Hiking Ventana Canyon and Sabino Canyon: Seven Falls, Phone Line & Maiden Pools

Tucson•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

3 hours

Fitness Level

Participants should have a moderate level of fitness—able to hike uneven terrain with sustained uphill sections.

Overview

Two classic Catalina Mountain experiences in one outing: the steep, panoramic ridges of Ventana Canyon and the water-carved trails of Sabino Canyon, including the creek-crossing Seven Falls. Expect rocky climbs, seasonal pools, and sweeping views above Tucson.

Hiking Ventana Canyon and Sabino Canyon: Seven Falls, Phone Line & Maiden Pools

Other

Wildlife

Hiking

Sightseeing Tour

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

The trail begins under an uncompromising sky—the sun already pressing heat into the saguaros—while a guide checks packs and points toward the black ridgeline of the Catalina Mountains. Ventana Canyon opens as a steady climb, a corridor of mesquite and brittle ironwood that funnels you upward. By the time the switchbacks loosen and the trail narrows to rock and scrub, the valley below has shrunk to a patchwork of roofs and desert, and the city’s hum falls away.

Adventure Photos

Hiking Ventana Canyon and Sabino Canyon: Seven Falls, Phone Line & Maiden Pools photo 1

Adventure Tips

Start Early

Begin before 8 a.m. to avoid heat, catch wildlife activity, and secure parking at trailheads.

Bring Extra Water

Carry at least 1.5–3 liters per person—shade is limited and temperatures rise quickly.

Footing and Crossings

Wear grippy hiking shoes; the Seven Falls route requires multiple creek crossings and slippery rock.

Watch the Weather

Flash floods can swell canyon streams quickly—avoid narrow sections during and after storms.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Gambel's quail
Collared peccary (javelina)

History

The Catalina Mountains sit on lands historically used by Indigenous peoples including the Tohono O’odham; later Spanish explorers and miners mapped these ridgelines in the 18th–19th centuries.

Conservation

Trails run through sensitive desert and riparian habitats—stay on marked paths, avoid disturbing pools, and pack out all waste to protect water-dependent plants and wildlife.