Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Overview
There are no must-see views on this hike, which perhaps is what makes it attractive.
The reliable views of thick stands of saguaros, prickly pear, cholla cacti (the “jump-
ing” kind), ocotillo, palo verde, mesquite, and spring flowers, with a backdrop of nu-
merous cliffs and crags at the south end of the Tucson Mountains, make this a wild-
looking place. It's a hike that somehow grows on you.
Route Details
This route is described from the western Yetman Trailhead, slightly west of Gates
Pass, hiking east to the Camino de Oeste Trailhead, which is 300 feet lower. Tucson
Mountain Park trail signs tend to face the hiker leaving from the Yetman Trailhead,
which makes it easier to navigate from this direction. The signs are not as high-quality
as those found in state and federal areas and are subject to vandalism, so hikers should
carry a map and compass if they don't know the trail well. There are numerous inter-
sections with mapped and unmapped trails.
David Yetman worked to protect the environment as a member of the Pima
County Board of Supervisors from 1977 to 1988, and this trail was named in his
honor when he retired from politics. Since then he has worked with the Audubon So-
ciety and the University of Arizona, has authored numerous books, and has for sev-
eral years served as the quirky host of the PBS television series
The Desert Speaks
,
in which he explores the geology, wildlife, and inhabitants of American deserts from
Arizona to Argentina.
