Tanque Verde Peak in Saguaro National Park, AZ

Hike Tanque Verde Peak Saguaro National Park, AZ

Class 2 17.6 miles 4700 gain 6-8 hrs Out + Back Nov 6, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Tanque Verde Peak, like the other peaks in the Rincon Mountains, requires a long trail walk to reach its summit. After hiking Mica Mountain and Rincon Peak last year, I knew I needed to come back for this third major summit in the range. I chose to approach via the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail, which starts within Saguaro National Park and ascends gradually along the mountain's west ridge. Being close to Tucson means the trail is fairly popular, but aside from a few backpackers, I barely saw anyone after the first few miles.

I set out in the desert heat through the cactus-riddled landscape because I can literally never start at even a remotely reasonable hour, the trail initially heading south to gain the start of the ridgeline. After wiggling around various rocky obstacles, the trail gained the ridge and started making vertical progress. Tanque Verde Peak's west ridge is wide enough that the trail rarely had expansive views, but there generally a view in at least one direction. I read the complaints of people who said the trail was overgrown, but it's in mostly excellent shape. It's just not a highway. The trail tended to keep just north of the crest, avoiding excessive steepness and unnecessary bumps when possible. I could see Mount Lemmon in the neighboring Santa Catalina Mountains, along with many other summits in that range.

A few ups and downs that added some extra vertical gain and eventually led to higher elevation where I'd escaped the heat somewhat and could enjoy the more grassy/shrubby terrain. While the hike is really nice, there's not a whole lot to say about it since the trail guides you along the ridge, but it is cool to see the slight shifts in vegetation during the trek's thousands of vertical gain. A bit before reaching the Juniper Basin Campground, the trail became slightly more overgrown and was therefore supplemented by cairns. While I didn't manage to get turned around, it could be easy to do if you're not paying attention. The trail was a little grassy at times, cloaking the occasional thorn bush that managed to draw more blood than it had a right to, but this was a rare occurence and likely only happened because I was actively trying to move quickly.

Slowly, trees started to pop up as I neared the campground, and they persisted for the remainder of the hike. It was definitely very cool to have hiked from below in the desert to this very different landscape. I continued through the forest as rock outcroppings unveiled themselves to the north and then I could spot the summit of Tanque Verde Peak. The trail steepened slightly during parts of the last few miles, but continued to be in excellent shape and was mostly mindless walking. I eventually reached a junction, a sign marking a short spur trail to the summit. I scrambled up a Class 2 section to gain the summit block, where I took in the views for a bit before heading back the same way.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Tanque Verde Peak
7040 ft
920 rise

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Starting from the trailhead.
Starting from the trailhead.
View back through the desert as the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail leads up to the peak's extended west ridge.
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.
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.
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.
Santa Catalina Mountains in the distance.
Avoiding one of many humps like the one seen above.
Avoiding one of many humps like the one seen above.
View back.
View back.
Image 7 from gallery
More progress at the lower portion of the trail.
More progress at the lower portion of the trail.
Ascending to the crest, now at around 4400'.
Ascending to the crest, now at around 4400'.
Grassier terrain, fewer cacti.
Grassier terrain, fewer cacti.
View back at a cool-looking dome.
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.
The ridgeline gets a little humpy, so there's some vertical to do on the way back later.
Image 13 from gallery
Image 14 from gallery
Ups and downs along the ridgeline.
Ups and downs along the ridgeline.
Image 16 from gallery
View back at my progress.
View back at my progress.
Wider shot of the wide, sloped Tanque Verde Ridge ahead.
Wider shot of the wide, sloped Tanque Verde Ridge ahead.
The trail avoids the hump ahead by keeping to its right.
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.
A mile or so before reaching the Juniper Basin Campground, the trail starts to cross exposed slickrock, but cairns help guide the way.
Image 21 from gallery
Some cool rocky features to the north.
Some cool rocky features to the north.
Terrain just before the Juniper Basin Campground.
Terrain just before the Juniper Basin Campground.
Juniper Basin Campground on the right.
Juniper Basin Campground on the right.
Continuing through the forest through Juniper Basin.
Continuing through the forest through Juniper Basin.
Image 26 from gallery
Ascending to Tanque Verde Peak, obscured above.
Ascending to Tanque Verde Peak, obscured above.
Image 28 from gallery
View back. The ridge I came up is seen center.
View back. The ridge I came up is seen center.
Rincon Peak poking out over there.
Rincon Peak poking out over there.
Tanque Verde Peak's summit is perched above. The trail leads to the left to get up 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.
View back at a small overlook.
Approaching the outcroppings surrounding the summit.
Approaching the outcroppings surrounding the summit.
Junction with the summit spur trail.
Junction with the summit spur trail.
Class 2 to gain Tanque Verde Peak.
Class 2 to gain Tanque Verde Peak.
Tanque Verde Peak summit, view west toward the way I came up.
Tanque Verde Peak summit, view west toward the way I came up.
Close-up west.
Close-up west.
View toward Mount Lemmon.
View toward Mount Lemmon.
Mica and Rincon.
Mica and Rincon.
Mica Mountain.
Mica 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!