Blackett’s Ridge

This is my favorite hike in Tucson. I think it’s the perfect hike for out of towners who want to see the city from above and are in decent shape. It’s relatively short (a little over 6 miles total) and has the most amazing views of Tucson and Mount Lemmon. It is pretty steep for a lot of it so it is a great workout. I also love the satisfaction of getting to the end and literally running into a sign and a dead end unlike most trails at Sabino that interconnect and go on and on. You also don’t have to be on the road for much of the hike like you do for seven falls. There are a coupe crossings that can get washed out during heavy rains but otherwise isn’t too affected by the weather. There aren’t any restrooms or water fountains once you get on the trail so bring your own water and make sure you look for the signs in the beginning so you don’t miss a turn on to phone line or the off phone line on to Blackett’s.

I have done this hike several times and the views at the top always take my breath away. Like others have stated there are lots of spots to take a break and take in some amazing views. I always get a great workout. This hike is a must!

Went hiking here early in the morning to beat the summer heat. It offers amazing few spots to stop off at and take in the view. There isn’t shade so be cautious of what time/​season you go… You never know when the hike is really going to end. Just when you think you need to give up, it keeps going. This is good for those that beginners that like to start off with a challenge or hikers pretty used to steepness. Would be cool to try trail running one day @ this path in Sabino Canyon.

I love this hike.
It can be challenging, and it offers amazing views. If you have bad knees get some walking sticks. There are some steep parts to this, and whenever I see those people with walking sticks I always feel like I am an amateur. But, I enjoy it just the same. Take lots of water, take some snacks or a lunch. There are beautiful places to sit at the top, enjoy the view, refuel your energy and begin the trek back down. Going down can sometimes be more challenging than going up, but it usually goes faster.
This is a great trail to take visitors from out of town as you can see everything. So definitely check it out.

So, we have a UYE Hike scheduled for Sunday. But, the warm spring air and wildflowers were calling my name. I couldn’t wait two more days. I was going stir crazy inside, so I headed to Sabino Canyon. As Blackett’s Ridge is the only hike I haven’t done in Sabino, I decided to give it a try late this afternoon. Ana T. has it right I was too early for sunset but the views are about as good as it gets. The hike had a great intensity, enough to get in some cardio and work those calfs without feeling like you are going to die. Apparently, some people run this trail and I saw them bragging on a hiking forum that their record is 40 minutes. To you people: you are crazy. To the rest of us: the views are lovely the entire way and will give you the strength to get to the top. On the way down, I passed a friend who was headed up the trail. He is also attending the UYE Hike on Sunday. He also said he couldn’t resist getting a hike in this week before our official hike. To those of us who like a hard and rewarding hike: hooray! You have found your 360 degrees of Nirvana! To those who run 3 miles up a mountain: go away, and please don’t make us feel bad about ourselves.

Holy wow! This almost 360 panorama of Tucson’s mountain ranges, is GORGEOUS (especially at sunset).
The hike to it, however, is the hike that never ends,
Yes, it goes on and on my friend,
Some people started hiking it not knowing what it was,
But they’ll continue hiking it forever just because…
OK, so I’m partially just kidding. The finish line has a sign that reads «End of Blackett’s Ridge Trail.» So the hike DOES end, but it feels like cliff after cliff after cliff while trekking through it. And actually, it’s a fairly short hike – a little over 6 miles round trip, 2 hours one-​way if you’re taking it easy.
Moreover, it’s breathtaking in two ways: physically and aesthetically. It’s moderately difficult since you’re constantly going up hill, but it’s well worth the potential gasps for air. Along the way, hikers are awarded with stellar views of Tucson and its mountain ranges. As nice as the views are, they are not the main show.
The main show can be seen from the top of Blackett’s Ridge, which is sandwiched between Sabino Canyon and Bear Canyon. It doesn’t matter which way you look, you will have striking views in every direction… you will have a view down into Sabino Canyon, down into Bear Canyon, north to Mt. Lemmon, and south to the city sprawled between all the beautiful mountain ranges. Wow, wow, wow. About a month and a half ago, three of us did the hike at sunset, and decided it’s a «must see» for anyone who comes to Tucson. I’m telling you, GO FOR SUNSET.
Next time I’d like to do the hike a tad earlier, while its still bright, to experience the added bonus: sitting at the very end of the ridge to face Thimble Peak, with Sabino Canyon straight below, and Bear Canyon to the right.