Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
small yellow crab spider camouflaged to look like a flower; these spiders don't make
webs but instead lie in wait for insects feeding on nectar. Once the bloom is over,
pollinated flowers develop into dangling seedpods that used to be an important food
source for the local Tohono O'Odham people, who ground the seeds in stone mortars
to make flour.
Occasionally and briefly descending on its zigzagging eastward leg, the trail has
one noticeable descent before it eventually turns right and heads south. On this south-
bound leg, a few false trails to your right (west) look as if they might head back to
the trailhead, but they come to a viewpoint just a few yards away before petering out
quickly. Meanwhile, the main trail meanders south and passes a rusty trail sign on the
left. It's so rusted that nothing can be read on it, but you're now more than halfway
around the loop.
Behind the rusty sign, a narrow trail climbs east to Pusch Peak—the Linda Vista
Loop Trail continues west. (The trail to the mountain is not marked on any maps and
is not described here.) Barely 0.1 mile beyond the rusty trail marker, the trail reaches
an unsigned Y. Here, take the left fork to complete the loop. (The right fork goes
straight back to the parking lot, in case you're in a hurry.)
The westward leg of the loop yields views of Oro Valley, a burgeoning suburban
town. (With no offense to its 41,000 residents, you'll probably be casting a look over
your shoulder for the prettier mountain views.) Descend toward a school as the trail
heads north, almost reaching the boundaries of the school property. At a trail fork be-
hind the school, you can go straight (north) for 0.3 mile to the trailhead, or you can
take the right (northeast) fork to complete the longest loop through the cactus-palo
verde forest. A few hundred yards farther is an unsigned T-junction. The right (east)
trail goes up to the rusty trail sign. The left (west) trail leads to the parking lot, about
0.2 mile away.
Directions
Take Oracle Road (AZ 77), Tucson's major road going north from the west side of
town, to Catalina State Park: From the intersection of Oracle and Grant Roads, drive
north on Oracle to enter Oro Valley and reach Linda Vista Boulevard, 9.3 miles north
of Grant Road. Turn right onto Linda Vista and drive 0.1 mile to the parking area and
trailhead.
