Cathedral Rock via Esperero and Sabino Canyon Loop

Coronado National Forest, AZ Southeastern Arizona + Tucson

Trip stats

Distance
21.6 mi
Net Gain
6,700 ft
Time
9-12 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 3
Route
Loop
Peaks
1

Ratings out of 10

Effort
8.3/10
Personality
8/10
Beauty
10/10
Solitude
4.9/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

  1. Cathedral Rock
    7,957′ elevation · 1,917′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

32.309960, -110.823280

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Mar 14, 2018 — What an awesome loop through the wilderness of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Two gorgeous canyons, a fun Class 3 Cathedral Rock summit, a spot to take a dip, and never-ending and varied forest and desert views. Starting from the Sabino Canyon Trailhead, head up the paved road and turn left onto the Esperero Trail, which leads yp a fairly moderate trail to Bridal Veil Falls, an unimpressive waterfall that marks the start of the steepness. From here, the Esperero Trail leads up a ridge with incredible views down Esperero Canyon before reaching the junction with the Cathedral Rock Trail. Follow the Cathedral Rock Trail with more amazing views and with Chiricahua National Monument looking rock formations along the way. you eventually get to a saddle where you can see Cathedral Rock in the distance to the left. It still looks pretty far from here, but don't be discouraged. It's closer than it looks. Head off the official trail and follow any number of cairned routes, or don't, it's pretty obvious where to go.If you find yourself going downhill, you're headed the wrong way. Keep east, but hug the rock pinnacles as you go and you should find a Class 2 route to just below the biggest pinnacle, the true summit. The route takes you to the west side of this pinnacle where someone kindly left a rope. I scrambled this without the rope, and it was totally doable (maybe Class 4), but with the rope, it's much probably Class 3. After the rope, a short Class 3 move takes you up to the summit block. After taking in the ridiculous views of Mt. Lemmon, Window Peak (you can even see The Window below!), and Mt. Kimball, head back down from Cathedral Rock and to the saddle where you left the trail. Follow the slightly overgrown trail steeply down switchbacks and join the Arizona Trail (West Fork of Sabino Canyon), which progressively gets more and more interesting. Along the way, you pass Hutch's Pool, a great spot to swim after a long day. Don't miss the junction that takes you down Sabino Canyon proper, which leads to the Phoneline Trail, and back to the trailhead. You could potentially knock about 4 miles and 800 feet off this hike if you cheat take the Sabino Canyon shuttle for $10, but the Phoneline Trail is actually really pretty and worth the extra miles if you've got it in you.

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Photos

64 photos

  1. Starting up the Esperero Trail.
  5. Cathedral Rock appears in the distance (center) along the Esperero Trail.
  6. Looking back down Esperero Canyon.
  7. Looking toward Cathedral Rock (center), up Esperero Canyon.
  9. Cathedral Rock looming ahead.
  10. Bridal Veil Falls along the Esperero Trail.
  11. Close up of Bridal Veil Falls along the Esperero Trail.
  12. After Bridal Veil Falls, the Esperero Trail gets steeper.
  13. Cathedral Rock ahead. The trail takes you below it and to the right before starting the ascent.
  14. Looking back down Esperero Canyon.
  15. Esperero Trail junction with the Cathedral Rock Trail. Go right.
  20. Amazing views down Esperero Canyon along the Cathedral Rock Trail.
  22. Some rocks reminiscent of Chiricahua National Monument.
  23. At the saddle, looking up toward Cathedral Rock.
  25. Looking back down the ridge toward the saddle.
  26. Mt. Lemmon in the distance.
  27. Fun Class 2 scrambling.
  28. Looking back while amongst the white hoodoos almost at the summit of Cathedral Rock.
  29. The Cathedral Rock summit pinnacle.
  30. Class 4+ without rope, but the rope and anchor seemed well-maintained.
  31. After the rope section, looking west. Window Peak is back there.
  32. Slightly exposed class 3 section to gain the summit block. West Fork of Sabino Canyon is down to the left.
  33. Looking toward Mt. Lemmon.
  34. Summit of Cathedral Rock.
  35. Window Peak on the left (you can see The Window from here!), and Mt. Kimball right.
  36. Back at the saddle after summiting Cathedral Rock, heading down the Cathedral Rock Trail.
  37. Looking back toward Cathedral Rock.
  38. West Fork of Sabino Canyon below to the left.
  39. Entering West Fork of Sabino Canyon.
  40. There was a small water pool along Sabino Canyon.
  45. Pretty trail through the West Fork of Sabino Canyon.
  47. Hutch's Pool, a mini side trail along the way down the West Fork of Sabino Canyon.
  48. Looking back up West Fork of Sabino Canyon, Cathedral Rock in the distance on the left.
  50. Creek crossing shortly before the junction with Sabino Canyon proper.
  51. Looking back up the West Fork of Sabino Canyon while heading southwest down Sabino Canyon.
  53. Looking back up Sabino Canyon.
  54. Continuing down Sabino Canyon.
  56. Sabino Canyon is very pretty, and the trail takes you along the south rim of what look to be incredible narrows.
  58. Looking back up Sabino Canyon.
  61. Along the Phoneline Trail.
  63. Looking back up Sabino Canyon along the Phoneline Trail.
  64. Approaching the end of the Phoneline Trail. Take a trail down to the road and follow it back to the trailhead.

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Hire me or show some love!

Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

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