Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
main Phoneline Trail to your right or taking the Phoneline Link Trail #27A to your
left—the latter is the shortened loop, described later in this section.
The Phoneline Trail is clear but narrow, with nowhere to step off, climbing gently
northeast with increasingly splendid views of the canyon. To the left of the trail, the
canyon wall tumbles steeply to the road hundreds of feet below, and to the right it
climbs to the canyon top, so looking for a place to take a break is exceedingly diffi-
cult. Look for a semi trailer-sized flat boulder on the left side after about 0.7 mile—it
makes a great place to stop for a snack while thinking about how and when this
massive piece of rock detached itself from the cliffs above. Onward, the airy route
swoops and slants like a hawk, following the contours of the canyon until it reaches
the intersection with the Historic Sabino Trail #23A, 2 miles beyond the flat boulder.
Here, you could descend steeply on a rough and rocky 0.7-mile trail to
Sabino Canyon
Road
, reaching the road just above Bridge 9 and below Shuttle Stop 8.
Continuing on the main Phoneline Trail for another 0.5 mile brings you to the
junction with Sabino Canyon Trail #23. At this point, you could turn around and re-
turn the way you came, saving yourself the final steep section, or turn left and zigzag
steeply down for 0.5 mile to the end of Sabino Canyon Road at Shuttle Stop 9. Here,
continue down Sabino Canyon Road to the visitor center, or retrace your hike on the
Phoneline Trail.
The
Phoneline Link Trail #27A
makes a convenient descent for the shortened
loop, switchbacking toward the road below. After 0.6 mile, you'll reach a trail junc-
tion marked “Creek Trail #52,” where you turn left. (If you turn right, you'll cross
Sabino Creek, which can be dry or knee-deep depending on the season, to reach
Sabino Canyon Road at Shuttle Stop 1, just 0.1 mile away.)
Creek Trail doesn't have many water views, meandering instead through desert
woodland of mesquite and palo verde trees, often accompanied by birdsong. After 0.2
mile, Creek Trail crosses a sandy wash that's almost always dry—look for the brown
trail marker on the other side. The trail follows the right side of the wash for 0.1 mile
and then crosses it again; look for stones marking the way. Another 0.1 mile brings
you to an unsigned fork. Going left takes you along the left bank of Sabino Creek, and
you arrive at the east side of small Sabino Dam after 0.2 mile. Going right crosses the
creek (you might have to wade) and gets you to the west side of the dam. This side
