Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The trail ascends in fits and starts, with a switchback here and a step-up there, inter-
spersed with unexpected flat areas or descents to the creek, which is crossed sever-
al times. The underbrush occasionally makes the trail a little unclear, but helpfully
placed cairns will guide you.
Eventually, there are more steep sections than flat ones, and you encounter loose
trail underfoot. If you pay attention to your surroundings, you'll see a jagged cliff on
the northeastern horizon, and for a few hundred yards you can make out the natur-
al rock window that gives the canyon its name—
ventana
is Spanish for “window.”
From this angle, ascending to The Window looks like an epic rock climb, but you'll
not need ropes, as hikers approach the window from the far side. Later on the trail,
the view of The Window is hidden.
As you climb higher, pine trees begin to introduce themselves in the oak wood-
land. To your left, just south of west, you can appreciate the cliffs of the north face of
Mount Kimball
. You reach a trail junction at about 5 miles from the trailhead, with a
metal marker indicating the
Finger Rock Trail
going left (west) and the Esperero Trail
going right (northeast).
This is actually the end of the Ventana Trail—continue on the Esperero Trail for
about another mile. It's steep enough that rock steps have been built into it at several
points, and at one point the trail heads west for about 0.1 mile, which might make you
think you're heading the wrong way. Fear not: It switches back and reaches a won-
derful, almost flat ridge that you follow to the east, with views of Tucson to your right
and Mount Lemmon to your left. This in itself is a great end to a hike, but the best is
yet to come.
The final push is a few hundred yards of climbing, generally southeast, toward
and then behind the rock buttress that houses The Window. You can't see this natural
rock arch until you've almost passed it, so as you ascend the steep, loose trail behind
the buttress, make sure to keep looking to your right.
The Window itself is about 15 feet high and 25 feet wide. Every time I go up
there it's really windy, so hold on to your hat. Views to the west include Mount Kim-
ball, Ventana Canyon, and much of Tucson; as you look the other way, the spires of
Window Peak dominate the view. Just remember that the west side of The Window is
a vertical cliff—so explore with care.
