Tucson area hikes in Febuary?

[changingone]

Hi all,

I'm flying into Tucson mid-Febuary, and I'm hoping someone here could recommend some nearby hikes. I'm actually from northern Arizona (now live in Portland OR), but I'm not too familiar with anything so far south as Tucson. I'm interested in doing a few days hikes and possibly an overnighter to try out new gear. I'm well prepared for it to be cold. I'd appreciate any suggestions for hikes you folks may have. Thanks in advance!
-jamie

*Ok,so I'm returning to edit this topic, as my initial post was pretty vague. I see from exploring this website that there are plenty of hikes with easy access right around Tucson. That means more day hikes than I can possibly fit into my one week stay. I guess what I really need help looking for is an overnighter. I'm looking for:

-somewhere within an hour's drive of Tucson, hopefully less. I'll probably have a friend drop me off and come back for me the next day (unless she wants to come along).

-somewhere I can backpack into, say a 5 to 10 mile hike in (depending on the difficulty of terrain/elevation gain), camp for the night, and hike out the next day.
-what is policy on fire in southern AZ? I imagine it varies with area and fire hazard. It would be nice to have a small fire at dusk.

-Of course, I'd love some solitude.

[Jeffshadows]

What kind of elevation gain or loss are you looking for?

[JimmyLyding]

Mount Kimball via Finger Rock

[changingone]

Mount Kimball via Finger Rock

Wow, the pictures of that hike are increadible. That might be the one. Thanks for the suggestion!

[JimmyLyding]

It's a rough one, but well worth it.

[imike]

As much as I love Finger Rock for a day hike, for a backpack I'd probably opt for Esperero Trail up to Cathedral... easier grade... more seclusion... on the weekend probably lots fewer people... and the hoodoos up there make great camping. Either one is an exceptional hike, right there in Tucson.

Enjoy!

[Jeffshadows]

This time of year the Finger trailhead has no parking and the first mile or so of trail is like walking though a mall. Just something to consider...

[azbackpackr]

Sabino-Bear Loop, camp near Hutch's Pool. Side hike up West Fork Sabino.

You can have a fire and camp as long as you are past 7 falls in Bear Canyon, OR past the end of the pavement in Sabino. No permits required. No campfire restrictions in Feb. We'd all prefer to see you use an existing fire ring.

Plan B, have your friend drop you at the Romero Trailhead in Catalina State Park. It's 21 miles or so to Sabino Visitors' Center from there, have her pick you up there. Makes for a nice long dayhike, a nice weekend backpack, camp in West Fork Sabino, or near Hutch's Pool. More interesting, if you have time for more miles, to hike out of area via Bear Canyon/7 falls trail, rather than Sabino.

I doubt if there is cell service down through there, though, in case you had to call her.

Plan C Cochise Stronghold East to West and back again. Might be snow there. No saguaros there, though--oaks and grass and lots of boulders. Kind of a fer piece from town, too.

[imike]

A really interesting overnight option would be Rattlesnake Canyon, right in the middle of everything in Tucson... hiking out of the Sabino Canyon Visitor center, once you enter the drainage it is all off trail, moving up the natural "desert hiway" of that dry creek bed. It will feel very remote, and likely will have no one else hiking up in there. If it is like it used to be, an entire season would pass with no one bothering to hike it... (no new footprints in the sand...) It is prone to flash flooding in rain, and landslides are possible on the steeper side walls, so park yourself on a nice unexposed bench for the overnight part. It is a great hike, not moving quite as high as the others (unless you decide to hike out the top and connect with Cathedral Rocks trail)... You'll feel extremely remote though still right there in town.