Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Sabino Canyon/Hutch’s Pool Day Hike

when	Trip Report : November 29, 2014
	Trip Report : November 1, 1997
where	Santa Catalina Mountains/Pusch Ridge Wilderness
the hike	Somehow this easy and beautiful hike in the Santa Catalina foothills on the north side of Tucson has fallen through the cracks over the years and been long-forgotten. We last did this hike on November 1, 1997, as the Motorola Hiking Club (at least this is the only posted trip report for this hike). After a hiatus of 17 years I believe it’s time to revisit this unique area once again. In addition, this hike will help work off some of those excess Thanksgiving Day calories.     From the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center we will take the canyon tram ($8/person) 3.8 miles to the Sabino Canyon Trailhead at the end of the road. This is a scenic and narrated 45-minute tour through the canyon. From the trailhead we start climbing through a series of short switchbacks for 0.8 miles before leveling off on a ridge along the east side of Sabino Canyon and Sabino Creek. We continue following the ridge for another two miles, with spectacular views of Sabino Canyon along the way. About 2.5 miles from the trailhead the trail makes a sharp curve to the right, and we begin rapidly descending from the ridge into Sabino Basin.     Right after the first stream crossing in the basin we come to the junction with the East Fork Trail and the West Fork Trail. We make a left turn here onto the West Fork Trail, which will take us to Hutch’s Pool. At 1.3 miles from the junction we make a second stream crossing and hike another 0.3 miles before reaching Hutch’s Pool where we will stop for lunch. This will be our turn-around point. Required: •  Sturdy hiking boots •  At least 3 liters of water •  Rain poncho •  Hat, sunblock, sunglasses Recommended: •  Lunch or snacks •  Camera
distance	8.2 miles round trip
time	5-6 hours
EC	+-570' elevation change
elevations	3,330 feet to 3,900 feet
type	round trip
starting at	Sabino Canyon Visitor Center 32.3100° N,  110.8227° W
on trail	100%
rating	"C"     Rate yourself as a hiker.
dogs allowed	no
cost	$5 per vehicle to park at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center. $8 per person to ride the canyon tram to the Sabino Canyon Trailhead. Sharing gas expenses with the driver. The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5/non-member.
weather	Tucson
meet	7:00 AM in the parking lot south of Einstein Bros. Bagels on the SE corner of 48th Street & Ray Road, west of I-10. For those leaving their cars behind, please park up against the west curb of the parking lot and not in the Einstein’s common parking area. We will make carpooling arrangements here and depart no later than 7:15 AM. The Sabino Canyon Visitor Center parking lot fills up fast on Saturday morning, and we have a 45-minute tram ride to the trailhead.
drive	•  Southeast on I-10 toward Tucson and take the Ina Road exit east into Tucson. • Go east on Ina Road for about three miles to Skyline Drive. • Take Skyline Drive SE for about a half-mile and connect with Sunrise Drive at the second intersection. • Continue SE and then east on Sunrise Drive for another three miles to Sabino Canyon Road. • Turn left and follow the signs to the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center. The Sabino Canyon Trailhead is 3.8 miles from the Visitor Center at the end of Sabino Canyon Road. We will take the tram to the trailhead and return on the tram to the Visitor Center. I will pass out maps to the Visitor Center at the meeting location.

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