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Tanque Verde Falls is located east of Tucson, a short 30-40 minutes from downtown. The Falls are a collection of waterfalls and pools in the bottom of a canyon fed by snow melt or rain runoff from the surrounding mountains. Prime time is monsoon season, flow is usually good if there’s been regular rain within a week or two. Other times of the year conditions can vary greatly. Some pools are very shallow and not jump-able, others are of varying depth and lined with rocks. Conditions can change very quickly, due to falling rock/debris or silt build up, ALWAYS CHECK YOUR JUMPS. Flash floods are a very real risk in this canyon, exercise caution during monsoon season and know that upstream storms can take many hours to make their way downstream. During very high flow being swept over the falls is a very real and potentially FATAL risk. More than 30 people have died here over the years, most from being swept over the main fall. Please pick up your trash, and feel free to pack out some that others inevitably leave.
To get there head east on Tanque Verde Rd, on the NE side of Tucson. Eventually Tanque Verde Road will turn into Redington Road and after a couple miles it begins to climbs steeply and then turns to dirt. The trailhead for the upper falls (which isn’t really marked) is about a half mile after milepost 4, shortly after the fire danger sign with smokey the bear. There is a little parking pullout on the right with a trail leading down into the canyon, right before the road makes a 90 degree left turn up a steep hill. There is a a big rusty yellowish metal sign a little bit down the trail on the left and an anti-cattle gate you walk through after that, both of which are visible from the road/trailhead. Follow the trail for a short but steep hike into the canyon. Once in canyon, head down stream. The first pool you encounter is filled year round thanks to it being all rock. Jumps here from 8-30 feet. Continue down stream for the better jumps. Easiest access is on your right hand side (when facing downstream) pretty much all the way down. After a few shallow pools the canyon turns and drops to the right. Here is a series of 3 pools leading to the main 80 foot fall. The first pool is way too shallow. The next one is awesome with tons of jumps on both sides ranging from 6-45 feet. Immediately after this is The Shaft (a sweet 35 foot step and fall) and some more jumps in the pool following. Shortly downstream from here is the main fall. The pool at the bottom is huge and close to 20 feet deep. Launching into it is an awesome 80 foot jump that requires a strong push off. Climbing back up requires either some minor rock climbing that is VERY exposed, or a pain in the ass fifteen minute bushwhack. This is a very popular place in the summer and can draw some crowds on weekends, but is still my favorite place to jump thanks to the awesome variety of jumps and terrain features.
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