Romero Canyon
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| | Raps:3-4, max ↨120ft
Red Tape: Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Granite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 21 Apr 2023
"Replaced all webbing and rebuilt all anchors. Cairn was washed away at the back-to-back rap sequence. Established a pinch / rock chock anchor about 90 |
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| Best season: | BEST in Nov;Feb;Mar;Apr
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32.4069, -110.8546
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Introduction[edit]
A fun granite water canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. Though the technical section is a bit short, Upper Romero Canyon is about an hour closer to Phoenix (and still plenty close to Tucson) than the other Santa Catalina canyons and logistically easier given the straight forward approach and exit hikes and the lack of need for a car shuttle.
Drive to Catalina State Park via SR77 (Oracle Road) and drive all the way to the end at Romero Canyon trailhead. The park fee is currently $7 per vehicle.
Approach[edit]
Cross the wash and head up the trail turning left immediately thereafter at the first trail junction with the Birding Trail, then at the .6 mile mark stay right at a second junction with Canyon Loop Trail following signs for Romero Canyon Trail as you go to continue up the mountain to the east. After a total of 5 miles you will come across a nice old campsite right by the canyon watercourse with lots of flat, open space to suit up, begin the hike down canyon here.
Descent[edit]
After a short hike down canyon, the first waterfall obstacle you will encounter can be downclimbed on the left, which will bring you in short order to the first rappel.
R1: 80' off cairn on canyon right.
This first rappel is a good place to gauge the safety of and/or your comfort level with the amount of water flow in the canyon, if this first one isn't to your liking, the others may be slightly less so.
Also of note is how slick the granite is, especially when directly in the watercourse such as while on rappel. The best approach is to not even try to keep your feet on the wall, but to slide down on your side as you descend.
Shortly after this first rap is another waterfall that can be downclimbed with some slight exposure on the immediate left of the watercourse. Afterwards is another cascading falls that can be downclimbed on either side and / or jumped into the pool below if you can find a good spot and the water level is deep enough.
After some boulder hopping you will reach the second rappel, which is the beginning of a sequence of three drops: the first drop is about 80 feet, the second is 30, and the third is a little less than 20 - with a few dozen feet of walking, wading, or swimming in between.
R2: 100' off tree down to small ledge in the watercourse just 5' under the pour off for the next drop.
R3: 90' off rock pinch / boulder canyon right on the small ledge. Two-stage rappel (there may be limited anchor opportunities on the second stage). This anchor does not last long in higher flow and may need to be rebuilt.
Note: it may be possible to finish the full sequence (R2+R3) and get to the bottom of the third drop with a 200' rope. However, this may increase the potential for rope retrieval issues.
After this sequence are a few somewhat tricky downclimbs at more falls, including a drop with a hand line rigged from a bush on canyon right. In high flow this could be done as a 50' rappel from a tree.
More hiking brings you to a spot where the canyon opens somewhat and the trail can be accessed through the brush via a fairly steep slope on the right.
Exit[edit]
Once on the trail head left and down the mountain, returning the way you came 3.5mi back to the TH.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Super Amazing Map : Romero Canyon- HikeArizona.com : Upper Romero Canyon
- ToddsHikingGuide.com : Romero Canyon Loop; Santa Catalina Mountains
- https://www.facebook.com/pat.winstanley.7/media_set?set=a.860058584052840.1073741957.100001461198708&type=3