Parking
Use the Cam-Boh Picnic Area parking area off Picture Rocks Road. Parking serves cars and horse trailers/RVs; the number of spaces is not published.
Overview
About Picture Rocks/
Why go
- A complete loop links four named trail corridors with only a short shared approach.
- Restroom and picnic shelter at the starting access.
Heads up
- The 7.6-mile route is a half-day commitment, with no water refill confirmed.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Saguaro map
Full mapElevation2,428–2,904 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 Picture Rocks/
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 tourRecorded for this trailhead
Cam-Boh Picnic Area0:00 / 0:15
“You're coming up on Cam-Boh Picnic Area along Picture Rocks Road. Bring a picnic for the roofed shelter, with Panther and Safford peaks to the north and a grill if you want to cook.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Saguaro Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Tree That Works Without Leaves
- The Smell of Desert Rain
- The Grass That Carries Fire
- Box Canyon and Ringtail Loop
- 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
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Picture Rocks/
The full circuitPicture Rocks/Prophecy Wash Loop is a 7.
Picture Rocks/Prophecy Wash Loop is a 7.6-mile circuit from Cam-Boh Picnic Area, linking Cam-Boh Trail, Ironwood Forest Trail, Picture Rocks Wash and Prophecy Wash. It is a half-day desert hike for people who want to connect several west-side routes into one outing; allow about four to five hours with breaks. This is the longer Cam-Boh circuit, separate from the shorter Picture Rocks Wash Loop.
Route and turnsFrom Cam-Boh, follow Cam-Boh Trail east to Ironwood Forest Trail, then turn south.
From Cam-Boh, follow Cam-Boh Trail east to Ironwood Forest Trail, then turn south. The loop swings southwest onto Picture Rocks Wash and returns northwest on Prophecy Wash. It finishes by retracing the short Cam-Boh approach to the picnic area. The trail corridors meet at several junctions, so keep the full sequence available offline and check each turn rather than following the busiest-looking track.
Time and footingAt 7.6 miles, this is a substantial outing rather than a quick wash walk.
At 7.6 miles, this is a substantial outing rather than a quick wash walk. The route map and terrain data support a rolling desert loop, but detailed information on grade, shade and footing by segment is limited; plan for uneven natural ground and do not count on a uniformly smooth path. The four-to-five-hour estimate allows a moderate walking pace and short stops.
Heat and washesSummer heat in the Tucson Mountains can reach dangerous levels, and shade along this route is…
Summer heat in the Tucson Mountains can reach dangerous levels, and shade along this route is not confirmed. Carry all the water you need for the full loop; a refill point at Cam-Boh or along the route is not confirmed. Picture Rocks and Prophecy washes are part of the circuit; avoid wash corridors when storms threaten because desert runoff can rise quickly.
Start at Cam-BohBegin at Cam-Boh Picnic Area on Picture Rocks Road.
Begin at Cam-Boh Picnic Area on Picture Rocks Road. The trailhead has auto and horse-trailer/RV parking, a restroom, picnic tables, a shelter and grills, so it works well for a meal before or after the hike. Parking capacity is not published, and no food vendor is confirmed at the trailhead.
Pets and accessPets are not allowed on this loop under the park's usual trail rules; service animals may…
Pets are not allowed on this loop under the park's usual trail rules; service animals may accompany visitors where they are permitted. Check current park access notices before setting out, since storm damage has recently closed some roads in the district.
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.
