Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
Yes
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The Pusch Ridge Wilderness is a 56,933-acre federally designated wilderness area located in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona. The wilderness lies within Coronado National Forest and is managed by the United State Forest Service. 

Within the Pusch Ridge Wilderness visitors will find dry grasslands, deep canyons, and dense forests. It features spectacular swimming holes, sentinel saguaros, and unique biodiversity. 

The area's most prominent feature, Pusch Ridge, rises over 9,000 feet above sea level, supporting a variety of life zones, from Sonoran desert to subalpine forest.

Visitors can explore the area through an extensive network of trails that can be accessed in a day or used as part of an overnight trip. Primitive/backcountry camping is allowed in much of this wilderness. For more information on camping regulations and restrictions within the area please contact the local forest service (see link below). 

IMPORTANT NOTE

A portion of Pusch Ridge Wilderness has been designated as a Bighorn Sheep Management Area, which may be subject to special restrictions.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Sabino Canyon Recreation Area - a spectacular desert oasis with lush valleys and rich riparian corridors tucked between rocky canyon cliffs. 

  • Romero trail and the Romero Pools. 

  • Mount Lemmon, the highest point in the Santa Catalinas.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

USFS: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/recarea/?recid=25692

Santa Catalina Ranger District: 1-520-749-8700

 

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Swimming holes. Biodiversity. Hiking trails.

Cons

Very popular and can be crowded in parts.

Features

Backcountry camping
Wildlife
Big vistas
Near lake or river
Wildflowers

Location

Comments

Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.