Scenic/Passey/Packrat Loop

Scenic/Passey/Packrat is a 1.7-mile loop from the A-8 park access in Saguaro’s Tucson Mountain District. It links Scenic, Passey and Pack Rat trails across a rocky ridge and a cactus-filled drainage. Allow about an hour to an hour and a half for the loop; the elevation profile adds up to roughly 265 feet of climbing. It’s a good choice for a quick desert hike with more shape than a flat stroll, though the tread is rocky and the first part climbs steadily.

The listed 1.7 miles closely matches the circuit from the park access point. The roadside parking circle is roughly 0.2 mile north; the access walk is separate, so budget extra distance and time for getting in and out. A longer Passey route is sometimes described at about 2.5 miles; this shorter circuit follows the A-8 loop.

From A-8, take Scenic toward the low pass, then follow the Passey connector to Pack Rat and return on Scenic. The initial climb is rocky, with switchbacks. Trail names at the junctions matter: continue on the short circuit instead of carrying on around the longer Passey loop.

Pack Rat climbs to a notch on the ridge, then drops toward the drainage. The route crosses the usually dry arroyo before turning back toward Scenic and climbing over the pass again. The surface is natural, uneven desert tread, not a smooth path; watch your footing on the rocky sections.

The notch opens a view across San Luis Valley and Tucson’s northern suburbs. It’s the best place to pause; a saguaro at the edge of the frame gives the wide valley some scale. On the way down, the drainage has a notably dense patch of jumping cholla. You’ll also pass saguaros, prickly pear, buckhorn cholla and palo verde among the low desert brush.

Use the A-8 roadside paved circle at the end of Scenic Drive, reached from Pima Farms Road. Park along the road, not in or near Sanctuary Cove, then walk roughly 0.2 mile south to the park access point. There’s no water on the route; water in the park is available only at visitor centers. Pets aren’t allowed on this trail. Desert heat is the main commitment, and the drainage can flash flood after storms. Stay on the tread around jumping cholla; its spines hook easily.