Blackett's Ridge Hiking Trail In Sabino Canyon | Tucson, Arizona

Hey, Tyler Ford here in Tucson, Arizona, and welcome to this episode of Living in Tucson, Your Tucson Real Estate Connection. And in this episode, I’m going to take you on a tour of Blackett’s Ridge Trail in Sabino Canyon.

SABINO CANYON FEE

We’re getting an early start. I like to get here early, just because the parking lot fills up and I like to have a place to park. But Blackett’s Ridge is a favorite hike amongst people in Tucson and it’s just shy of six miles. It’s three miles out, three miles back, and it’s pretty steep. One of the reasons I like to do it is, this time of year we get ready for the Grand Canyon and I like to get my downhill legs on. So coming down, it’s pretty steep and it helps train those downhill legs. So, here we go. We park at Sabino Canyon and in order to get into Sabino Canyon, there is a fee. I like to get the annual pass, which gets me into Sabino Canyon and then also Saguaro National Monument East, and all the other parks. It’s a pass that gets you into all the parks throughout the country.

So, this morning I’m hiking with my wife. She and I do a lot of stuff together. This is one of our favorites and you start out in the Sabino Canyon parking lot and you’re on a dirt section for about half a mile, and right now, we’re on a little road section that takes us to the trailhead. So, we are getting ready for the Grand Canyon. One of the reasons we like Blackett’s is it’s really steep, so works the uphill, and more importantly, especially for Grand Canyon, you need those downhill legs. And so we’ll hit Blackett’s this time of year when we’re getting ready for the Grand Canyon just to get our downhill legs on. There’s Mimi.

Depending on the time of the year, there’s a section right before you get to the trailhead that’s a part of the Washer River that runs through Sabina Canyon and during the summer, during the monsoons, or winter when there’s a lot of snow runoff, you could have to get a little wet to get over this little dam right here, so just a heads up.

So, from Sabino Canyon parking lot to the trailhead, it’s about 0.8 and then it’s another 0.4 miles to the trailhead. So we’re actually on the Phoneline Trail and I’ve done another video about that and I’ll put that up above that you can click on to learn more about the Phoneline. So we’re on the Phoneline trail. It’s about 0.4 to the Blackett’s Ridge trailhead and we’re going to work our way up this section. This section’s a little steep section until you get to Blackett’s Ridge and then it starts up the climb.

So right now I’m at about 1.4 miles. So from Sabino Canyon parking lot to the Blackett’s trailhead is 1.4 miles. So we’ve got, according to this, it’s 1.7 miles to the top of Blackett’s and once you get up there, you’re up on a ridgeline. It’s an epic beautiful view where you’re looking into Sabino Canyon and then off to the south, you’re looking down into Tucson. And we’ll give you that view once we get up there. But here’s where it gets really steep. We start to trek right up there, but it gets really steep here and then it kind of flattens out. The first section’s the really steep part and then it kind of flattens out and rolls up to the top. So we’ll take some photos when we get to the top.

REASONS I LIKE BLACKETT’S RIDGE TRAIL

The things I like about Blackett’s Ridge trail. There’s a handful of things that I really like about it. Number one, it is steep, so it works those uphill legs and downhill legs. So, if you’re getting ready for something that’s steep or downhill, Blackett’s is perfect. And we do the Grand Canyon a couple of times a year. Anytime we’re doing the Grand Canyon, we come out here and do Blackett’s just to prepare. The other thing I like about it, it’s got some epic views. So it’s a great place to see the sun coming up or see the sunset in Tucson. But the one thing that you need to do if you’re going to do that, just put on lights and get out early with headlights and get up here and watch the sun come up, or have a picnic up top and watch the sunset. So it’s a great place to see the sunrise and the sunset here in Tucson.

Another cool thing about it that I like during the full moon, the big full moons, like the October moon, you can come up here and watch it come up, or leave in the morning when it’s dark and watch that moon set over the Tucson mountain range, and it comes up over the Rincon Mountains, so it’s a great place to see the moon rise or the moonset. Another thing that I like about it and disclaimer, I’ve been doing Blackett’s for going on 30 years and I’ve never seen a rattlesnake. And you know, I do a lot out in Saguaro National Monument East and there are rattlesnakes everywhere out there. So disclaimer, they are still out there. You got to be careful, but you don’t have to worry about rattlesnakes as much, especially in the summer months. In the winter, they hibernate and go away, end of November, and then they come out usually March, April, they’ll start to come out again.

So what are some other things? The views are spectacular. I think I already said that, but the views are awesome. There are a couple of things I don’t like and that is, over the years as Tucson has become more populated, it’s become one of the more crowded hikes. And so, when I’m doing Blackett’s, I like to get an early start in the morning and beat the traffic and put on a headlamp and start in the dark. So, if you’re starting right when the sun’s coming up or when it’s already light in the morning, you’re going to have more traffic than other places in Tucson. 

WHAT I DO NOT LIKE ABOUT BLACKETT’S RIDGE TRAIL

So that’s probably my least favorite. But if I had had to choose, Phoneline is also… You’re on the Phoneline trail. If I had to choose between Blackett’s and Phoneline, I’d pick Phoneline any day. It’s a little bit quieter. There’s less traffic. But Blackett’s serves its purpose and the main reason we come out and do it is just to get in the steepness of the climbs and also the descent. So, that’s it.

TOP OF BLACKETT’S RIDGE TRAIL

And then, when you get up top, we’re almost to the top, bring some food, have a picnic. It’s just a great place to chill out. It’s quiet when you get up there. Traffic will be kind of coming in and out, but you look down into Tucson. You got the Rincons to the east. And it’s just really, really pretty. So that’s my take on Blackett’s and all the reasons I love it. And you know, the one downside again is just a little bit more traffic than some of the other places in Tucson. So we’ve got Sabino Canyon in the background. Blackett’s is on a ridgeline and on the north side of the ridgeline is Sabino Canyon, and looking out to the south, and I’ll turn around here, in Tucson. But one thing to consider is a lot of people bring their trekking poles because it’s really steep, and especially for the downhill, those trekking poles can help you on the downhill.

TREKKING POLES

So, just a little recommendation. If you’re used to trekking poles, I would definitely recommend them. So, just panning around here, we got Tucson in the background and again, one of the reasons I like it up here is the views are absolutely spectacular. Made it to the top and right here, Blackett’s Ridge, we are at the top. It just dead ends on a ridgeline and it’s just shy of three miles. So round trip, call it six miles. You’re going to be just under six miles. But this is the top. And again, it’s a great place to just chill out. There are a couple of places that you can just hang out and enjoy the views and right back there is Sabino Canyon and then directly behind me is Tucson.

And looking down, that is Sabino Springs. I just did a little video on Sabino Springs. It’s a great community and its home of Arizona National and Sabino High School is right there. That’s the high school I went to. So again, you got some great views up here. 

MIMI’S FAVORITE THING ABOUT BLACKETT’S RIDGE HIKE

Hey Mimi, we’re to the top, and if you were to give the viewers and listeners one thing as to why you like Blackett’s, what is it? Give it to us.

Tranquil

When you get to the top, it’s so peaceful and quiet and you can just sit here and think and meditate. And it’s just the most beautiful place in the world.

HIKE VS RUN

So, we’re about done walking in and one thing to consider is Blackett’s is more of a hike. If you’re an experienced trail runner, I’d say go for it. But if you’re looking for a really good run, I would suggest the Phoneline, which is on the same trail. You just keep on going. So, what’s your take, Mimi?

My take is that this part right here is very runnable and lots of fun, but once you get up there, it’s kind of tough.

Nothing better than Blackett’s in Tucson, Arizona for a great hike in the morning. So we are done. We’re back to the Sabino Canyon parking lot. And one thing to consider, especially in late fall, winter, and spring, when the weather cools off and the winter visitors come back to Tucson, the parking lot can fill up really quick. So it’s a good idea to get an early start because a lot of times during those times there’s overflow where you’ve got to park outside of Sabino Canyon. So, just something to think about. So, it’s right at about six miles. Just shy. I’m going to call it six miles.