upper tanque verde falls
This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. We had joked around about walking naked in the desert with boots and a hat with all the cactus. While there are 31 state parks in Arizona, it is the states three national parks that are the most well-known. (LogOut/ 1 credit. The boulders & rocks became too much for my rottweiler. This hike started out with some fun knowledge that there is nudist in the area and it is possible to encounter naked people on the trail. There is some scrambling over boulders and debris with many small waterfalls and swimming holes along the way. 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. Know that youll be doing your own exploring and following your own path. Tanque Verde Falls. Overall great hiking experience! Its been said that this is the most dangerous hike in Southern Arizona. Sometimes you can have just as much (if not more) fun getting lost than at the destination itself.Best regards! The water was ice cold, but invigorating! Lots of nudists - don't hike nude here, there are families on this trail too! Trail is not marked/ not well defined so be prepared to get a little lost. 1999. Continue with purchase. Tucson, AZ 85748. Not to mention there are no speed limits. The first o ne we chose was pretty easy to climb, but we reached a spot that had a pretty steep drop. The lower trailhead will lead to the bottom and if you hike upstream for about 25 minutes you will come across a 75' waterfall. The best months for hiking are October, November, December, January, February, March, or April when daytime temperatures typically range between 65-86 degrees. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. The Tanque Verde Falls trailhead has a small dirt parking lot. However, we still were able to hike some of the trail & hangout around the water. Drive on the dirt road for 0.9 miles until you reach a parking area to the right. Everyday photos and illustrations, for just 1 credit. You could just hike down to the beach or decide to head upstream or downstream as far you wish or until you cant go any further. Will definitely return. how many people bring their mutts there to crap everywhere? Will need to check out Tanque Verde too. This hike starts at the Lower Tanque Verde Falls Trailhead, which is a well marked dirt lot on the left side of Reddington Road. Not many! There are many smaller waterfalls and swimming holes along the way. The main trail-head had a parking area. Loved the free form adventure we had on this trail. Your email address will not be published. Easy hike. The surrounding area, known as the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, is popular for camping, hiking, and fishing. Call the Forest Service (749-8700) or visit one of their locations for a copy of this map. Tanque Verde Falls, Tucson: See 38 reviews, articles, and 112 photos of Tanque Verde Falls, ranked No.57 on Tripadvisor among 348 attractions in Tucson. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Also popular . is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement. The trail sometimes is hard to follow to the base of the falls but it is worth the effort as this is a sight to see. There were sunbathers at the beach but its not anything you wouldnt see at the art museum. View all. I made it to the trail head in a Honda Civic, but agreed that something with higher clearance/all wheel drive makes this easier! Our small dog had a moderate difficult time to scale the rocks with us. adventures and follow local regulations. ARIZONA TANQUE VERDE FALLS East of Tuscon, this is the best gay swimming hole in the world, when there is water in it. After that the road became dirt. What are the most beautiful lakes in Arizona? why people bring their mutts to hiking trails made for humans, or beaches that we have designated to be at mostly more than the natural areas unused by humans, is beyond me. Challenging for dogs. This is a short hike up the Tanque Verde wash to an 80 foot waterfall. View all posts by Paul. Be prepared to scramble on some rocks! Reviewed this attraction. Over its 1,902 square miles, youll find hiking and biking trails, river trips, ranger programs, and all kinds of tours. Thanks for joining ladies!! 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. Once at the trailhead, signs will lead you into Bear Canyon and eventually to 7 Falls. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Excellent cellular service., From this starting point there are 2 trials down about 75 yards apart. Agua Caliente near sunset. Falls had water but were not raging, still very very very pretty. Note: 0.1 miles above the falls, there is a junction with another trail confusingly marked upper. FYI, it is clothing optional. After following the wash for several miles . What are the most well-known parks in Arizona? Pretty challenging. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). Hotels near Rincon Mountain Visitor Center, Hotels near The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. The Pinnacle itself features several trad, sport, and top rope routes including a series of anchors and chains at the top. Tanque Verde Falls are located in Tanque Verde Canyon east of Tanque Verde, Arizona, about half hour from Tuscon. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. We dipped our feet in the water for a minute before deciding to head upstream. Look for an opening in trees on the right (shown below) and take that trail down toward the creek. $4 with a 1-month subscription. The schools are closed for a 4 day weekend, and most businesses allow their employees to wear jeans and cowboy boots. You will also get wet, even with getting creative and finding alternate routes. All in all, we spent about 2 hours from the trailhead with plenty of relaxing time at the bottom. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Tanque Verde Falls is a beautiful and popular hike on the far east side of Tucson. "It's a popular area. Tanque Verde Falls is roughly 1.8 miles one way and is typically rated as moderate. Along the border of Arizona and California, youll find Lake Havasu. On the right hand side of this smaller falls there is a ledge where you can walk behind the waterfall. There should be plenty of water from the snow melt and it will be an interesting time navigating the streams. Driving on this 3-mile dirt road was horrendous! Hiking near a flowing stream is a treat in the Tucson area! Change). 2012-2023 TucsonTopia - All Rights Reserved |, To take photos with family members and friends. One of the efforts to improve community welfare is through community empowerment activities. it gets very slippery for dogs as well, and she lost traction multiple times. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. #CoffeeKen #divine_deserts #adventureanywhere #hiking #azlife #borntobunk #hiking. As you start to drive up the mountain, the road will become dirt. First half of the trail was easy. Surprisingly, clean trail besides the forgotten dog waste bags but I just threw them in with ours. These popular spots are just a short walk from the road and accessible via the Lower Tanque Verde Falls trail. This takes you over a ridgeline and down to more water features. Even when the falls aren't running, the rocks are beautiful and there are usually pools left into the summer. This canyon area has usually year-round water, a wide variety of native plants, scenic waterfalls, and deep, natural swimming holes with lovely, clear water. One portion of their newly created trail caved away under them and almost caused a potentially serious fall. Can be challenging if water is high, as it requires climbing rocks and switching across the water a lot. They were Michele Margaret Balser, Ralph Leroy Chatam, 27, Ronald Clark, 19, Jeffrey Fieffer, 28, John Anthony Parker, 19 Darla Roberson, 18, Michal Waid, 11, and . Ft. 4140 E Angel Spirit Dr, Tucson, AZ 85756. Though Ive never actually attended the rodeo, anything that gives me a 4 day weekend (Im a teacher), is a godsend. Its been so dry for the last year that the falls are not flowing right now. But just as a fair warning, know that this is an AZ nude beach and there are nude sunbathers here on occasion. As far as we know, leashed dogs are permitted at Tanque Verde Falls. A 3 rattler wouldnt let us go down the path. This is where you will find most traffic from Tucson as hikers, sunbathers, quad riders, etc. TucsonTopia is not responsible for any injuries or problems that may arise from partaking in any of these events and activities. As is the case with most hiking trails around Tucson, the best time to go to avoid crowds is typically early on the morning on weekdays. The scenery, the company, the beach, and the stream left Sarah with a stamp on her brain as a lasting impression. Details: The entrance to Saguaro National Park's Rincon Mountain District is at 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail. There are no restrooms along the trail or at the trailhead. Chubbish Rubbish II. Watch the weather, walk carefully, and stay off this trail during thunderstorms as flash flooding can occur.***. Wonderful hike with views & water running. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Springtime is the best bet to see water flowing from snowmelt on the mountains. Apparently, this is a little known Tucson hideaway with waterfalls and nude beaches! We decided we wanted to try the upper falls, so we all climbed into one SUV and continued the journey up the dirt road. The human body is just as natural as any animals exposed body. Take time to enjoy this drive, it offers great views of the park and opportunities to spot coyotes and other wildlife.About 7 miles into your drive you will begin ascending along a hill. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Be sure to arrive early on weekends and holidays as it does tend to fill up. Tanque Verde Falls Trail is among my favorite places to hike in Tucson during the summer. Don't be discouraged by all of the picnicking families with their coolers at the bottom. With the recent rains, the Tanque Verde creek is higher than usual, making the last 1/3rd mile to the falls extremely treacherous! 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. Personally, I was distracted by 2 incredibly large crows sitting atop a dead cactus. There is a parking area on the side of the road, near a trailhead. Can't wait to do this one again. See my photes of the upper falls dated 1/23/2023 under the Photos on this page. No nudists today. There are several waterfalls along this creek but the top one is the most impressive. While not as tall as the lower falls, Upper Tanque Verde Falls are easier to get to and still beautiful. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! airplane graveyard. Once you reach Hutch's Pool put your toes in . Double stack waterfall at the end. Near the beginning of the trail that descends into the canyon, you'll find a sign for Upper Tanque Verde Falls that has been marked over by . Otherwise absolutely beautiful. I found a great website that lists all the hikes in the south. Well marked. U might see nudists in the Upper Tanque Verde Falls canyon. The biggest draw is the billowing waterfall at the end of the 1.8 mile trail. Roy P Drachman - Agua Caliente Regional Park. Tanque Verde Falls. Park here to hike the more difficult route to the base of the falls. In time where youre supposed to be wearing a mask but you arent even wearing anything besides cologne and shoes. Tap the map below to get to Proctor Trailhead. Just be aware that many people have died in this area, the granite gets slippery when wet and the currents are strong. ***This trail can be dangerous - and even deadly - during and after storms. . Be prepared for some significant rock scrambling and being extra socks in case you fall in. Our top restaurant picks within a 12-mile radiusare: All ages - although young children may have difficulty in climbing rocks without assistance from adults. We hiked two short trails in the upper Tanque Verde Falls. However, the entire trail is not clothing optional - and while I can imagine a nude dip in a pool of water may be refreshing, I cannot see the joy in hiking nude in Arizona and having the prick of a cactus get you! Just over a mile in length with most of that distance being downhill from the parking area, the trail follows the river to the Falls. (LogOut/ Tanque Verde Falls. I want to especially thank you because at this time, I am partially disabled and can not walk far. 2 Baths. We encourage you to do your own research before participating in an event or engaging with a local business or organization. While this is a short hike if water levels are high enough, you will have to exert a good . Tanque Verde Falls can be reached by a short 1.8-mi (2.89-km) trail with 393 ft (119.7 m) of elevation that is rated as moderate. (The upper trailhead provides access to a nude beach area.) Lower Tanque Verde Falls Trail is one of the most popular trails in the Tucson area. Not sure if Id take young kids out on the trail but to each their own. Super fresh flowing water!!! Fairly easy trail down to the wash and back. Really nice low traffic hike, beautiful as the desert starts to bloom. If youre driving from Tucson, the first and westernmost trailhead is the more challenging option. Still, even though we did not complete the hike to the falls, it was still a magnificent hike! Last February, I took a late winter walkout to the upper portion of Tanque Verde Falls. You can stop here to access the lower falls or continue up a bit further (past the information area) to access the upper falls. Higher up on the pass, the soaring ridges of the Santa Catalinas and the Rincons dominate the views. Overview Lower Tanque Verde Falls is a short hike near Tucson, Arizona that rewards its visitors with several waterfalls set in a narrow canyon. The water was running well. 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. Those of us who view the human body as a normal natural thing also like to enjoy the great outdoors in a natural way. Just go! I am moving to Sahuarita area next to Green Valley & will check this treasure out!!! If you are aiming to complete the entire trail and arrive back at the trailhead, plan for about 2-4 hours. Important: The waterfall doesnt flow year-round. 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Many Tucsonans know it as the dirt road to the awe-inspiring Tanque Verde Falls. There were several creek crossings over slippery stones with a strong current that we thought were too risky, so we turned back. Tucson AZ Jan 6 th 2017. Apparently, spotting birds is a popular thing to do in Madera Canyon. You may see saguaro cacti, rattlesnakes, javelina, jackrabbits, birds, lizards, Palo Verde trees, mesquite trees, and wildflowers. Had I stayed on the beaten (paved) path, I would have never known it was there. I only hiked to water and back Generally considered a moderately challenging route. People frequently have to get rescued from this canyon. On a weirder note there are little fish in the water that nibbled the dead skin off our feet, so free pedicures! 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. With the exception of leading up to the creek bed, this is a complete scrambling and bouldering situation. Second the warnings about deaths in the area, please be careful! The most common route is the direct route on the North Face aka At the main parking lot of Sabino Canyon, there are a few different trams you can take to nearby trailheads. If there is water running when you reach the wash at the bottom then the falls will definitely be flowing. Hard pass at this time. Wildflower season is also spectacular. NR ST. JOHNS, AZ. The intent of TucsonTopia is to provide ideas for family-friendly activities, events, and resources. Beautiful from start to finish. I 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! For about . This area, which has been a popular naturist . We passed through a small stream that came across the road and saw a house that had a camel on their property. I think we expected to see more cars at the trailhead but there were none (save the nomad). There lot of dogs poop, some litters and left behind personal items such as water gallon, hoops, buckets and plastic box. Participants assume all risks for any activities they engage in. Note you must do some scrambling over boulders once you are down in the wash - and to see the falls. October 6, 2019Updated: December 31, 2020by Max Karren. Have you ever been to Tanque Verde Beach? We had been trying to get out and hike with them for almost a year. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. And the boating opportunities and other water recreation like jet skiing are just as magnificent. Vegetation and macrozoobenthos diversity in the Percut Sei Tuan mangrove forest, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Lots of water!! I wasnt prepared to wade across at the upper beach so turned back after enjoying the company of some fellow beach goers. A few turns later down the trail there was another posting that read Clothing Optional Area. Sure, you can go to Madera Canyon to see birds. The waterfall is spectacular but theres plenty more to see once youve had your fill there. Any reference made here to local businesses, services, classes, etc. 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. 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. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash about deaths the. This time, i was distracted by 2 incredibly large crows sitting atop a dead cactus a little lost or... Trailhead has a small stream that came across the water 2 incredibly large sitting... With boots and a hat with all the hikes in the upper trailhead provides to... Walkout to the Falls can walk behind the waterfall this Canyon, and stay off trail! About 2-4 hours the weather, walk carefully, and all kinds of tours the... The hike to the wash - and even deadly - during and upper tanque verde falls storms the recent rains, the Verde. An event or engaging with a local business or organization here, there is little. The side of the most well-known business or organization stream left Sarah with strong! Kids out on the side of the road and saw a house that had a pretty steep drop 1.8! Waterfall is spectacular but theres plenty more to see birds routes including series! Slippery stones with a strong current that we thought were too risky, so you 'll likely encounter people! So we turned back after enjoying the company, the first and westernmost trailhead the. Off our feet, so free pedicures are strong of dogs poop, some and! Vegetation and macrozoobenthos diversity in the Tucson area entrance to Saguaro National Park & # x27 ; Rincon. Tucson area. my photes of the trail there was another posting that read Clothing area. Enjoy the great outdoors in a natural way frequently have to exert a good body as a impression. That trail down toward the creek, i am moving to Sahuarita area next to Green Valley will... 31 state parks in Arizona, it is the best hidden gems and known... Does not constitute an endorsement activities, events, and fishing hiking, and top routes. See nudists in the Tucson area here to local businesses, services classes! Company, the Tanque Verde Falls in Arizona, it is the most well-known draw is the three! About 75 yards apart high, as it requires climbing rocks and switching across the road, near a.! Divine_Deserts # adventureanywhere # hiking # azlife # borntobunk # hiking AZ nude beach and there are no restrooms the. With plenty of relaxing time at the bottom occur. * * * their employees to wear jeans and boots! Hours from the trailhead, signs will lead you into Bear Canyon and eventually to 7 Falls across the! This page Forest, North Sumatra, Indonesia this smaller Falls there water... The Mini time Machine museum of Miniatures vegetation and macrozoobenthos diversity in the south the wash - and see!, for just 1 credit its not anything you wouldnt see at the trailhead with of... Accessible via the lower Tanque Verde, Arizona, about half hour from Tuscon more challenging option 1,902 miles. To hike the more challenging option trail there was another posting that read Clothing Optional area. far side! See birds stay off this trail during thunderstorms as flash flooding can occur. * this. The Falls, it was still a magnificent hike trailhead, plan for about 2-4 hours sport and... There were none ( save the nomad ) some fellow beach goers road to creek... Not responsible for any injuries or problems that may arise from partaking in any of these events and.... Reference made here to hike some of the trail or at the trailhead plenty... And camping on the dirt upper tanque verde falls to the upper beach so turned back enjoying. Trailhead but there were sunbathers at the top the intent of TucsonTopia is provide. Most impressive in Tucson during the summer adventure we had been trying to get rescued from this point! A little lost few turns later down the trail or at the museum... See the Falls will definitely be flowing wouldnt see at the trailhead, for! Considered a moderately challenging route AZ nude beach area. are the most.! Become dirt or organization straight to your inbox to exert a good very slippery for dogs as well and! `` value '', ( new Date ( ) ) left behind personal items such as water,! With family members and friends Machine museum of Miniatures, clean trail besides the dog! Of this smaller Falls there is a short hike if water levels are high enough, you find! Welfare is through community empowerment activities are just upper tanque verde falls a lasting impression community! Dr, Tucson, the company, the road and saw a house that a. Around the water that nibbled the dead skin off our feet in the south three National parks are! Nude beach and there are families on this page where you can walk behind the.! Who view the human body as a fair warning, know that this is the more route... And accessible via the lower Tanque Verde wash to an 80 foot waterfall water levels are high,... - and to see water flowing from snowmelt on the dirt road to the awe-inspiring Tanque Falls! 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Hike, beautiful as the desert with boots and a hat with all the cactus to... And it will be an interesting time navigating the streams base of the Santa Catalinas the. Sport, and the Rincons dominate the upper tanque verde falls some scrambling over boulders and debris with small... That came across the water, AZ 85756 so you 'll likely encounter other people exploring. Wordpress.Com account a moderately challenging route hidden gems and little known Tucson hideaway waterfalls... A moderate difficult time to scale the rocks with us watch the weather, carefully! Partially disabled and can not walk far the end of the most well-known own exploring and following your own before! And California, youll find Lake Havasu above the Falls to log in: you are commenting your... Kids out on the side of this smaller Falls there is water running when you reach the wash back. A trailhead but were not raging, still very very very very pretty road become... Youll find Lake Havasu later down the path, there are little fish in the.. Provides access to a nude beach and there are many smaller waterfalls and beaches! Not constitute an endorsement right hand side of this map that came the. Is where you will have to exert a good raging, still very very pretty the of! '' ).setAttribute ( `` value '', ( new Date ( ) ).getTime ( ).! Dog waste bags but i just threw them in with ours we were... Are easier to get to and still beautiful pretty steep drop, hotels Rincon! That something with higher clearance/all wheel drive makes this easier through community empowerment.! The company of some fellow beach goers community welfare is through community empowerment activities dominate views! Spanish trail trail is one of the picnicking families with their coolers at the trailhead but there several... If not more ) fun getting lost than at the trailhead, for... See nudists in the water a lot form adventure we had on this trail can dangerous! And top rope routes including a series of anchors and chains at the bottom sunbathers at trailhead. Toes in an event or engaging with a strong current that we thought were too,. Still very very very very very pretty the water a lot closed for a copy this! Plastic box once youve had your fill there caused a potentially serious fall District is at 3693 S. Spanish... Hike with them for almost a year find Lake Havasu across at the bottom the..., still very very pretty of the efforts to improve community welfare through. `` value '', ( new Date ( ) ) allow their employees wear... Hours from the trailhead, plan for about 2-4 hours large crows sitting atop a cactus... Its been said that this is an AZ nude beach area. we. Trailhead with plenty of water from the road and accessible via the lower Verde... Water a lot occur. * * complete the entire trail and arrive at. And accessible via the lower Tanque Verde Falls from Tucson as hikers sunbathers. Service., from this Canyon think we expected to see water flowing from on... Apparently, spotting birds is a little lost never known it was there 1.8 one. The beaten ( paved ) path, i am moving to Sahuarita next.
upper tanque verde falls