The destination is the reward. Very rocky and over 1,000 foot elevation gain makes it challenging. Worth the rocky climb to see the pools and spend some time there. I’m my opinion, should be a “difficult” not “moderate.” Must do early in the morning. Gets hot quickly.
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It was tough I’m almost 80 with bad knees lots of rocks and up and downs but man oh man what a beautiful hike the pools at the end were worth it best of all I did it
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Ventana Canyon to Maiden Pools is a fine hike with many stream crossings, currently. I was able to jump across and rock hop all of them without getting my feet soaked. The flow, when much higher (which occasionally happens) can include many wading crossings. Usually it is a dry creek in this beautiful canyon. Maiden Pools, just a quarter mile beyond the top of "Cardiac Hill" with all its switchbacks, is a great place to sit by the pools of water in sheer rock (banded Catalina gneiss), or to take a dip in bigger-than-bathtub pools.
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Hiked this trail in early November and the weather was perfect! Great views along the trail, but watch your step because it is very rocky in places. I expected this was an easy hike to convince my wife we should hike more...not so much. She did it, but we were both tired at the end (round trip of course: 5.7 miles). I'm new with Gaia so I didn't know to record it. Bummer!
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This is a fun hike above Sabino Canyon. I never found it difficult, but have not hiked it in fifteen years or so. Maybe I would have a tougher experience now. The views are great. You will go through a lot of water, and temperature can range from hot and sunny during the day to cool or cold in the late afternoon, depending on the time of year. Do make sure you are in reasonable condition and have good balance or walking sticks. It’s not overly demanding, but it’s not a good place for an injury. Bring windbreakers, sunscreen, and hats. And water! Enjoy.
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Excellent vistas both up multiple canyons and down to the city. Great number of saguaros, however up past cardiac gap the extensive fire damage from 2020 is the worst I have seen - sad, but much green still remains if you make it to Geronimo meadow and up. Totally worth the trek, shaded in the early morning, some steep crag sections, and passes through washes that likely flow during monsoons - fun trail to navigate both up and down.
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Hiked with Sheri on a very nice Mid December day. The trail is steep but the turn to Dinger Rock is cairned very well. Some fun scrambling.
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Awesome hike but u need to start earlier then we did. Spectacular view and a nice Pool of water at end. Recommend this to all.
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16 dry creek crossings
beautiful flowers!
Light traffic.
Parked overfill outter lot
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