Hike of the Month

hike of the month The Pontatoc Ridge Trail in the Catalinas Proves Short but Sweet

When I arrived at the end of the short but relatively steep Pontatoc Ridge Trail, my first thought was that I should have stopped a half mile sooner. It's nice to have a payoff when you climb a rocky trail in the desert, and the payoff on this trail is at the saddle just below the end of it. There I found a nice view of Tucson and its surrounding mountains to the south and east and an excellent view of a saguaro forest and Finger Rock in the Santa Catalina Mountains to the north. The Pontatoc Ridge Trail is as close to Tucson as you can get without falling into a real estate office. It begins at the north end of Alvernon Way, at the base of the Catalinas and next door to a subdivision called Tucson Country Club Estates. Teenagers like to socialize at the beginning of the trail. As a result, I saw many little paths off the main trail going this way and that. I kept bearing left to stay on the main trail. In the first mile, it dips into three different drainages. The last one is narrow and the best defined, and if there has been any rain, there'll be some pools and wildflowers. The climb out of the last wash is a series of steep switchbacks that lead to a sign saying Pontatoc Ridge Trail No.

411 continues to the right. If you go left, you'll be headed down into Pontatoc Canyon. The trail levels off for a short distance after the sign and leads to a promontory where I caught the first of many fine views of the Tucson basin. As I climbed off the first flat ridge, I discovered it was easy to lose the trail for brief periods. I watched for cairns marking the trail and kept heading north and east. The Pontatoc Ridge Trail extends 2.6 miles one way from beginning to end. If you go the full distance, you will find the trail ends at an abandoned mine tunnel. The tunnel goes back into the rock about 200 feet, but rangers of the Coronado National Forest, in which the trail and mine are located, advise against going into it because it's dangerous. The next time I take this hike, I'll stop at the saddle and have lunch and then head back down. It's about a halfor quarter-mile climb to the mine tunnel, and the going is steep. I stayed at the top for about two minutes, turned around, and went back down to the saddle, enjoying the light drizzle of a late January morning.

WHEN YOU GO

January through April, the Pontatoc Ridge Trail near Tucson is restricted to protect the resident desert bighorn sheep; hikers must stay within 400 feet of the designated trail, and large groups are not allowed. At all times, hikers must park at the trailhead at the gated parking lot, which requires a permit ($10) from Pima County Parks and Recreation, (520) 740-2690, for overnight stays. Dogs are not permitted, except seeing-eye dogs. Camping is free; there are no facilities. To reach the trailhead, drive east on Skyline Drive to Alvernon, turn north, and go to the paved parking lot at the end of the road. The trailhead begins behind three short telephone posts across the road from the parking lot. For more information about the Pontatoc Ridge Trail and other treks in the area, contact the Coronado National Forest's Santa Catalina Ranger District, 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road, Tucson, AZ 85750; (520) 749-8700.