Five-Star Trails: Tucson - 3rd Edition by Rob Rachowiecki (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Discover 40 five-star hiking trails near Tucson, Arizona, including popular routes and hidden gems.

Encircled by mountains, blessed with awe-inspiring desert scenery, and flanked to the east and west by Saguaro National Park--there's no better place to hit the trails than Tucson. This diverse geographical region offers a variety of easy, moderate, and strenuous hikes. Bag a peak on the Sweetwater Trail to Wasson Peak. Cool down in some of Tucson's best swimming holes along the challenging Tanque Verde Falls Trail. Wander among towering rock formations on Finger Rock Trail.

Explore 40 of the region's best, five-star trails with this easy-to-carry and easy-to-use guidebook. In the updated edition, Rob Rachowiecki presents everything you need to know about spectacular outings that lead to mountain panoramas, majestic waterfalls, remote wilderness, amazing wildlife, and more.

Inside you'll find:

• Descriptions of 40 five-star hiking trails for all levels and interests


• GPS-based trail maps, elevation profiles, and detailed directions to trailheads


• Insight into the history, flora, and fauna of the routes


• Ratings for scenery, difficulty, trail condition, solitude, and accessibility for children

Save time and make the most of your hiking adventures. From easy strolls across grasslands to thrilling treks atop mountains, experience the best of Tucson's breathtaking scenery and varied terrain. Lace up, grab your pack, and hit the trail!

About the Author

Rob Rachowiecki was raised in London and climbed his first mountain by accident while on a school biology field course in Scotland. After a day of dissecting newts, he walked to the top of a windswept hill behind the outdoor studies center, looked around at miles of wilderness, and had an "I'm the king of the world!" revelation.

Rob crossed the pond in 1974, planning on traveling around the world, but he ended up living and traveling throughout the Americas, from Alaska to Argentina. He has authored hiking and climbing guides to Central America and the Central Andes, as well as travel guides to Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and the American Southwest for publishers ranging from Lonely Planet to National Geographic. He has been an active member of the Society of American Travel Writers since 1997.

From 1983 to 2008, Rob worked as an adventure-travel guide, leading treks in the Andes and adventures on the Amazon. Since 1990 he has lived in Tucson, where he earned a master's degree at the University of Arizona and where he enjoys the area's varied ethnic restaurants, theaters, and outdoor music festivals. He is often found hiking the many desert, canyon, and mountain trails surrounding Tucson, following the seasonal changes and usually doing a spot of bird-watching, as Brits are wont to do.

After earning a respiratory therapy degree in 2006, Rob worked three days a week in local rural community hospitals until he retired in 2016. Now he travels the world, often accompanied by his partner, Audrey. His wanderlust has led to a four-month backpacking trip to Southeast Asia, visits to the lesser-known countries of Europe, and several adventures in various African countries. To avoid baggage fees, he wears hiking boots on international flights.