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Sycamore Reservoir offers great views of the inner basin of the Catalina Mountains.


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Map Key

4.0

Miles

6.4

KM

Out and Back

4,979' 1,517 m

High

4,370' 1,332 m

Low

793' 242 m

Up

793' 242 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (4°)

14%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views

Overview

Easy trail access from Catalina Highway. Look for signs for "Gordon Hirabayashi Reception Site." As part of the Arizona Trail (AZT), the Sycamore Trail can be an "in and out" hike or a connector trail taking you deep into the Catalina Mountains.

Description

This is a great trail for fall/winter hiking. The Sycamore Reservoir Trail begins just west of the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site. For the first mile, the trail is shared use and you might see hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers. After the first mile, you cross into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness boundary. From here, it's approximately one mile down to Sycamore Reservoir.

This is not a long trail, but some people might find the return trip (back up) a little strenuous. The trail offers great views of the inner-basin of the Catalina Mountains. The area of the reservoir offers nice fall colors.

As you travel up the Catalina Highway from Tucson, the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site is a well-marked turn to the left (west) just past mile marker 7.

Contacts

Shared By:

Chris McD with improvements by Jerry Cagle

Trail Ratings

  3.5 from 8 votes

#4662

Overall
  3.5 from 8 votes
5 Star
13%
4 Star
38%
3 Star
38%
2 Star
13%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#185

in Arizona

#4,662

Overall
26 Views Last Month
2,791 Since Nov 10, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate

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83%
17%
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Photos

Hiking west along Sycamore Reservoir Trail.
Nov 10, 2015 near Tanque…, AZ
Water flowing at Sycamore Reservoir.
Nov 10, 2015 near Tanque…, AZ

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Check-Ins

Nov 11, 2023
DD Demers
Nov 15, 2022
Nick Kepf
Nice hike, some water in the reservoir. Beautiful view from the reservoir. 4.6mi — 2h 34m
Mar 3, 2019
Joshua Watkins
Feb 9, 2019
April Richardson
little man did 5 miles! cool waterfall at the end....lots of creek crossings - 24 in total 5mi
Mar 2, 2018
hdjohnson
Overnight backpacking trip with the scout troop 4mi
Mar 17, 2017
hdjohnson
Backpacking with the scout troop
Nov 4, 2016
Rick Ihnat
Took this trail to access the Alcatraz wall for climbing.
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