PANTHER
PEAK WASH
Saguaro
National Park, Tucson Mountain District.
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| Panther Peak (center distance) looms over Panther Peak Wash |
Situated in
an airy wilderness in the northwest sector of Saguaro National Park, Panther
Peak Wash trail delves into an unusual niche of the park’s varied eco-zones.
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| Panther Peak (L) and Safford Peak (R) from Cam-Boh trail |
The trail
sits at the base of a ragged ridgeline dominated by Safford Peak (3,563 feet)
and Panther Peak (3,435 feet) and follows the sandy course of a desert drainage
that funnels runoff from the surrounding Tucson Mountains.
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| Saguaros grow above the sandy course of Panther Peak Wash |
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| A bobcat footprint in Panther Peak Wash |
A popular
way to approach this hike is to make a loop by tying in the Cam-Boh and
Roadrunner trails.
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| Santa Catalina Mtns seen from Panther Peak Wash trail |
From the parking lot at the Cam-Boh picnic area, start at
the west end of the lot where a map kiosk shows an overview of the route and
key topographic features.
The first
leg of the hike follows the Cam-Boh trail 1.3 miles through open desert with clear
views of the peaks and the Santa Catalina Mountains to the east. Massive chain
fruit cholla, ocotillo and (of course) saguaros grow profusely on the sunny
desert plains. The route hops over Prophecy Wash and crosses Picture Rocks Road
before connecting with the Panther Peak Wash trail. After a short traipse
through more flat desert on a slender single track, the route enters the wash
proper. Here, the trail becomes a broad, sandy corridor that weaves among loose
rock bluffs, jagged bends, shallow caves and narrow mesquite-shaded passages.
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| Junction for the Roadrunner trail is easy to miss |
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| Water-scoured banks of Panther Peak Wash |
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| Distant Picacho Peak seen from Roadrunner trail |
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| Flood waters expose tree roots in Panther Peak Wash |
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| Mesquite trees shade a bend in Panther Peak Wash |
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| Environment-shaping power of water is evident on the route |
Scoured
escarpments, jostled boulders, and piles of twisted plants torn from the roots
and smashed into heaps at the base of resilient ironwoods are evidence of the environment-shaping
power of running water. This is not a hike to do during or shortly following
rain storms as you could be injured or swept away.
Throughout
the wash leg of the route, the soaring russet form of Panther Peak stands out
to the north while a wall of smaller but equally striking pinnacles hover over
the trail.
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| Striking geological features are plentiful along the loop hike |
Between ogling the mountains
and curious rock deposits, keep an eye out for the easy-to-miss turnoff for the
Roadrunner trail on the left. A small metal sign set roughly 10 feet beyond the
bank of the wash marks the start of the 1.4-mile return leg. Standout elements
of the final mile that parallels a quiet community of ranch homes are glimpses
of Picacho Peak to the northwest and views of a dense saguaro forest blanketing
a craggy ridgeline.
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| Cholla cacti line the Cam-Boh trail |
LENGTH:
4.5 mile loop
RATING:
easy
ELEVATION:
2,278 – 2,530 feet
FEE: $15 -
$25 for a 7-day pass. Interagency annual passes also accepted.
There’s a
scannable QR code at the trailhead kiosk to pay by mobile devise.
Fee free
days for 2020: MLK Day Jan 20, April 18, August 25, Sept. 26, Nov. 11
GETTING
THERE:
From
Interstate 10 in Tucson, take the Ina Road exit 248 and go 2.7 miles west to
Wade Road.
Continue
0.6 mile on Wade Road, turn right onto Picture Rocks Road and go 3.5 miles to
the Cam-Boh picnic area on the left.
There’s a restroom at the trailhead.
INFO:
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