Climbing Finger Rock Trail in Tucson, AZ!

Finger Rock

The Finger Rock Trail is a great day hike and is conveniently located right in Tucson itself at the foot of the Catalina Mountains. The Finger Rock is a neat rock formation that looks like a little hand with its index finger pointing up. It is a classic image in the Tucson skyline. Awesome desert scenery and magnificent city views abound throughout this hike. Although most of the trail is easy, if you plan to reach the finger, I would suggest that you be an experienced climber. The last 300 feet of climbing is a little hair-raising and you definately do not want to loose your footing near the top. No ropes are required however and when you reach the top you are rewarded with one of the most magnificent spanning views of Tucson. The lucky people who make it to the top are rewarded with a face-to-face view of the finger. I highly recommend this hike but it is definitely only for the experienced climber. For those that cannot make this hike I have included a picture of the Finger Rock Up Close. It almost blends in with its environment when you are this close to it but you can see it in the center. Bring lots of water if you are going to make this climb.

And one last note, the trail cuts off to the left when you reach a large flat clearing 3/4 of the way up the trail. Its very easy to miss this cutoff that heads to the finger. If you start to feel like you are going in the wrong direction away from the finger, you probably missed this turn off. Here is a google earthed map I made up to help you. When you make this cutoff you immediately drop down into a valley. After the going down in to the valley and back up the other side, you just follow the trail of cairns (piled up little rock stacks to mark a trail)

Getting to the Finger Rock Trail Head is easy. Go North on Swan, until you reach Skyline where you take a left hand turn. Go west for just a little bit until you hit Alvernon Way. Turn right and follow Alvernon until you hit the trailhead parking lot. See MapQuest Map

More Photos of Finger Rock

Finger Rock from miles away

Climbing up from behind the rock (what you see is not actually the finger but the outcropping that holds the finger)

Half way up the climb. When you get to the top you will be sitting on top of the massive outcropping just to the right of the finger and you look directly west to see the finger rock.

Eye to eye with the finger!! Click to enlarge