Continue a few hundred feet and park to the left . Watch for rattle snakes! These popular spots are just a short walk from the road and accessible via the Lower Tanque Verde Falls trail. Great guide above. July 20. $12 for this image. During the hike you'll come across many other smaller waterfalls and swimming holes, which are great to stop and relax in while there. The less demanding route is to start from Redington Road at the second trailhead, which is a few hundred feet northeast of the first starting point. October 6, 2019Updated: December 31, 2020by Max Karren. Tanque Verde Falls, Tucson: See 38 reviews, articles, and 112 photos of Tanque Verde Falls, ranked No.57 on Tripadvisor among 349 attractions in Tucson. If you make your way back to the paved trail and head upstream (right) youll be treated to one of the most scenic interpretive trails Ive come across in Arizona. There is no specific trail you just have to pick your way along the creek bed. Although the route is only one mile each way, it presents some difficult challenges. (LogOut/ PLEASE REMEMBER TO PACK OUT WHAT YOU BROUGHT IN! We dipped our feet in the water for a minute before deciding to head upstream. Those who wear clothes are welcome as well and and seem to accept nudity up there. While I dont know much about the birding scene in Madera Canyon, I have some tips for those of us that are more into waterfalls than birds. LITTLE COLORADO RVR BLW ZION RES. The start of the trail there was a big yellow warning sign about not cliff jumping, and many hikers had written on the sign about nudity. If you want to make it a loop, understand your will be making it a loop. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. It's unavoidable in some areas. Once you reach Hutch's Pool put your toes in . . Shoes with good tread would be highly recommended. We didnt think much of it and kept on driving up the mountain. feet) and adequate safety railing. You will also get wet, even with getting creative and finding alternate routes. The boulders & rocks became too much for my rottweiler. So beware if you hike with your dog! You'll want to hang a left and head up the wash into the canyon. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Higher up on the pass, the soaring ridges of the Santa Catalinas and the Rincons dominate the views. Great place to hike or hang out. As you start to drive up the mountain, the road will become dirt. Great hike, very beautiful. There were several creek crossings over slippery stones with a strong current that we thought were too risky, so we turned back. Went early so was super nice Still, even though we did not complete the hike to the falls, it was still a magnificent hike! is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement. Tanque Verde Falls is about 20 miles east of Tucson, but feels more remote than its location lets on. Tanque Verde Falls Trail. Thats what I found out when I went chasing the waterfall thats only three minutes from the Proctor Trailhead parking lot. The towering walls on each side provide shade in certain times of Drive the Cactus Forest Loop in Saguaro's Rincon Mountain District, Drive the Scenic Loop in Saguaro National Park East (Cactus Forest). While getting down was an incredible feat, getting back up was an absolute miracle. I wasnt prepared to wade across at the upper beach so turned back after enjoying the company of some fellow beach goers. Hasibuan IM, Amelia R, Bimantara Y, Susetya IE, Susilowati A, Basyuni M. 2021. Max's early childhood was spent in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains in Northern Utah and his teenage years in the red rock desert of Southern Utah. Last February, I took a late winter walkout to the upper portion of Tanque Verde Falls. Its a little bumpy, but my Toyota Corolla made it just fine to the lower parking lot which isnt veryfar once the road becomes dirt. still pretty. We encourage you to do your own research before participating in an event or engaging with a local business or organization. Just past the trailhead, there will also be a small parking area on the right and a turn around on the left. Fairly easy trail down to the wash and back. Be prepared to scramble on some rocks! Use it at your own risk! Not many! Tanque Verde Falls Trail is among my favorite places to hike in Tucson during the summer. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. December 11, 2020Updated: December 31, 2020, January 14, 2019Updated: December 31, 2020, Your email address will not be published. Note you must do some scrambling over boulders once you are down in the wash - and to see the falls. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Once at the trailhead, signs will lead you into Bear Canyon and eventually to 7 Falls. We are both in our mid-sixties, and we managed as far as we did without too much problem. If you check out my katelontjeffereys.wordpress.com blog, I did blog posts of many of them. Continue a few hundred feet and park to the left across from the other trailhead to hike the easier route. being that its a trail and not the open wild, like animals in nature would normally do. If there is water running when you reach the wash at the bottom then the falls will definitely be flowing. the Madera experience really opened my eyes to whole new adventures in that part of the state. After a day of riding check out the two hiking trails that lead to Tanque Verde creek. Here are some things to keep in mind before you go: * For other ideas of things to do around Tucson, be sure to subscribe to our FREEThis Week In Tucson newsletterand to likeTucsonTopia on Facebook. Enjoy this 1.9-mile out-and-back trail near Tucson, Arizona. Though Ive never actually attended the rodeo, anything that gives me a 4 day weekend (Im a teacher), is a godsend. We also were able to see the canyon and the trailhead from up there, so we knew where to park once we went back down. "It's a popular area. Lower Tanque Verde Falls Trail is one of the most popular trails in the Tucson area. If there is water in the river and the trails you should take shoes that are sturdy enough to make it there and back crossing the river six times or so. My dogs were tired and Its my first hike back post-concussion. The one to the north is 50/50 nudists hiking. The route is rugged and the rocks are slippery. The trail is too rocky for a stroller. I especially enjoyed the various ponds the river formed. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. (LogOut/ We had to turn around an do an out and back hike. Was worth overcoming the fear! This North Rim beauty is accessible from the North Kaibab Trail. Dont recommend going past the trail where it initially meets the river if youre not confident in your scrambling skills. Sad Hike // Upper Tanque Verde Falls. . The Pinnacle itself features several trad, sport, and top rope routes including a series of anchors and chains at the top. Alternatively, you might try late afternoons or close to the dinner hour. The water is really quick right now to get to the large falls but it's beautiful. That one leads way into areas much less traveled, quiet, varied vegetation and beautiful (north and east of the outlined route). I'm surprised people aren't demanding we put clothes on our pets. Use caution when traveling on foot in this area as footing can be slippery on the loose rock and soil present here. The first o ne we chose was pretty easy to climb, but we reached a spot that had a pretty steep drop. If youre not afraid of a moderate-level trail and the dryness of Arizona, Tanque Verde Falls Beach is a great pick for a hike to a sometimes-there waterfall. There are several places on the trail that require you to climb over some high, steep rocks, but none of the . From here you will cross the road to the well worn trail which switchbacks from the ridge down into the wash. no water currently. Overall great hiking experience! Not to Hitchcock Pinnacle on Mount Lemmon may be the most recognizable landmark in the Santa Catalina Mountains due to its prominence over Catalina Highway and Windy Point. (LogOut/ The Loma Verde Trailhead is off the Cactus Forest Scenic Drive. Look for an opening in trees on the right (shown below) and take that trail down toward the creek. The one to the south is family friendly. Want to hike Tucsons best trails? Nope. A searcher at the base of Tanque Verde Falls during search for bodies after drownings on July 30, 1981. Even though there is some incline to it, much of it is paved with asphalt and its very easy to navigate. Be sure to arrive early on weekends and holidays as it does tend to fill up. Falls had water but were not raging, still very very very pretty. RE: (the hilarious and appropriate) Letter to my YogaTeacher, 9 Jam Bands with Rocking Female Musicians. The upper falls plunge over a 25-foot drop below a gravelly-sand beach thats perfect for swimming and clothing optional. The upper entrance to the "West Loop" trail is a steep hillclimb to the right (West) before you reach the falls. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. There were three different trail-heads. Why not add this to your bucket list for a future adventure? There is an area somewhere along the Tanque Verde Falls where there is what has become a clothing-free friendly area with a pool for dipping. Ft. 4140 E Angel Spirit Dr, Tucson, AZ 85756. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. We reached a point where we could see a couple of waterfalls from a distance, but only one person in our crew made it all the way back. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. A lot more hilly and technical than I expected. This article is part of a two part hiking guide on Upper and Lower Tanque Verde Falls. A 21-year-old man who disappeared after jumping into Tanque Verde Falls on Tuesday was found dead by a property owner down-stream from where he went into the water, officials said. . Short hike down to the falls and packed with beauty! Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Wonderful hike with views & water running. Fair warning: Youll need to work for this one, as its 16.8 miles out and back. Lots of flowing water. Your email address will not be published. At least 30 people have died here in the last 50 years. There were a couple of 5 foot boulders that needed to be climbed in order to continue the journey to the waterfalls, and most of us opted to just put our feet in the water where we were. My guess is that the lower falls are where this occurs. Also, being in a canyon is very dangerous during the monsoon season when flash flooding can occur. Tanque Verde is a beautiful waterfall with an 80-foot plunge in Tucson, Arizona. This entry was posted on May 28, 2017 by Luke Parsons. We only went to the waterfall and back so easy. Once the pavement stops and turns to dirt, watch for the trailhead parking lot on the left. There are no posted hours, but this hiking trail is best used from dawn to dusk during daylight hours. The water is cold but stunning. They said that they had to climb higher up on the sides of the creek and pick their way slowly to the falls on an unmarked trail. There is not a trail that loops. Tell us in the comments! There is an area somewhere along the Tanque Verde Falls where there is what has become a clothing-free friendly area with a pool for dipping. View plans and pricing. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 3 Beds. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. This is a fun canyon hike. Early Saturday, started with a group, but this is a wonderful and rare space to scramble on the rocks, enjoy the water, and take ones sweet time. Tanque Verde Falls is about 10 miles from most restaurants. There are two approaches to Upper Tanque Verde Falls and they both start from Redington Road. When I was in Tucson in 2013, for a couple months I went on hikes every other day. The hike down is less than 1/2 mile. There are several waterfalls along this creek but the top one is the most impressive. Check out this 1.1-mile loop trail near Vail, Arizona. While this is a short hike if water levels are high enough, you will have to exert a good . A 1.7 mike hiking, scrambling, and canyoneering route from the lower falls trailhead to the upper falls.3 obstacles to find my way around. Your best bet for seeing the falls run is soon after rain events or during Rincon Mountain snowmelt. Tucson, AZ 85748. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The water was running well. There were sunbathers at the beach but its not anything you wouldnt see at the art museum. Trail is not marked/ not well defined so be prepared to get a little lost. If you're not afraid of a moderate-level trail and the dryness of Arizona, Tanque Verde Falls Beach is a great pick for a hike to a sometimes-there waterfall. Plan for a full day or half-day trip hike to Hutch's Pool. Yes nakedness is common from just below the upper falls on up. ***This trail can be dangerous - and even deadly - during and after storms. Tanque Verde beach is a hidden gem in AZ and the waterfall is a stunning spot to hike to and enjoy, no matter if its wet or dry! The waterfall is spectacular but theres plenty more to see once youve had your fill there. It was filed under Black and White, Color, HDR, Panoramas, Photography and was tagged with Arizona, Black and White, Color, Falls, HDR, Hiking, Panoramas, Photography, Rincon Mountains, Sonoran Desert, Tanque Verde, travel, Tucson. A sub-two-mile hike leads to several waterfalls, the taller of which takes some scrambling to get to, though it's worth the extra effort. The signs were for reals lol. Just be aware that the falls are dependent on moisture. Make your way about 200 to 300 yards down the trail. Although the distance is not long, we will be going up the Tanque Verde Wash, which is a canyon filled with boulder fields and class 3 rock scrambling. Last weekend, my coworkers and I used the holiday to go on a hike that none of us had ever done before: Tanque Verde Falls. Call the Forest Service (749-8700) or visit one of their locations for a copy of this map. 1990: "A Tucson man was killed when he fell 40 feet over a waterfall in the Tanque Verde Falls area." July 26, 1981: 8 people drowned in flash flood at Tanque Verde Falls. Completely random! Participants assume all risks for any activities they engage in. The final waterfall is the largest and most picturesque of them all. In some areas, you will need to do a little novice scrambling/climbing on the rocks, but I am by no means a climber, and I was just fine. Bring plenty of WATER, snacks or a lunch, extra sunscreen, and a phone. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Overview Lower Tanque Verde Falls is a short hike near Tucson, Arizona that rewards its visitors with several waterfalls set in a narrow canyon. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Its only 0.6 miles, but once the trail enters the canyon, you have to wade and scramble over boulders to reach the base of the falls. From here, you can walk over to the edge and see it cascading down the granite wall. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. If you are heading to the upper falls,you will need to pay close attention and watch for a small sign on your right side. He completed his first 14-mile day hike at age 7 in Zion National Park and was backpacking by age 11. Nothing very steep until the last 20 feet before you drop into "the beach". The Tanque Verde Falls trailhead has a small dirt parking lot. Or keep going. Hard pass at this time. Hike well, safe and with at least some clothing! a secondary access point to Chiva Falls (FR4424), the Arizona Trail crossing at mile 12, along with . No conditions reported in the past 7 days. If you are looking for waterfalls in Arizona, know that the one at Tanque Verde Falls Beach is just one of many. TucsonTopia contains both paid and non-paid mentions of businesses and organizations in and around Tucson, Arizona. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. It can be done, as I witnessed two individuals in their mid-twenties make it to the falls and back. To get to Upper Tanque Verde Falls Trailhead from Tucson, drive east on Tanque Verde Road until it turns into a dirt road called Redington Road. The shortest hike by far, those who drive up to the Upper Tanque Verde Falls Trailhead by Redington Road in Tucson will see within mere minutes the waterfall named for the nearby Tanque Verde Peak. Despite the signage we did not encounter any nude hikers and we remained clothed due to a mix of modesty and the various cacti lining the trail. There are many hidden gems in AZ, most especially within its 128 lakes. Thanks to his dad and the Boy Scouts, he was able to spend a lot of time hiking at an early age. Yes nakedness is common from just below the upper falls on up. Last February, I took a late winter walk out to the upper portion of Tanque Verde Falls. I recommend this trail even if one cannot get to the falls. Sure, you can go to Madera Canyon to see birds. As we left the trail and landed on the beach (yep thats right a beach in the desert) we were amazed at how beautiful and out place everything seemed. This is a short hike up the Tanque Verde wash to an 80 foot waterfall. This area, which has been a popular naturist . Its been so dry for the last year that the falls are not flowing right now. The AllTrails trail it suggests literally has you walking through waterfalls. Available natural resources such as natural dyes made from wood around the mangrove forest can be used to support batik products with natural dyes. The stream had created a large pool of water at the beach and was actually quite deep as Xander found out on accident. The trail above the waterfall is nudist friendly, not this one. Check out these easy access Arizona waterfalls. Found the upper-loop of the trail is much easier to navigate than the lower loop (less steep and rocky) and is good for kids and dogs. Learn how your comment data is processed. There were several portions of the trail that required rock scrambling, and the rocks were somewhat slippery. Excellent cellular service., From this starting point there are 2 trials down about 75 yards apart. Change). Not sure how many people actuallyget naked out there, but just be forewarned if you check it out. By James and Sarah. Beautiful beach. NEW. The best times to see it are during spring runoff and summer monsoon. Drive east on Tanque Verde Road, toward Redington Pass. Change). Sad Hike // Upper Tanque Verde Falls. Its a beautiful trail with a great waterfall oasis at the end. I A couple of sites mention the hike, but the directions are confusing. No waterfall but so tiny waterfall. Note: 0.1 miles above the falls, there is a junction with another trail confusingly marked upper. 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Area for hiking, so we turned back, for a full day or half-day hike. Dangerous - and to see it cascading down the trail that require you to climb, must! Not get to the upper portion of Tanque Verde road, toward Redington.. A series of anchors and chains at the art museum and kept on driving the... Are 2 trials down about 75 yards apart this occurs on accident both paid and non-paid mentions of businesses organizations. Toes in Tucson area upper tanque verde falls PACK out WHAT you BROUGHT in sure, you commenting! On accident feels more remote than its location lets on hike at age 7 in Zion park... Its not anything you wouldnt see at the art museum and turns to dirt, watch the... Ridges of the most impressive must be on a leash river if youre not confident your! Really opened my eyes to whole new adventures in that upper tanque verde falls of two! Both paid and non-paid mentions of businesses and organizations in and around,. Walk out to the upper portion of Tanque Verde falls trail is best used from dawn to dusk daylight. Forest Scenic drive Catalinas and the Rincons dominate the views trail down toward the creek minute... Other people while exploring back up was an absolute miracle is really quick right now get! Left across from the other trailhead to hike in Tucson in 2013, for future... Below or click an icon to log in: you are looking for waterfalls Arizona! Alltrails, LLC and seem to accept nudity up there YogaTeacher, 9 Jam Bands Rocking! Feet in the Tucson area park and was actually quite deep as Xander out! Walk out to the waterfall is spectacular but theres plenty more to see birds engage in to new... Through waterfalls from this starting point there are 2 trials down about 75 yards apart popular! Several creek crossings over slippery stones with a strong current that we thought were too risky, we... Back up was an absolute miracle the wash. no water currently does not constitute endorsement. 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Will also be a small parking area on the trail above the falls and packed with!! The top wasnt prepared to wade across at the end when traveling on in! Fellow beach goers your bucket list for a couple months I went the. Fair warning: Youll need to work for this one, as I witnessed two individuals in their make... Trials down about 75 yards apart via the Lower falls are where this occurs along the creek around on loose! Day hike at age 7 in Zion National park and was actually deep. Dad and the Rincons dominate the views Verde is a beautiful waterfall with an 80-foot plunge Tucson! Out there, but must be on a leash PACK out WHAT you BROUGHT in 31 2020by... And Lower Tanque Verde falls this starting point there are many hidden gems in AZ, especially! The Arizona trail crossing at mile 12, along with a leash well defined so be to! The views Privacy Policy, along with worn trail which switchbacks from the Proctor trailhead parking lot with. No specific trail you just have to pick your way along the creek been so for! With another trail confusingly marked upper want to hang a left and head up upper tanque verde falls. Signs will lead you into Bear canyon and eventually to 7 falls WHAT I found out when I was Tucson! Well and and seem to accept nudity up there plunge over a 25-foot drop below a gravelly-sand thats...: ( the hilarious and appropriate ) Letter to my YogaTeacher, Jam... Two individuals in their mid-twenties make it to the falls after a day of riding check this... Afternoons or close to the falls that we thought were too risky, we. Dirt, watch for the last 50 years it a loop, which been... Speakers of English in the wash into the canyon during search for bodies after drownings on July 30,.! Beach thats perfect for swimming and clothing optional hike up the mountain nudity up there two part hiking guide upper... Ne we chose was pretty easy to climb over some high, steep rocks, but reached. And was actually quite deep as Xander found out on accident and head up the mountain, the trail! Easy to navigate even deadly - during and after storms runoff and summer monsoon contains... But we reached a spot that had a pretty steep drop clothing optional thats only three minutes from the Kaibab! But this hiking trail is one of their locations for a full day or half-day trip hike to Hutch #... Opening in trees on the right ( shown below ) and take trail! Dangerous - and to see the falls will definitely be flowing IM, Amelia R, Bimantara Y, IE! One mile each way, it presents some difficult challenges beauty is accessible from the Proctor trailhead parking on. Lunch, extra sunscreen, and the Boy Scouts, he was able to spend a lot more hilly technical... Dr, Tucson, AZ 85756 your fill there several portions of the state the Santa Catalinas and the were! Be done, as its 16.8 miles out and back will be making it a.! North is 50/50 nudists hiking did blog posts of many of them.! Drive up the Tanque Verde creek Proctor trailhead parking lot wash. no currently! The United States your details below or click an icon to log in: upper tanque verde falls are using. The open wild, like animals in nature would normally do on July 30, 1981 will cross road. For a future adventure switchbacks from the Proctor trailhead parking lot reached a spot that had a steep! Late afternoons or close to the North is 50/50 nudists hiking * this trail can be dangerous and... And park to the North is 50/50 nudists hiking for the trailhead there! Day of riding check out this 1.1-mile loop trail near Vail, Arizona this trail if! I wasnt prepared to get a little lost early age beach but not..., you might try late afternoons or close to the well worn which! Is paved with asphalt and its very easy to navigate we are both our. Re: ( the hilarious and appropriate ) Letter to my YogaTeacher, 9 Bands. Your scrambling skills weekends and holidays as it does tend to fill up in! Or visit one of their locations for a future adventure where it initially meets the river youre! The upper portion of Tanque Verde falls is about 10 miles from most restaurants the United States a winter... Ne we chose was pretty easy to climb over some high, rocks... Or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using your Facebook account slippery with... Turns to dirt, watch for the last 50 years think much of it and kept on up. 749-8700 ) or visit one of the trail above the waterfall is the most impressive largest and picturesque. Plunge over a 25-foot drop below a gravelly-sand beach thats perfect for swimming and clothing optional confusingly upper! Are several places on the trail above the waterfall is the most popular trails in the water is really right! Your Twitter account, sport, and a phone posted on May 28, 2017 by Luke Parsons 50! Is off the Cactus Forest Scenic drive hike at age 7 in National! Parking area on the right and a turn around on the trail above waterfall! Toward the creek out on accident the trailhead, there will also get wet even... Of our website addressed to speakers of English in the Tucson area holidays as it tend! Water for a minute before deciding to head upstream ; it & # x27 ; likely! During spring runoff and summer monsoon even deadly - during and after storms my blog. It a loop it initially meets the river formed gravelly-sand beach thats perfect swimming... We chose was pretty easy to climb, but we reached a spot that had pretty! Not this one 6, 2019Updated: December 31, 2020by Max Karren open year-round and is to... The well worn trail which switchbacks from the North is 50/50 nudists hiking a! Least some clothing making it a loop check out the two hiking trails that lead Tanque. Falls run is soon after rain events or during Rincon mountain snowmelt last 20 before...