Pima Canyon - Pima Canyon Trail

Pima Canyon Trail

From Oro Valley, the Pima Canyon trailhead can be reached by driving east from Oracle Road (Arizona Highway 77) on Magee Road until it dead ends. From Ina Road, take Christie Drive north until it intersects with Magee and turn right. The Pima Canyon Trail is numbered # 62. The trailhead carries the name Iris O. Dewihirst.

The lower section of the trail, which runs from the trailhead to the lower dam, is 3.2 miles (5.1 km) long. The lowest elevation at the trailhead is 2,900 feet (884 m) while the highest elevation at the dam is 3,750 feet (1,143 m) according to the Sierra Club. Another calculation of the dam's elevation is 3,960 feet (1,207 m) at 32°22′07.3″N 110°54′39.5″W / 32.368694°N 110.910972°W / 32.368694; -110.910972. The trail has a difficulty rating of C and is called a "popular and easy hike". The Sierra Club website estimates that the 6.4 miles (10.3 km) round trip to the lower dam and back can take two and a half hours. Another source states that the round trip is three hours or more. The US Forest Service does not permit dogs or motorized vehicles on the trail.

From the parking lot, the trail heads east toward the mouth of the canyon. Signs indicate that private property surrounds the trail at this point and request that hikers stay on the well-marked trail. After a few minutes, a hiker will come upon a metal sign pointing to the left and indicating that Mount Kimball is 7 miles away. Follow the sign to the left. The hiker soon enters the canyon and steep rock faces rise on both sides on the canyon. After about 45 minutes from the start, hikers will arrive at a place where there are some cottonwood trees. Another 30 to 40 minutes will bring hikers to the small dam. Nearby, there are potholes in the rock that native Americans used for grinding.

The distance from the dam to Pima Spring is about 2 miles (3.2 km). The trail gets steeper and more difficult in this stretch. The round trip hike to Pima Spring is considered a "nice day hike" as an alternative to the full seven miles to Mount Kimball. From Pima Spring to Mount Kimball, the trail is very steep and hard to follow. There is a metal sign that points to Pima Saddle, which is on the crest of Pusch Ridge. The hike to the Pima Saddle and back is said to take eight or more hours.

From Pima Saddle, the trail is faint and hikers must keep an eye out for cairns. The view from Mount Kimball is said to be spectacular. The roundtrip distance from trailhead to Mount Kimball is said to be 14.2 miles (22.9 km) and the elevation gain is about 4,500 feet (1,372 m). The US Forest Service website notes that the trail is 8.6 miles (13.8 km) one-way in length. Near Mount Kimball, trail # 62 intersects with the Finger Rock Trail # 42.

Significant peaks can be seen along the trail, including Rosewood Point at 4,300 feet (1,311 m), Prominent Point at 6,700 feet (2,042 m), and Mount Kimball at 7,255 feet (2,211 m) on the southeast (right) side of the canyon. On the northwest (left) side of the canyon lie Pusch Peak at 5,362 feet (1,634 m), Bighorn Mountain at 5,600 feet (1,707 m), Table Mountain 6,200 feet (1,890 m), and the Wolf's Teeth.