Near Sycamore Reservoir
Hiking west along Sycamore Reservoir Trail.
Near Sycamore Reservoir
Water flowing at Sycamore Reservoir.

Looking for more photos?

View All Photos
Driving Directions
Hike Route

Sycamore Reservoir

3.5 (8 Ratings)
Sycamore Reservoir offers great views of the inner basin of the Catalina Mountains.
4.1
mi
Distance
901
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
BirdingFall ColorsViews

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
4.12mi
Distance
901ft
Elevation Gain
901ft
Elevation Loss
60%
Max Grade
5,026ft
High Point
4,371ft
Low Point
Path Type
There and Back
Description
This is a great trail for fall/winter hiking. The Sycamore Reservoir Trail begins just west of the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site. For the first mile, the trail is shared use and you might see hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers. After the first mile, you cross into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness boundary. From here, it's approximately one mile down to Sycamore Reservoir. This is not a long trail, but some people might find the return trip (back up) a little strenuous. The trail offers great views of the inner-basin of the Catalina Mountains. The area of the reservoir offers nice fall colors. As you travel up the Catalina Highway from Tucson, the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site is a well-marked turn to the left (west) just past mile marker 7.

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
Report Conditions

Nearby Hike Routes

Arizona Trail Passage 11: Santa Catalina Mountains

Hike Route

Arizona Trail Passage 11: Santa Catalina Mountains

Views
extreme
18.98 mi
+6,404 ft
Thimble Peak via Sycamore Reservoir Trail

Hike Route

Thimble Peak via Sycamore Reservoir Trail

Dogs Allowed
strenuous
10.12 mi
+2,595 ft
Santa Catalina Mountains Loop

Hike Route

Santa Catalina Mountains Loop

Views
extreme
41.59 mi
+10,113 ft
Bug Springs Trail

Hike Route

Bug Springs Trail

Dogs Allowed
moderate
4.38 mi
+1,540 ft
Babat Duag Out-and-Back

Hike Route

Babat Duag Out-and-Back

Birding
moderate
4.94 mi
+1,502 ft
Molino Basin Trail #11

Hike Route

Molino Basin Trail #11

Views
easy
2.57 mi
+705 ft
Contributors
Chris McD