The hardest hikes in Saguaro National Park, by the numbers
Of the 36 trails in Saguaro National Park in our dataset, 10 (28 percent) rate strenuous or very strenuous on the gain-and-distance scale we use and run 3 to 30 miles with at least 1,500 ft of climb; all 10 are listed here, highest rating first.
Rincon Peak Trail leads with 6,042 ft of gain over 10.7 miles, 565 ft per mile, with a steepest pitch of 54 percent.
Across the 10, gain runs from 1,905 to 6,042 ft and distance from 4.9 miles to 14.4 miles; the median gain is 2,917 ft and the median distance 9.6 miles.
5 of the 10 are point-to-point routes; the rest are out-and-back (4) or loop (1).
| # | Trail | Miles | Gain (ft) | Ft per mile | Max grade | Elevation (ft) | Rating | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rincon Peak Trail | 10.7 | 6,042 | 565 | 54% | 3,328 to 8,264 | 359.6 | |
| 2 | Rincon PeakSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 14.4 | 4,288 | 298 | 58% | 4,214 to 8,376 | 351.4 | |
| 3 | Tanque Verde Ridge TrailSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 11 | 4,205 | 382 | 37% | 3,107 to 7,006 | 304.2 | |
| 4 | Douglas Springs TrailSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 10.2 | 3,569 | 350 | 28% | 2,760 to 6,127 | 269.8 | |
| 5 | Wasson Peak to Hugh NorrisSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 9.8 | 2,496 | 255 | 39% | 2,574 to 4,672 | 221.2 | |
| 6 | Rincon Creek TrailSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 7.4 | 3,056 | 413 | 33% | 3,324 to 6,111 | 212.7 | |
| 7 | Wasson Peak SummitSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 9.4 | 2,113 | 225 | 28% | 2,814 to 4,674 | 199.3 | |
| 8 | Wasson Peak Circle RouteSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 8.4 | 1,905 | 227 | 45% | 2,914 to 4,673 | 178.9 | |
| 9 | Heartbreak RidgeSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 5.8 | 2,597 | 448 | 37% | 6,096 to 8,240 | 173.6 | |
| 10 | Turkey Creek TrailSouthern Arizona and Tucson | 4.9 | 2,777 | 567 | 41% | 4,626 to 7,263 | 165 |
How this list is ranked
Rating = the square root of 2 x elevation gain (ft) x distance (miles), the gain-and-distance formula Shenandoah National Park publishes for its own trails. Bands: under 50 easiest, 50 to 100 moderate, 100 to 150 moderately strenuous, 150 to 200 strenuous, 200 and over very strenuous.
This list: band strenuous (150 to 200) or very strenuous (200 and over), 3 to 30 miles, at least 1,500 ft of gain, ordered by rating desc, gain per mile desc, capped at 25. The rating column is computed from the miles and gain printed in the same row, the numbers each trail page uses, so every row can be checked from the row itself. The rating says nothing about exposure, scrambling, altitude or conditions.
Only trails with a full page count, so "Saguaro National Park" here means the 36 trails in Saguaro National Park in our dataset, not every trail in Saguaro National Park.
Each trail page shows the full elevation profile behind these numbers and the same data drawn as a topographic print, made to order. Start with Rincon Peak Trail.
Hardest hikes elsewhere.
The same ranking for other parks in our dataset.