
Starting from the trailhead.

View back through the desert as the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail leads up to the peak's extended west ridge.

Along the west ridge, ascending on the trail.

Continuing along the mostly tame ridge. The ridge is wide, so the views are often obscured by the slopes.

Santa Catalina Mountains in the distance.

Avoiding one of many humps like the one seen above.

View back.


More progress at the lower portion of the trail.

Ascending to the crest, now at around 4400'.

Grassier terrain, fewer cacti.

View back at a cool-looking dome.

The ridgeline gets a little humpy, so there's some vertical to do on the way back later.



Ups and downs along the ridgeline.


View back at my progress.

Wider shot of the wide, sloped Tanque Verde Ridge ahead.

The trail avoids the hump ahead by keeping to its right.

A mile or so before reaching the Juniper Basin Campground, the trail starts to cross exposed slickrock, but cairns help guide the way.


Some cool rocky features to the north.

Terrain just before the Juniper Basin Campground.

Juniper Basin Campground on the right.

Continuing through the forest through Juniper Basin.


Ascending to Tanque Verde Peak, obscured above.


View back. The ridge I came up is seen center.

Rincon Peak poking out over there.

Tanque Verde Peak's summit is perched above. The trail leads to the left to get up there.

View back at a small overlook.

Approaching the outcroppings surrounding the summit.

Junction with the summit spur trail.

Class 2 to gain Tanque Verde Peak.

Tanque Verde Peak summit, view west toward the way I came up.

Close-up west.

View toward Mount Lemmon.

Mica and Rincon.

Mica Mountain.
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