learn even more.
How to Use Trail List
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Each trail is assigned to a mountain section aka region. Click on the region's link to see a interactive Google Earth trail map.
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Click on the red dot
next to each trail to see the trail's elevation/distance profile. Click
on the trail name for trail descriptions. -
Go to the Mapping link and click on “Coronado Sky Island Trails" to download a complete dataset of all the trails listed here
About this Information
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Complete list of sources. Primary trail names defaulted to sources authored by Cowgill.
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Trails listed in parentheses indicate a commonly accepted alternate name. * denotes an unofficial trail or name
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Although comprehensive this listing is not necessarily complete. Trails are added to the
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Only sanctioned trails by the National Forest Service or the collective hiking community are listed. Bushwhack trails, unauthorized bike or ATV paths and other shortcuts are not included.
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Errors do exist such as misnamed trails, improperly positioned trailheads, and other trail misinterpretations (especially in forest canopies). The fact is that weather, people, and time change trails all the time, and it is hard to keep up with the changes.
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I don’t provide a trail rating system as these are highly subjective. However, I do provide elevation and distance profiles that offer some assistance.
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Elevation profiles are based on Maptech’s most current digital elevation data (DEM).
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Please do not ask for printable maps as this potentially infringes on software licensing agreements.
Paper Maps
For those without GPS units or still enjoy paper maps here are my recommendations of some excellent area maps:
Best for Arizona All-Round: Arizona Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme Publishing. Has listing of campground and lake facilities, good road maps, easy to read. I have used mine for 15 years.
Best for Santa Rita Mountains: Southern Arizona Hiking Club Maps, Santa Rita Mountains, Rainbow Expeditions, Inc. Shows trails, combines multiple 15' quads into one map.
Best for Catalina Mountains: Southern Arizona Hiking Club Maps, Santa Catalina Mountains, Rainbow Expeditions, Inc. Shows trails, combines multiple 15' quads into one map.
Best for Rincon Mountains: Saguaro National Park Trail Map by Trails Illustrated, National Geographic Maps. Has all the trails correctly listed, excellent detail and waterproof, tear-resistant material. Includes West (Tucson Mountains) and East (Rincon Mountains) parks.
Best for Tucson Mountains: The Map, Tucson, Arizona Mapping Kompany. This is a recommendation with reservation: the map is out of print and some consider it lacking enough detail and accuracy, but unlike the Saguaro National park map it shows trails outside the park boundaries and therefore is complete. Designed for cyclists but also useful for hikers. Provides other details such as gates, boundaries, and other restrictions. Includes Catalina State Park and the Catalina Mountains. Not very good topographical detail. If you cannot find it use Saguaro National Park Trail Map (see above).
