Hike Safford Peak (Sombrero Peak) Saguaro National Park, AZ

Nov 11, 2019 — Safford Peak stands out as you enter Tucson from the north, a peak known to some locals as Sombrero Peak. It's a pretty-looking peak from the highway, but much better en-route. The trailhead begins in Sanctuary Cove, which requests a small donation to park there. A trail leads past a rock labyrinth (if you want to add in some extra unnecessary hiking), and then starts ascending to the west. The route to the summit is a pretty clear social trail and surprisingly easy to follow except for one section, located shortly after starting the route. I included both my ascent and descent routes on my map - it just seemed like there was no one option to get to higher ground, except for a few cairns on less well-maintained trails. Perhaps the route has been obscured to prevent easy access? Anyway, the trail continues south past the less-obvious section and is easy to follow as it weaves up the east slope of Safford Peak. The trail then wraps around the south side of the peak and ascends on the west side on a Class 2 talus field. A Class 2+ move leads to the summit. You can see Panther Peak to the west, and apparently there's a nice ridgeline traverse to get there.