Tanque Verde Ridge Trail

11.16-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 465 ft gain and 5,206 ft loss.

Photo: dret, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

11.2 mi
round trip: 10,341 ft
climb: 7,033 ft
high point: Out and back
route

Is Tanque Verde Ridge Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The National Park Service lists 2 alerts for Saguaro National Park.

Loop Drive closed in Tucson Mountain District due to storms.
Park alert covering Saguaro National Park · NPS · Saguaro National Park
Vehicle Break-Ins
Park alert covering Saguaro National Park · NPS · Saguaro National Park

As of Oct 23, 6:30 pm MST · Source: NPS · Saguaro National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Tanque Verde Ridge Trail

Best months: March–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

Jan
50° / 34°
Feb
50° / 33°
Mar
55° / 37°
Apr
62° / 43°
May
71° / 51°
Jun
80° / 60°
Jul
80° / 63°
Aug
79° / 62°
Sep
75° / 59°
Oct
68° / 49°
Nov
59° / 40°
Dec
49° / 33°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon, AZ, 13.6 mi away at 7,027 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Tanque Verde Ridge Trail is an expert-level out-and-back hike in Saguaro National Park, within the Saguaro Wilderness, about 7 miles from the town of Tanque Verde, Arizona. The route is roughly 22 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 10,300 feet, and the high point reaches about 7,033 feet. The trail starts at about 6,999 feet and climbs to the high point before descending back. That makes the one-way gain about 5,135 feet, and the round trip about 10,300 feet. The National Park Service manages the land, and a fee is charged for the visit. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 68°F, while winter highs sit near 50°F. Several other trails lie within a few miles, including Bridal Wreath Falls Trail, Douglas Spring Trail and Ernie's Falls Trail. Climbers can find Tanque Verde Canyon about 4.7 miles away.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Photo: desertdutchman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Douglas Spring Trail

~4 min drive

15.7-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 3,815 ft elevation gain

Photo: desertdutchman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ernie's Falls Trail

~4 min drive

1.28-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 296 ft elevation gain and loss.

Photo: SaguaroNPS, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Manning Camp Trail

~6 min drive

3.8-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 1,123 ft of elevation gain

Photo: desertdutchman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Quilter Trail

~7 min drive

A hard 4.39-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona connecting to Hope Camp and Manning Camp Trails, ideal for experienced hikers seeking backcountry exploration.

Manning Camp Trail

~8 min drive

A moderate 7.04-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona connecting to Devil's Bathtub and Grass Shack Campground.