Catalina State Park is one of the most popular destinations for locals and tourists in the Northwest Tucson area. This protected land offers a diverse mix of wildlife, great bird watching, and after rainfall can have several excellent locations to dip your feet into flowing water along the Sutherland Wash, which then feeds into the Canyon Del Oro Wash. Weekends often feature activities like concerts, wildlife exhibits, and guided hikes so be sure to check out the newly revamped Catalina State Park website for details.
One of the shortest trails in the whole park can often get overlooked, but is well worth a quick stop. This trail is the Romero Ruins Trail and is only about three quarters of a mile long, but takes you back in time. The trail begins right off the main entrance road but well before the main trailhead area, so look for signage. Romero Ruins is the location of an ancient Hohokam village dating back to about 500 A.D. There are plenty of interpretive signs along the trail to explain the history of the area which include an old village wall, pit houses, a ball court, and trash mounds. In our more recent history Francisco Romero chose this site to build a home, the remnants of which still exist today. Head up to this hillside location and you’ll understand why both Romero and the Hohokams picked this spot as the views are absolutely incredible Take a few minutes on your next trip to Catalina State Park to check it out, but please observe signage to stay on the trails and do not collect any artifacts from the site.
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