| Window Peak - Ventana Canyon Mountain/Rock |
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| Window Peak - Ventana Canyon   | 
| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: Arizona, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 32.37580°N / 110.855°W Activities: Hiking, Scrambling Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter Elevation: 7458 ft / 2273 m | Page By: Jeff Moore Created/Edited: Dec 30, 2004 / Oct 13, 2007 Object ID: 153489 Hits: 3757 Loading... Page Score: 90.13% - 24 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
OverviewVentana Canyon is arguably the most beautiful of the canyons adorning the ‘front range’ of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. The name (meaning ‘window’ in Spanish) refers to the unique rock formation located at the top of the drainage. Here a large natural arch opens in the middle of a cliff with views of Tucson. Fortunately, the window is easily approached from its back side, but requires a formidable 6.4 mile (4450’ vert.) approach from the canyon entrance.
Slightly beyond the window lies Window Peak. At 7,456’ it is the second highest point on the front range, but still significantly lower than the 9,157’ summit of Mt. Lemmon, the broad highpoint of the range that lies farther north. Window Peak is actually a collection of rock spires that tops out the divide between the Ventana and Esperero drainages and requires a short bit of class 3 chimney climbing to reach its summit. The route to the actual summit is not marked but a slight diversion from the trail will take you there. A summit register awaits with a sign reading ‘good job you crazy bastard.’ This is a great (and hard) hike to a beautiful summit up one of the most striking canyons in the Tucson area. Go there, you will be glad you did.
Getting ThereFrom Tucson head north up Craycroft past Sunrise Dr. following it around as it turns east into Kolb Rd. Take a left into the Ventana Canyon Resort (a road sign indicates the Ventana Canyon trailhead). Take a quick left before reaching the resort proper at a sign marked ‘employee parking’ and proceed to the end of this parking lot. The trailhead is well marked but has no bathrooms or water.
ApproachThe hike to Window Peak is a straight forward but hard hike up the Ventana Canyon trail. It is 6.4 miles and 4450’ vertical to the window. Window Peak is about 15 minutes beyond and requires about 20’ of class 3 climbing to reach its summit. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow.
I’m not going to describe this hike in exhausting detail, needless to say it’s a wonderful walk and if you have read this far then you should probably just go hike it. You will likely not see many people on the trail high in the canyon as most casual day hikers stop at one of 2 points – the start of the switch backs (~1.5 mi) or Maiden Pools (2.4 mi). On the contrary, on 2 occasions hiking in this canyon I have seen Coati - reclusive ring-tailed cats.
The hike breaks down as follows:
From the trailhead you have the indignity of walking alongside the fence of an apartment complex. This ends shortly and the trail heads north to enter the canyon. For the first mile or so you are on an easement that passes through private property. All this anthropogenic annoyance is soon forgotten as you look up the canyon and make the first of many river crossings. Don’t miss the unique and rare mutatated ‘fan-top’ saguaro near the trail. Enjoy the bajada mix of vegetation that makes the Sonoran desert so wonderful: saguaro, yucca, prickly pear, cholla, mesquite, and palo verde.
After about 1.5 mi the trail leaves the canyon bottom and switch backs up an exposed hill side that can be brutally hot in the summer. The next landmark is Maiden Pools, (2.4 mi from the trailhead) a series of pools carved into the rock that makes for a nice rest spot and a good swim.
Continue on the next 2.8 mi steeply up the canyon to the junction of the Ventana canyon and the Finger Rock and Esperero canyon Trails. Head right on the Esperero Trail (#25) and top out on a saddle separating Ventana Canyon with its counterpart draining north. Here there are great views in all directions: Mt. Lemmon to the north, Mt. Kimball to the west, Cathedral Rock to the east, and Tucson to the south.
Continue about 1 mi to the window - it appears on your right and there will likely be a nasty wind blowing through it. Head through and take a break, enjoy the unique view of Tucson. There is large cliff both above and below you at this point.
Window Peak lies about 15 minutes farther up the trail. You will cross 2 saddles, one west of Window Peak and one south of the peak. Leave the trail at the second saddle (marked by a cairn on each side of the trail) and head north-west to the highpoint visible between and behind 2 rock pillars. Climb a short class 3 chimney (a fortunately placed tree can help out here). The summit lies just to the north. There is a summit register tucked into the rocks, and its apparent that the peak does not see too much traffic.
Note:
There is moderate damage from the recent fire that ubiquitously burned the Catalina Mountains. At the top of the drainage the saddle beneath Window Peak is burned, and some of the surrounding slopes show fire damage. The grasses and underbrush have recovered however - the fire damage is less than I expected.
Red TapeNo permits required for day hikes. No dogs are permitted on this trail.
This area is part of the Desert Bighorn Sheep Wilderness Area, and as such, is subject to seasonal closure. During the period from January 1 through April 30, hiking and camping off trail is prohibited, as is hiking on use trails, or those not maintained by the Forest Service. Please respect this closure, there are only a few of Big Horn sheep left in this wilderness.
When To ClimbThe best times to climb are fall and spring. Summer temperatures at the trailhead will be over 100 degrees, and at the end of summer during the monsoon season expect afternoon showers and lightning. In the winter, expect cold and windy conditions high on the mountain and snow is possible. With that said, spring and fall conditions should be lovely, and with some good Tucson sun the weather should be pleasurable.
CampingFrom the Santa Catalina Ranger District website: “The steep, rocky terrain of the Coronado National Forest provides a limited number of flat areas suited to camping. As a result, many of the campsites are used repeatedly and show the signs of human activity. However, campers are encouraged to use these existing sites (instead of creating new campsites) when possible to limit the expansion of newly impacted sites. When camping in a remote area with no existing sites, select an area with a sandy surface, or one covered with thick leaf or needle cover and without vegetation. Always avoid camping near water, in meadows or near cliffs and rockslides since these areas are important to wildlife.” There are a few existing camp spots in Ventana Canyon and above at the saddle below Window Peak.
Mountain ConditionsThe Santa Catalina Ranger District, 520-749-8700, has current trail conditions, check the Ventana Canyon Trail website for additional trail information.
A map of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and the Ventana Canyon Trail (FS#98) can be found here: Map
Weather.com
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