Bobcat Ridge, Little Cat Mountain, Cat Mountain in Tucson Mountain Park, AZ

Hike Bobcat Ridge, Little Cat Mountain, Cat Mountain Tucson Mountain Park, AZ

Class 3 5.7 miles 2400 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Nov 7, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Bobcat Ridge, Little Cat Mountain, Cat Mountain GPX Track

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With a morning to kill, I set out for a triplet of peaks with a kitty naming convention in Tucson Mountain Park: Bobcat Ridge, Little Cat Mountain, and Cat Mountain. They're all nice little summits just outside the suburbs of Tucson AZ, Cat Mountain being the tallest and offering some nice scrambling, while the first two peaks were nearly trails the whole way. Starting from the Sarasota Trailhead, I headed along the Sarasota Trail, then headed along the marked Explorer Trail, which separates Bobcat Ridge from Little Cat Mountain.

Shortly before reaching the saddle on the northern side of Little Cat Mountain, I left the official trail and took a rocky social trail north to head up to Bobcat Ridge. The trail was in good shape the whole way up, following the ridgeline mostly th whole way and reaching the summit without fuss. I could see Golden Gate Mountain to the west, and Cat Mountain looked nice to the south from here. I backtracked to the Explorer Trail and continued to the saddle above. A social trail led me up the northern slope of Little Cat Mountain, ascending steeply, but brush-free. This social trail faded once reaching flatter ground, so I stuck mostly to the rim and made my way to the Class 2 summit block of the peak. I headed back and picked up the Explorer Trail, taking it to the base of Cat Mountain.

There didn't seem to be a standard route up Cat Mountain, so I took the option that looked most appealing from the road, the northwest ridge. Others seem to prefer the east ridge, and maybe an easier route exists from the north, but I recommend this route option, which has nice views and a short bout of sweet scrambling. I headed up the northwest slope of Cat Mountain, where I located a small gully leading to a notch (Class 2). Once past the notch, there are a couple of options. On my ascent, I continued higher to the ridge crest onto some short, fun Class 4 moves with an airy feel, but this can be avoided by keeping just left of the rock outcrops. I only included the non-Class 4 section in my stats and map, barely Class 2.

Past here, I gained the ridgeline, which only has some light scrambling before reaching the crux, which appears to be an unclimbable face from along the ridge. I reached it and ascended from the north, where an interesting Class 3 slab with a teeny amount of exposure led to some fun moves up a slickrock chute. The chute ended at a final Class 2+ move to gain the summit ridge, where an easy grassy slope led to the summit. I backtracked and took the Sarasota Trail back to the trailhead, forming a loop around Little Cat Mountain.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Bobcat Ridge
3380 ft
460 rise
2
Little Cat Mountain
3310 ft
390 rise
3
Cat Mountain
3852 ft
1052 rise

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Sarasota Trailhead. Little Cat Mountain is seen on the top right.
Sarasota Trailhead. Little Cat Mountain is seen on the top right.
Along the Sarasota Trail, Golden Gate Mountain seen on the left.
Along the Sarasota Trail, Golden Gate Mountain seen on the left.
Junction with the Explorer Trail. Bobcat Ridge seen center.
Junction with the Explorer Trail. Bobcat Ridge seen center.
I left the Explorer Trail to ascend to Bobcat Ridge using this rocky social trail.
I left the Explorer Trail to ascend to Bobcat Ridge using this rocky social trail.
The trail leads nicely to the summit of Bobcat Ridge.
The trail leads nicely to the summit of Bobcat Ridge.
View back as I head along the ridge toward Little Cat (right) and Cat Mountain (left).
View back as I head along the ridge toward Little Cat (right) and Cat Mountain (left).
Bobcat Ridge ahead.
Bobcat Ridge ahead.
Approaching the summit.
Approaching the summit.
Bobcat Ridge summit, view toward the Santa Catalina Montains.
Bobcat Ridge summit, view toward the Santa Catalina Montains.
Bobcat Ridge summit, a view toward my next two peaks.
Bobcat Ridge summit, a view toward my next two peaks.
Close-up toward Little Cat Mountain.
Close-up toward Little Cat Mountain.
From the saddle on Little Cat Mountain's north side, I found this social trail that led to the rim above.
From the saddle on Little Cat Mountain's north side, I found this social trail that led to the rim above.
Steep, but not brushy.
Steep, but not brushy.
The social trail fades on the flatter summit area and I headed to the high point on mostly open terrain.
The social trail fades on the flatter summit area and I headed to the high point on mostly open terrain.
Little Cat Mountain summit, view toward Bobcat ridge (left) and Mount Lemmon (top right).
Little Cat Mountain summit, view toward Bobcat ridge (left) and Mount Lemmon (top right).
Little Cat Mountain summit just ahead.
Little Cat Mountain summit just ahead.
Back on the Explorer Trail, now heading to Cat Mountain's northwestern base.
Back on the Explorer Trail, now heading to Cat Mountain's northwestern base.
Cat Mountain ahead.
Cat Mountain ahead.
About to leave the trail and head up the slope ahead. You might notice the lighting changed quite a bit for the next few photos - the following are from another day when hiking Cat Mountain. I didn't want to retake all the photos.
About to leave the trail and head up the slope ahead. You might notice the lighting changed quite a bit for the next few photos - the following are from another day when hiking Cat Mountain. I didn't want to retake all the photos.
Working up the slope and heading to the notch in the center.
Working up the slope and heading to the notch in the center.
Above the notch (visible center bottom), looking back the way I came. You can see the trail below.
Above the notch (visible center bottom), looking back the way I came. You can see the trail below.
Class 2 side-hilling to avoid the Class 4 ridgeline above, if you want.
Class 2 side-hilling to avoid the Class 4 ridgeline above, if you want.
Class 4 optional ridgeline.
Class 4 optional ridgeline.
Looking back along some of the Class 4 ridgeline obstacles. It's short-lived, but has some fun kick.
Looking back along some of the Class 4 ridgeline obstacles. It's short-lived, but has some fun kick.
Along the Class 4 short section of the Cat Mountain ridgeline.
Along the Class 4 short section of the Cat Mountain ridgeline.
After the Class 4, where the easier route meets up. This is a view looking back the way I came.
After the Class 4, where the easier route meets up. This is a view looking back the way I came.
Cat Mountain is ahead, just past the steep cliffy rock. That rock outcropping looked quite serious as I approached, but there was a Class 3 route up.
Cat Mountain is ahead, just past the steep cliffy rock. That rock outcropping looked quite serious as I approached, but there was a Class 3 route up.
Looking back again.
Looking back again.
Approaching the steep rocky cliff where I'd find the crux - a slab leading up a weakness. You can see it in the center of this photo.
Approaching the steep rocky cliff where I'd find the crux - a slab leading up a weakness. You can see it in the center of this photo.
The slab, with a minor amount of exposure.
The slab, with a minor amount of exposure.
Looking back along the northwest ridge as I ascend the slickrock slab that shifted into being a gully.
Looking back along the northwest ridge as I ascend the slickrock slab that shifted into being a gully.
Slickrock gully.
Slickrock gully.
Looking back down the slickrock gully just before the end.
Looking back down the slickrock gully just before the end.
Just above the slickrock gully, there was a short Class 2+/3 section. This shot was taken from the top of that move.
Just above the slickrock gully, there was a short Class 2+/3 section. This shot was taken from the top of that move.
Cat Mountain ahead.
Cat Mountain ahead.
Cat Mountain summit, view northwest. You can see Golden Gate Mountain and Bren Benchmark in the far back center.
Cat Mountain summit, view northwest. You can see Golden Gate Mountain and Bren Benchmark in the far back center.
On the way back along the Sarasota Trail, a view back toward the northwest ridge of Cat Mountain.
On the way back along the Sarasota Trail, a view back toward the northwest ridge of Cat Mountain.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!