Sabino Canyon Backpacking Loop - The Best Hike in Tucson?

If you have watched any of my overnight backpacking trips, you know I love hiking alone, deep in the wilderness. What I don't love is crowded hikes, especially the tourist attractions where you are guaranteed to stand in line - or forced to adjust your pace to those directly in front of you - or get to the top only to find 80 people all trying to take selfies without 79 people in the background. No thanks, that's just not the experience I'm looking for!

The best way to avoid crowds is to seek out more challenging hikes, difficult enough to deter day hikers from venturing too far. After researching the incredibly popular Sabino Canyon area, just outside of Tucson, I was reluctant. 7 Falls is a popular day hike and Sabino Canyon has paved roads and shuttles to transport would be hikers closer to the trail. I knew that beyond 7 Falls, as you continue to climb up the canyon, day hikers would disappear and only backpackers in search of Hutch's pool (or the AZT) would remain. I decided to give it a shot.

This turned out to be one of my all time favorite overnight backpacking destinations hands down. I absolutely loved it!

Join me as I travel up Bear Canyon to 7 Falls, over to Thimble Peak, up to the Arizona Trail to Hutch's Pool and back down Sabino Canyon and the Telephone Line Trail. I meet Chris, a photographer who shows us all what a "Polaris" picture over Hutch's Pool looks like, and Eric, a subscriber and Tucson local I ran into on trail who is gunning for a SOBO AZT attempt. Incredible overnight trip, will definitely do this one again someday!



Amazing guitar covers by Kfir Ochaion
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