Maiden Pools Hike

The hike to the Maiden Pools is a bit tough, but if you can stick through a bit of scrambling and some overgrowth, you’ll be treated to the sound of running water as you climb through a saguaro-covered rugged canyon. At the end of the trail, you’ll find some pools too deep to see the bottom of and some shallow enough to swim in. The best time to do this hike is when there’s water flowing, so aim for the wintertime or after a monsoon.

The second half of this route in particular is fairly tiring and you’ll need to navigate a bit of steep, tricky terrain. For this reason, we don’t recommend this hike for kids or beginners. Bring plenty of water and avoid this hike in the heat of the day as there isn’t much shade.

From the trailhead, take Ventana Trail as it follows a wash for a few steps before turning east and then north. After a short warm-up, you’ll enter the canyon and begin climbing. The climb is unrelenting, but it does get worse in the second half, so keep some gas in the tank. When you’re tired, take a moment to stop and appreciate the view behind you. When you reach the pools, dip your feet and enjoy the sound of running water. Take in the view back down the canyon, then head back down to the trailhead on the same route.