Parking
Turkey Creek Trailhead is the nearest road access to Manning Camp. The camp lies 7.5 miles away by trail; high-clearance four-wheel drive is strongly encouraged for the access road.
Overview
About Fire Loop Trail
Why go
- Spud Rock has a broad, windy view toward Tucson.
- Cool pine forest and boulders feel far removed from the saguaro desert.
Heads up
- The 7.5-mile walk to Manning Camp comes before the loop.
- Spud Rock’s optional top uses an informal slab scramble.
The trail follows rocky dirt through ponderosa pines, with pine needles underfoot. Spud Rock is a large outcrop with a simple marker; its top is an optional informal scramble up a sloping rock slab to a flat perch. It can be windy up there, with a broad view toward Tucson. If you're already at camp and don't have time for the full circuit, the separate Spud Rock out-and-back is about 2.5 miles round trip.
Parkwolf’s verdictSpud Rock is the payoffMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Saguaro map
Full mapElevation7,992–8,615 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Saguaro alerts
- ClosureTucson Mountain District road closuresSeveral Tucson Mountain District roads are closed; follow posted closures and use McCain Loop to bypass the Kinney Road closure.Official details
- CautionVehicle break-ins reported at trailheadsVehicle break-ins have occurred at King Canyon Trailhead and other park trailheads; secure your vehicle and valuables.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Saguaro Tour Guide
Your drive to Fire Loop Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Saguaro National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Saguaro audio tour- 43 audio storiesacross Saguaro’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 74 trails, 40 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
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Trail guide
Hiking Fire Loop Trail
A remote high-country loopFire Loop is about 4.
Fire Loop is about 4.9 miles around the pine-covered high country from Manning Camp, with roughly 840 feet of total climbing. Allow about four hours for the loop itself. The circuit travels near Spud Rock, Mica Mountain and Reef Rock, then returns to camp. This isn't 4.9 miles from your car: the nearest trailhead is about 7.5 trail miles from Manning Camp, one way. Add that approach and its climb before treating this as a day hike.
A high-country storyThe full loop crosses high ground around Mica Mountain, 8,666 feet, and Reef Rock, 8,103 feet;…
The full loop crosses high ground around Mica Mountain, 8,666 feet, and Reef Rock, 8,103 feet; Spud Rock is 8,613 feet. A local name story says two Southern Pacific railroad engineers grew potatoes and cabbage on a flat near Spud Rock. Manning Camp began as former Tucson mayor Levi Manning's family's summer home; park fire crews and researchers now use it as a backcountry base. This is cool pine forest above the saguaro desert, not the landscape most visitors picture when they think of Saguaro.
Getting there and staying safeManning Camp is reached on foot only. The closest trailhead is Turkey Creek, 7.
Manning Camp is reached on foot only. The closest trailhead is Turkey Creek, 7.5 miles away by trail; the access road strongly favors high-clearance four-wheel drive. Backcountry camping requires an advance reservation for a designated site. Manning Camp has six sites, an outhouse and a water source that's nearly perennial, but treat all water and don't count on small flows along the loop. Fire-affected slopes can hide unstable stump holes or falling trees; storms can bring flash floods and rolling debris. Pets are prohibited in the wilderness.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Saguaro
19 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
56 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
266 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
113 sightingsCollared PeccaryMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
53 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
127 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Saguaro. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
