Hugh Norris Trail - Saguaro National Park West

GENERAL INFO:

Park Type: National Park

Special Features/Comments: This is the longest trail the Tucson Mountain District. The trail is 4.9 miles (one way) and has an elevation gain of 2107 feet. It is considered moderate to strenuous in difficulty

GETTING THERE:

kParking Instructions: Trailhead parking only holds about 4 or 5 vehicles, but there is additional parking across the road for a few more

ACTIVITIES/RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES:

Trails, Birdwatching

TRAILS:

Trail Description: The Hugh Norris Trail is the longest trail in the Park, and one of its most beautiful trails as well. As it generally follows the ridgeline of the Tucson Mountains, it provides stunning views of the desert below and of distant vistas. The trail is named after Hugh Norris, a widely respected Tohono O'odham Nation police chief.

The trail begins on a relatively level, slightly ascending route that quickly becomes fairly steep switchbacks up to the ridge. Splendid views of rock formations to your left, as well as a variety of desert vegetation (particularly attractive in the spring) help take your mind off the climb. Once at the top of the ridge, however, the going is mostly easy, with some up and down, but nothing very strenuous.

There are several areas along the trail where hikers have made asides to particularly scenic overlooks. One of the first of these, at the top of the switchbacks, permits views of the Park's Red Hills Visitor Center below.

Although the going along the ridge is relatively easy, it does tend to go inexorably upward, and weaves between one side of the ridge and the other, offering a changing array of panoramas. At 2.7 miles from the trailhead you come to the junction with the Sendero Esperanza Trail, which crosses the Hugh Norris; to the left it goes down to the Sendero Esperanza Trailhead off Golden Gate Road, and to the right descends to its end where it meets the King Canyon Trail.

The Hugh Norris Trail continues another 1.9 miles until it meets the King Canyon Trail. The last part of this stretch is made up of steep, strenuous switch backs. Even at the top of these you are not finished- but this is an easy jaunt after all that climbing.

As you have been hiking, you may have noticed a slight change in plant communities: some representatives of desert grasslands have begun to appear, such as Desert Spoon or Sotol and Banana Yucca. You will also begin to notice a lot of small, low-growing rosettes of sharp-pointed leaves, perhaps some having a long stalk protruding from them. In spring to fall this stalk may contain waxy, light yellow flowers in clusters at the top. This is the "Shindagger" Agave. Its Spanish name is Amole, and the peak adjacent to Wasson Peak is known as Amole Peak.

Wasson Peak is named for John Wasson, an editor of the Tucson Citizen newspaper and appointee to the surveyor general office of the Arizona Territory in 1870. It is the highest point in the Tucson Mountains at 4,687 feet. From its sumit you have a commanding view of the Tucson Mountain range, the Tortolitas, Catalinas, and Rincon Mountains to the north and east, Picacho Peak to the northwest, the Avra and Altar Valleys to the west and the many ranges that border their western edges, the Santa Rita Mountains and Mexico to the south.

Trail Surface: Unpaved

Trail Difficulty: Difficult

Trail Layout: Linear

Trail Length: 5 to 10 miles

Trail Shade: Little or none

Trail Surface Type: Natural rock

Trail Slope: Steep

Trail Width: 2-4 ft