Miner's Pool

Hiking down Sabino Canyon. September 2006.

Overview

The pools of water hidden in the rocky canyons of the Santa Catalina Mountains can be a true delight – Miner’s Pool is no exception!

Hike Stats

Loop
6 miles
600' Elevation Gain
600' Elevation Loss
Highest Elevation: 3,800'
Lowest Elevation: 3,200'

Location

This hike is located in the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona. Part of this hike is in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness.
Start/End: Sabino Canyon Visitor Center (City's Edge Hikes)

Details

Fee: Yes ([LemmonFeeCostAndLink/])
Dogs: No ([sabino-canyon-recreation-area-restrictions])
Bikes: No (Pusch Ridge Wilderness)
[OffTrailWarning/]
Plan on getting wet! Also plan on you gear getting wet and being submerged!!
[pusch-ridge-wilderness-restrictions/]
[sabino-canyon-recreation-area-restrictions/]

Drive

11.3 miles from Speedway and Campbell
25 Minutes from Speedway and Campbell
Vehicle Access: Paved Roads/Passenger Car

Miner's Pool Elevation Profile

Driving Directions

Suggested driving directions from the Speedway and Campbell intersection in Tucson to the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center:

East on Speedway (3.0 miles)
Left onto Swan (5.0 miles)
Right onto Sunrise (4.1 miles)
Left onto Sabino Canyon Road - the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center is just after the turn on the right. This is a busy area and on popular days the parking area can be completely full (if the parking lot is full it can be tempting to park on the wide shoulder of Sabino Canyon Road north of the parking lot - but that area is signed as 'No Parking' and the Pima Country Sheriff's Department does occasionally ticket cars parked along Sabino Canyon Road).

Trail Notes

The Miner’s Pool is located in Sabino Canyon between the end of the Upper Sabino Canyon Road and Sabino Canyon where it turns west towards Hutch’s Pool. I think the best way to experience this area is to do a loop: End of the Upper Sabino Canyon Road/Tram Stop 9, Sabino Canyon Trail to the junction with the East Fork Trail and West Fork Trail, down Sabino Canyon and back to the End of the Upper Sabino Canyon Road/Tram Stop 9 (described briefly below and the route shown in the map below).

Plan on getting wet – plan on all of your gear being submerged! You may well be able to stay dry – especially with low water levels and good climbing skills, but counting on staying dry would be a mistake!

[CueListWarning]

Park at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center
Take the Tram – or hike – to Tram Stop 9 at the end of Upper Sabino Canyon Road
Hike up and take the Sabino Canyon Trail to the junction with the East Fork Trail and West Fork Trail
Start following the canyon!!!! From here be very careful – there are few obstacles to work around in the first 15 minutes or so, if the slippery wet granite and off-trail scrambling makes you uncomfortable turn around and pick a different destination!
Continue to follow Sabino Canyon downstream and enjoy the water
Miner’s Pool is located at a very narrow spot in the canyon between two very impressive rock walls – while in the area be sure to check out the old bolts, this is a great spot for a break
Much of the hiking below Miner’s Pool is a bit more strenuous with more effort required to find a reasonable route down the canyon.
Keep your eyes open for a trail back up to Tram Stop 9!

This loop might take longer than you think – if you are doing the ‘deluxe’ version (paying for a tram ride rather than hiking to/from the end of the road) I suggest trying to make the first tram of the day – you could do this hike in less than a full day, but combine the slow off-trail travel, initial hiking miles, and GREAT GREAT GREAT places to stop/rest/enjoy/explore and I don’t really think you will want to…

Other options – while you could (obviously) head up and back via Sabino Canyon to Miner’s Pool (I would rather loop…) – or do the route described in the reverse direction – it is worth noting that there is an unofficial route off the Sabino Canyon Trail that can take you down into Sabino Canyon very close to Miner’s Pool (but you will miss some amazing sections of canyon above Miner’s Pool!).

Maps

[MapGreenTrailsCatalina]
[MapSahcCatalina]

Download GPX

Pictures

2011 Sept Sabino Canyon Loop

1109 Starting the Hike, looking back down canyon
Not too far from Tram Stop 9 - nice view of the Phone Line Trail

1109 On the trail looking at the cliffs around the Dam area
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1109 Hiking to the trail junction
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1109 Seeds
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1109 Last look at the trail
Trail sign - so many good places to go!

1109 Starting down canyon
Just after the trail sign.

1109 Canyon Treefrog
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1109 Getting In
It was a warm day so we did not resist getting in for too long...

1109 First Swim
While I suppose you could avoid this swim why would you want to?

1109 Water and Plant
Lovely color.

1109 Hiking in the Canyon
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1109 Approaching the big walls
Rocky outcropping above the narrowest

1109 Mid Hike
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1109 Long-legged Water Spider
Hunting near the water - we say quite a few of these.

1109 Under the Cliffs
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1109 Bolts in the Cliffs
I assume these are from the proposed Dam - these are a strange landmark in the canyon.

1109 Bolt
I assume that these bolts are from the proposed dam - while the ones in the canyon wall are the most curious and spectacular we also saw this one in a boulder on the canyon floor.

1109 Between the Cliffs
Entering the narrow section of canyon. The Swifts flying thru this area were absolutely amazing to watch! Just above Miner's Pool.

1109 Swimming in Miner's Pool
This great swimming hole is in the section of canyon where I believe there was a proposed dam in the early 1900s and is commonly called Miner's Pool - this is the narrowest section of the canyon with awesome walls coming in on either side. A handline is usually present on the right side at the end of the pool (if going upcanyon) but it is often in questionable condition. Looks like less water than in 2006 - www.flickr.com/photos/cmiles/505048265/ - but it also looks like the pool may be longer and wider now (these pictures are not exactly the same but look at the left side of the pictures).

1109 Moving Down Canyon
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1109 Boulders and Water
Not quite as much water as when we were here in 2006 www.flickr.com/photos/cmiles/505006458/

1109 Gila Monster
Near the end of our hike we had a real treat - Gila Monster! I have only seen Gila Monsters in the wild a couple of times - nice that this one cooperated for some pictures!