We visited Catalina in December 2023 as part of our Tucson for Christmas trip. Read about our first trip in 2021 here.
![hiking down from Romero Pass](https://i0.wp.com/airstreamdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/catalina-8.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768)
We loooove Catalina State Park. As I said previously, if you’re in Tucson, please go to Catalina for a day, or a night, or a hike. The park is phenomenal, and we had a fantastic two days there.
Campground
![out campsite in Catalina](https://i0.wp.com/airstreamdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/catalina-1.jpeg?resize=1024%2C699)
Book your campsite in advance! Catalina’s campgrounds fill quickly. Campground loops A and B have power and water hookups, and after having stayed in both loops now, we think loop A is a bit more scenic. We camped in spot A11, a snug and private spot but with no big mountain views. Our campground scouting report says that spots A16, A19, and A23 are maybe the best.
Hiking
![sunset hike on the Nature Trail](https://i0.wp.com/airstreamdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/catalina-4.jpeg?resize=1024%2C754)
Catalina State Park hiking trails are dog friendly, except for the trail to Romero Pools. We based our hiking plan on our favorite trails from our last visit, building a nice mix of shorter old dog-friendly hikes and a longer wish list item.
Canyon Loop Trail
![the wash on the way to hike the Canyon Loop Trail](https://i0.wp.com/airstreamdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/catalina-10.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768)
With Bugsy, we hiked the 2.3-mile Canyon Loop Trail to start off our stay. It might be the park’s most popular trail, and with good reason: mountain views, saguaros galore, and little elevation change.
Nature Trail and Birding Loop
![sunset hike on the Nature Trail](https://i0.wp.com/airstreamdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/catalina-3.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768)
The Nature Trail is our favorite spot for an evening picnic among the cacti, watching the sun set on the mountains. It’s an easy one-mile loop with informational signage about local flora and fauna.
![sunset hike on the Nature Trail](https://i0.wp.com/airstreamdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/catalina-2.jpeg?resize=1024%2C765)
We combined the Nature Trail with the Birding Trail, another easy one-mile hike, for a quick outing before leaving for Prescott.
Romero Pass
![Romero Pools](https://i0.wp.com/airstreamdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/catalina-6.jpeg?resize=819%2C1024)
Last time in Tucson we hiked to Romero Pools and were blown away by the scenery. The trail continues beyond the pools to Romero Pass and we immediately put a hike to the pass on our to-do list.
![hiking to Romero Pass](https://i0.wp.com/airstreamdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/catalina-5.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768)
The out-and-back is an occasionally brutal, always gorgeous 14.2 miles, and we saw hardly any other hikers past the pools.
![hiking down from Romero Pass](https://i0.wp.com/airstreamdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/catalina-9.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024)
If you can arrange a shuttle or drop a car, consider these incredible one-way adventures: at Romero Pass you can turn left and continue to Mt Lemmon for a total of 15.2 miles one way, or drop down into Sabino Canyon for a 20-mile one-way hike.
![the view from Romero Pass into Sabino Canyon](https://i0.wp.com/airstreamdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/catalina-7.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768)
We covered most of the latter hike between this hike to Romero Pass, and our hike a few days later to Hutch’s Pool in Sabino Canyon on the West Fork Trail.
Next up: Prescott, three hours north of Catalina, where we hiked what J said was maybe his favorite trail of the entire trip!
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