We traveled to Tucson from Phoenix and got a late morning start on this trail. The trailhead was crowded, but we managed to find a parking spot. Everyone spreads out on the trail so it was not at all crowded. I logged this hike at just about 8 miles. The climb up is steady and constant, with beautiful views the entire way up and down. We did the loop (counter clockwise/to the right) so the scenery was different each direction. The trail surface was just about everything you could imagine, rock, gravel, boulders, sand and never boring. There is a registration at the peak and we logged this as our first of the Six Pack of Peaks, Arizona! We saw a snake along the trail that blended quite nicely with the ground and I almost stepped on it, but as I was moving my foot forward noticed it and jumped back. Not sure what kind of snake–looked like a diamondback but no rattle.

Great hike, great weather, great company!