Ventana Canyon Hiking Trail

First part of the trail (about 1 mile) is relatively flat but also next to a fence. After that you start to climb and about 0.5 to 0.75 of a mile after that it really starts to get steep as you switchback up the canyon walls to get to a first ridge. At that 0.75 mile point the trail is starting to get more poorly marked as well as we assume a lot of folks turn around near there and don't go all the way up. It's a decent spot to stop at, there is a small area with flat boulders you can sit on and catch a good view of the canyon to the south.There is no water, restrooms or rest area so come ready to hike and leave plenty of water in your car for your return.

One afternoon several friends and I wanted to go for a hike; we chose Ventana Canyon as a hiking destination chiefly because its supposed to be easy enough for beginners, but challenging enough for the more experienced among us.Long story short - there really isn't anything much here to challenge anyone who is any kind of intermediate or advanced hiker. It's also probably safe to say that calling it a Trail is overly generous; throughout most of the ground we covered what was allegedly a trail was just a rocky, narrow pseudo-path.Tip: If you happen to come here on one of Tucson's infrequent rainy days, the rocks can become quite slippery and maybe even a little dangerous.Bottom line: If you're a beginning hiker then this "trail" is quite doable and safe, as long as it's not raining. If you're an intermediate to advanced hiker and you want to get some sweat on, you should probably seek your challenges elsewhere.

Tried this hike with two boys under 11. We hiked about 2 miles then back so we didn't see much of it. It's a good challenging hike but well marked. The trail gets narrow but still easy to stay on it. I'm use to Phoenix hikes which are predominantly rocky and brown so seeing all the wildflowers and shots of color was a nice treat.Really enjoyed the hike and if we had more time (and longer legs for some) we'd probably hike the whole thing.

First hike in Tucson and I say it was a great hike! Parking was great. We got there early and there was plenty of spaces. There is a designated parking lot for the trailhead. We got a little confused first since our navigation brought us to the resort parking. Not sure if you can park there.The hiking from the parking lot is a nice warm up. We walked behind some apartments which was weird, but once we got to the trailhead the scenery was amazing! Many butterflies on the trail! We started our hike at 7:30am and walked for four hours RT. Not sure how far we hiked, but with only our running shoes we were able to make a great distance. Be careful...lots of walking over and on rocks...also had to cross the little streams a couple times. Also, there could be trails that look like trails but end up being a dead end. We didn't know at the time but we took a wrong turn and started scaling the side of the canyon. It felt too dangerous so I suggested we turn back. After about a 30 mins detour, we found the actual trail. I found piles of rocks i think someone left behind to show other hikers the way. Follow the rocks...People were so nice and helpful on the trail. We will definitely come back again in the future with the right gear and hopefully get to The Window. If you are one that loves a challenge, I recommend this hike.

FIRST HIKE IN TUCSON and man was it a boiling way over 100 degrees that day! i wouldn't advise coming too late on a hot summer dayit's 2.4 miles to the pools (which were dried out when we came) and another 2.6 miles to the top, but we didn't make it because of how scorching hot it wasdifficulty? lots of incline but still enjoyable, a fun trial for the different types of terrainBEAUTIFUL views through the canyonNOTE: FREE PARKING

This is a very popular and well traveled hiking trail. I see a lot of families hiking this trail and there is always parking available in the parking lot at the trailhead. It's not paved but well traveled and easy to follow. There is one bouldering area that I know about and is around 1.5 miles back into the canyon. There's beautiful views, cactuses, many plants, I haven't seen any big horn sheep but there's supposed to be some about a mile back. Will definitely be returning.

A friend and I did this hike over the weekend, and it was great--definitely more challenging than originally thought--particularly the switchbacks/rock scrambling as you get closer to the top. And Tucson has so many incredibly beautiful trails--but Ventana Canyon was I think the most beautiful & incredible view. It made that 5 mi hike worth it! Also, this time of year, the Maiden Pools were pretty much dried up... but again, the view from the top overlooking Tucson is definitely worth it.

Pretty fun and challenge hike for the beginner like me. Parking is right in front of the trail head, so you can't miss it. No parking fee is needed.Didn't make it to the Window Rock, probably still need another 2 to 3 miles, but the view on the way is amazing and incredible. The pool is not as big as I thought, but it is definitely worth it.

Hiked to Window Rock the day before Christmas. This is a long and strenuous hike that took our group of strong hikers 7 hours. There is 4310 ft gain in this 12.8 mile "out-n-back" hike. Beautiful Sonoran hike with non-stop "up" to the Window Rock. Will repeat this hike.

There is nothing I can say about this that hasn't already been said. All I know is I've been to many places and besides Hawaii this trail and the views it provided is one of the prettiest environments I've seen.The rocky cliffs, small waterfall, snow capped mountain...I could go on and on but just do yourself a favor and check it yourself. It's worth it, I promise The End.