Hutch's Pool

Temps today in the low 70s, with nary a wisp of wind. Perfect day for an 18-mile hike.

Hutch’s Pool (actually a series of waterfalls and pools) is, for most hikers, a short 8-mile out-and-back from the end of Sabino Canyon Road, itself an 8-mile out-and-back. A park trolley carries hikers four miles up Sabino Canyon from the Sabino Canyon visitor center, dumps them out at the end of the line to scramble up the remainder of the canyon and on to the pools. However, there is a perfectly lovely trail that somewhat parallels the canyon road, but up and away enough that one isn’t disturbed by the insinuation of civilization from the canyon floor. Phone Line Trail ascends eastward from the highly-trafficked road full of amblers and tram riders, quite a scenic alternative from the pavement and is an actual hike as opposed to a leisurely stroll. Taking Phone Line also adds ten miles to the hike—perfect since a front is moving in and I won’t be hitting the mountains again until at least Sunday.

This hike was put together by my hiking pal Misty; our other hiking friend, Stan, also joined us. We started out from the visitor center parking lot, forded the Sabino Creek as it crossed Sabino Canyon Road, then took the Phone Line Trail five miles to where it connects with Sabino Canyon Trail. We continued up Sabino Canyon 2.5 to Sabino Basin then hung a left on the West Fork Trail 1.5 miles until the spur that took us down to the Pools. 

The pools were full and the waterfalls gushing because of recent rains and snow melt. The area was also especially verdant, shockingly so in places. I was also amazed at the occasional splashes of fall color I assumed had vanished since I was last in the area in December for a Blackett’s Ridge hike. The geology and the pools are similar to the Romero Canyon and pools a ridge and canyon or two away and led me to suggest we hike that part of the Catalina’s some time soon. I’ve hiked the short six-mile Romero Pools Trail a few times, and the 10-mile Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pass up-and-back more than once, and once a few miles beyond that. Great camping trail.

Note: Please excuse these photographs; I accidentally moved my Canon G12’s switch to low-light mode and everything was over-exposed. I tried to compensate by editing in less light, with poor to mixed results.

Phone Line high above the noise from the canyon road below.

Sabino Canyon Road.

Saddleback Peak, most readily reached from the Blackett's Ridge Trail.

A view down on Sabino Creek. Our trail will meet the West Fork Trail in a halt mile and we will follow this creek to the pools.

Lots of greenery.

Pretty sure Catalina State Park and Romero Canyon are just beyond that there ridge.

We had a few stream crossings, this being the trickiest jumping from boulder to boulder.

I think Stan is claiming that impressive boulder for himself. Stan was on a vision quest to find a spot where he could dip his toes in the icy water.

Stan fulfilled his vision at our lunch spot.

A surprising splash of fall colors on the canyon floor.