Photos: Pima Canyon trail in the Santa Catalina Mountains
The Pima Canyon Trail in the Santa Catalina Mountains goes from hot, open desert to a shady riparian area and up into cool reaches of Mt. Kimball. Hikers can make it as hard as they want, with an elevation gain of more than 4,000 feet in six hours. But the trip into the shade of cottonwood trees in manageable for hikers in good shape. Trailhead is at the end of Magee Road east of Oracle Road.
The trail was not without controversy. Access was an issue in the 1980s and 1990s, when hiking advocates and the Pima County Board of Supervisors negotiated with the developers of Pima Canyon Estates for access to the popular trail. Several luxury homes burned to the ground in Pima Canyon Estates in 2001. Investigators labeled it arson. Some people labeled it eco-terrorism.
The trailhead is named for Pima County Supervisor Iris O. Dewhirst, who worked to preserve public access to Pima Canyon.
Pima Canyon Trail
Patrick Knoth, of Green Vally, enjoys the hike along the Pima Canyon Trail on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail
Views along the Pima Canyon Trail on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail
A marker for the Pima Canyon Trail on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail
A stoic saguaro cactus along the Pima Canyon Trail on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail
Hikers created this rock cairn along the Pima Canyon Trail on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail
Views along the Pima Canyon Trail on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail
Views along the Pima Canyon Trail on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail
Views from the Pima Canyon Trail looking southwest on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail
Views along the Pima Canyon Trail looking south on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail
Stacks of saguaros along the Pima Canyon Trail on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail
The Tucson Mormon Temple as viewed from the Pima Canyon Trail on March 13, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. The trailhead is at 1610 E. Magee Road.
Pima Canyon Trail in Santa Catalina Mountains
Pima Canyon Trail in 2012.
Pima Canyon Trail in Santa Catalina Mountains
One of the nearly completed luxury homes that caught fire and burned late Monday night in an aerial photo Tuesday, June 12th, 2001 burned to the foundation. Four homes in Pima Canyon Estates were set ablaze. Damage was at least $2 million. The initials CSP, which stand for Coalition to Save the Preserves, were found painted at the fire scenes and similar fires in the Phoenix area from 1998-2001..
Pima Canyon Trail in Santa Catalina Mountains
These two under-construction luxury homes that were set afire are near the Pima Canyon trailhead on June 11, 2001. Four homes in Pima Canyon Estates were set ablaze. Damage was at least $2 million. The initials CSP, which stand for Coalition to Save the Preserves, were found painted at the fire scenes and similar fires in the Phoenix area from 1998-2001..
Pima Canyon Trail in Santa Catalina Mountains
The Catalina Mountains provide a backdrop for the foothills where up to five luxury homes caught fire and burned late on June 11, 2001. Four homes in Pima Canyon Estates were set ablaze. Damage was at least $2 million. The initials CSP, which stand for Coalition to Save the Preserves, were found painted at the fire scenes and similar fires in the Phoenix area from 1998-2001..
Pima Canyon Trail in Santa Catalina Mountains
Light snow tops the Santa Catalina Mountains near the Pima Canyon trailhead in February, 2012.
Pima Canyon Trail in Santa Catalina Mountains
Snow blankets the upper reaches of Pima Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Photo taken from Village Ave. near Magee Road on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010.
Pima Canyon Trail in Santa Catalina Mountains
As Jack Hanna releases the hatch at right, three of the 14 bighorn sheep dart into the desert as they're released into the Santa Catalina mountains on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014, near Pima Canyon in Tucson, Ariz. Three rams and 11 ewes were released just after dawn.
Pima Canyon
The Bighorn Fire consumes thick vegetation in crags above Pima Canyon within the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of Tucson on June 9, 2020.
Pima Canyon Trail
A sign at the entrance to the Pima Canyon Trail warns hikers of dangers after the Bighorn Fire damages hiking areas on September 30, 2020.
Pima Canyon Trail
Clouds clearing above Pima Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains reveal snow on March 13, 2021.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
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