Wilderness of Rock Trail #44

The name of this trail certainly does catch the attention of anyone scanning a trail map or thumbing through a guide book. The “Wilderness of Rock” is extremely popular and with good reason. Picturesque rock formations and a diversity of settings that range from sub-alpine to high desert to riparian zone attract so many people that this area is being loved to the point of overuse by backpackers and day hikers as well. Trampling of the area is so heavy in some places that the trail has become difficult to follow and hikers have become lost.

As you move through this natural sculpture gallery and see the art works of wind and water from a number of different perspectives, you’ll be amazed at the variety of shapes they can assume. Long distance views are good in this area too. They include Mt. Lemmon, Sabino Basin and Pusch Ridge. Lemmon Creek, near the Marshall Saddle, is a popular destination on this trail. If you camp here, remember to practice sound wilderness ethics and camp at least 200 feet from the water.

Another attraction of this trail is that it can be accessed from a number of different connecting trails. It is possible to plan a hike here that includes any of several other major features of the Santa Catalinas. The possibilities are actually too numerous to list on this page, but the most popular access routes into this area include Marshall Gulch Trail #3, Aspen Trail #93, Romero Trail #8 and the West Fork Trail #24.