Best Of Tucson®

Best Backpacking Trail

Sabino Canyon

"Sabino" is Spanish for cypress, and there are some Arizona cypress growing high up in Sabino Canyon. Trouble is, it's tough getting up there now to see them. Geology happens, and in Sabino Canyon, geology happened in a big way last year when massive fire- and storm-caused debris flows made direct access to the Sabino Canyon Trail a problem. Flash flooding remains a danger. Access to the trail now requires going up through Esperero Canyon or Bear Canyon. The Coronado National Forest continues to struggle with the future of Sabino Canyon as it mediates the battle between those who pine for the good old days and those who want to give the place a well-deserved rest and let nature take her course. Stay tuned ...

Runners up:

2. Mount Lemmon/Wilderness of Rocks, arizona.sierraclub.org/trail_guide/HIKE1.HTM

3. Arizona Trail, www.aztrail.org