Tower Peak in Tucson Mountain Park, AZ

Hike Tower Peak Tucson Mountain Park, AZ

Class 2 2.9 miles 1300 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back Nov 7, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Tower Peak GPX Track

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Tower Peak is a nice little mountain in Tucson Mountain Park, best accessed from a paved pull-off at Gates Pass. This is a popular scenic overlook with historic structures scattered around the pass. Bren Peak and Golden Gate Mountain are seen to the south just across the pass. The initial slope used to reach Tower Peak is eroded from lots of humans hiking up to an old building just above the pass. I headed up to this building and continued on one of many social trail options just right of the ridgeline. I was able to keep on the trail without issue almost the whole way to the summit.

The trail weaved around small outcroppings and often I needed to choose between one or two options, since multiple social trails divert before rejoining. After a mile or so along the ridge I reached the base of a false summit. The trail continues left around this and follows a wide ramp to gain a viewpoint of Tower Peak just ahead. A short drop in the ridge leads to the base of the peak, where the social trail starts to become a little more difficult to follow. More loose, light Class 2 terrain led in an ascending traverse toward a weakness on the peak's south side. I scrambled a short Class 2+ move to gain the summit of Tower Peak. The views toward Tucson, the Santa Catalina Mountains, and the surrounding desert peaks were nice.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Tower Peak
4160 ft
340 rise

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From Gates Pass, a view at the human-eroded slope leading to a building higher up.
From Gates Pass, a view at the human-eroded slope leading to a building higher up.
Past the building, the social trail continues near the ridge crest, or just to the left of it.
Past the building, the social trail continues near the ridge crest, or just to the left of it.
Along the ridgeline looking down toward Gates Pass.
Along the ridgeline looking down toward Gates Pass.
The trail wraps around little rock outcroppings along the ridge. Tower Peak is ahead, but obscured by a false summit.
The trail wraps around little rock outcroppings along the ridge. Tower Peak is ahead, but obscured by a false summit.
Continuing along the good social trail.
Continuing along the good social trail.
Ascending to the left of the false summit.
Ascending to the left of the false summit.
View back, Bren Peak and Golden Gate Mountain seen in the distance.
View back, Bren Peak and Golden Gate Mountain seen in the distance.
Continuing over to the ramp on the left.
Continuing over to the ramp on the left.
Up the ramp.
Up the ramp.
View back down the ramp.
View back down the ramp.
Above the ramp, continuing along the ridge. Tower Peak seen ahead.
Above the ramp, continuing along the ridge. Tower Peak seen ahead.
Class 2 up to Tower Peak's southern slope. The social trail is a bit harder to follow here.
Class 2 up to Tower Peak's southern slope. The social trail is a bit harder to follow here.
Ascending to the weakness in the center.
Ascending to the weakness in the center.
Class 2+.
Class 2+.
View back down the short scramble.
View back down the short scramble.
Tower Peak summit, view south. I came up from the center of this photo.
Tower Peak summit, view south. I came up from the center of this photo.
Tower Peak summit, view north toward the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Tower Peak summit, view north toward the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Hire me or show me some love!

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!