Ventana Canyon Maiden Pools Hike- Tucson, AZ

Desert mountain hikes can be brutal: desolate, dry and devoid of shade. But they also reward the intrepid with solitude and outstanding valley views. Tucson’s 6.4 mile Maiden Pool hike is a perfect example- challenging, but satisfying. Crossing over several streams on the valley floor, you slowly scramble your way up the mountain, past silent saguaros, until the valley suddenly appears below.

At some point on the trail there may well be water filled pools, complete with mermaids, but given our late start, we did not reach them before losing daylight. And the remote desert is certainly not a place to hike in the dark. However, even if you don’t make it to the pools, or the top of the ridge, the iconic Western landscape is worth even a short hike up into the mountains.