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Coronado Hiking Trails |
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Ventana Trail #98
Ventana Canyon is one of the most beautiful canyons in the
Santa Catalina Front Range, and one of the least visited. The main
reason for that, most likely, is because getting to the trailhead requires
deciphering a set of access instructions that would challenge Sherlock
Holmes (see below)! Another reason may be the fact that this Front
Range trail includes several sections of steep and rocky switchbacks.
Ventana means window in Spanish. The window in this case
is a 15 by 25 foot opening in solid rock that tops one
of the peaks in the Santa Catalina Front Range. The
route up Ventana Canyon leads to “The
Window,” presenting memorable views of sheer canyon walls and
a steadily broadening panorama along the way. The stream that the trail
follows for much of this route is dry most of the year,
but you can usually
find water in some of its pools during the spring and early
summer. The riparian habitat it nourishes provides good birdwatching.
The trail becomes steadily more difficult to follow as
it climbs farther from the trailhead and higher up
the canyon. As you climb,
occasional pools and widening vistas provide reasons
to stop, take a breather and look around. The Window
comes into view well before you
get to it, as does the 100-foot drop at its base.
Attractions:
Desert canyon
Waterfalls (in season)
Access to The Window
Magnificent views
Season: Fall, winter, spring
Length: 6.7 miles
Elevation: 2,950'-7,000'
Rating: More difficult
Use: Moderate
USGS Map(s): Tucson North, Sabino Canyon
Access: From Tanque Verde Road in Tucson turn north
on Sabino Canyon Road and follow
it 4 miles to the junction with Sunrise
Road before the Sabino Canyon
Recreation Area. Turn left (west) here and drive about
a mile to Kolb Road. Turn north, to Loew’s Ventana Canyon
Resort on Kolb Road and park in the employee parking
lot west of the main building.
Walk back to Kolb Road
then continue west
to the Canyon View at Ventana apartment complex. Turn
right here, take the first left, then right again,
then left past the tennis courts. Straight ahead
and
on the right, immediately past Apt. 9150, you will find
the trailhead by a fence.
Notes:
A map of the access route to the trailhead is available
at the concierge desk at the resort.
4.7 miles of this trail are in the Pusch
Ridge Wilderness.
Motorized and mechanical vehicles and
equipment, including mountain bikes,
are not permitted in Wilderness. See the Wilderness section
of this guide
for more
wilderness rules and ethics.
Water is generally available in pools along Ventana
Creek in spring and early summer. Purification
of water is
recommended
prior to use.
Dogs are not allowed on the trail.
Before using this trail, call the Santa Catalina
Ranger District for current trail conditions
which can vary
with season, weather
and maintenance
status.
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