Length: 2.4 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Moderate

Wilderness Area: Pusch Ridge Wilderness

Journal: "Picnic on Mount Lemmon" and "Wilderness of Rocks"

**Kid Friendly Hike**

From Tucson, take Grant Road east to Tanque Verde Road. Turn left, and continue east on Tanque Verde to Catalina Highway. Turn left. At mile marker 5, you will need to stop at the fee station and pay $5 for a day pass. Continue on Catalina Highway until you reach the town of Summerhaven, at mile marker twenty-five. The trailhead is located at the Marshall Gulch Picnic Area, 1/2 mile past Summerhaven. (Note: This picnic area will be closed during the winter months, while there is snow on the mountain.) Trail begins next to the restrooms.

Trail Description:

The Marshall Gulch Trail #3 begins at the sign next to the restrooms. The first hundred feet is a steep climb up to the ridgeline; then, as the trail enters into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area, it follows the contour and meanders through ponderosa pines and oak and sycamore trees. This area is particularly scenic. We hiked it during the month of October 1999, just after the leaves had changed colors -- the vibrant colors were amazing!

There are a few creek crossings -- at the first one, there is a spur trail that leads back to the trailhead.

The last hundred yards is a steep climb up to Marshall Saddle, where the trail junctions with several other trails, including the Wilderness of Rocks Trail. Many possibilities for exploration are there, for day hikers and backpackers. From there, you can return the way you came, or continue on.

If you return the way you came, you can vary the trip by hiking the spur trail at the first creek crossing. This spur trail follows the creek and ends up back at the restrooms.