Brown Mountain Trail via Brown Mountain Picnic Area is a 4.7 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Tucson, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from September until May. Horses are also able to use this trail.
kid friendly
hiking
horseback riding
mountain biking
nature trips
walking
bird watching
running
views
wild flowers
wildlife
rocky
no dogs
NOTE: It has been reported that the picnic area is currently closed due to COVID-19. Please see the park's website for up to date information.
No shade, but stellar views from the topside of the hike. There is a large badger hole under a small ocotillo bush right next to the trail in the low section towards the picnic turnoff.
Ángela Jones recorded Recording - Apr 25, 10:43 AM
too short.
awesome hike and for once I didn't get lost!!! nice hefty climb up the mountain peaks. clockwise is the way to go. cactus blooms are just starting. Bring lots of water!
Mindy King recorded Recording - Apr 22, 07:48 AM
hike, in the beautiful Saguaro National Forest. The saguaro blooms are starting to pop out. No other hikers until almost back at the parking lot. Lots of widelife including 2 deer, bunnies, squirrels, and several types of birds. There were only two negatives: 1. being the first on the trail means clearing all the spider strands that were across the trail. 2. My Alltrails' recording was having issues, again. It seems like it would only record accurately when my screen was active, not while in the background.
Excellent trail, go in through McCain loop entrance as brown mtn picnic area is closed. Definitely clockwise is the way to go!
Very nice hike, good views! Clockwise advice was good.
greg olson recorded Recording - Apr 13, 03:23 PM
Love this trail! Not too hard, not too easy. Great scenery and beautiful day!
Great SNP trail. Loved being surrounded by every type of cactus imaginable and walking through the different colored rocks. Chose to do the loop clockwise based on other's reviews. Up first to enjoy views often hidden by the Tucson Mountains. Easter day hike with perfect weather!
We began at the McCain trailhead and did the loop clockwise, this way the most challenging is tackled at the start, instead of the end of a 3 hour hike. (We might have finished quicker had we not stopped often to take pictures.) It's a great workout, especially going UP, which is about half the steep, narrow, rocky hike. Views are spectacular. The second half is in the flats, but still interesting as the rocky trail takes you through towering old Saguaro. Not a lot of flowers, but the Ocotillo is starting to bloom. Saw 3 mountain bikers and 4 hikers.
We’ve been hiking in the Tucson area for the last 3 wks and this is my favorite trail so far. Agree that going clockwise is best to do the hard part first. There are plenty of flat areas between the uphill climbs to rest and take in the wide open views. Trail is more like 4 miles.
The picnic area is closed right now due to the corona outbreak, but a small pull out comes up right afterwards and leads directly to the trail. Loved this hike, enjoyed going clockwise to get the elevation over with first - fantastic views! Wildflowers are all in bloom. Follow my instagram for more adventures @julie_journeys
Dominic H.
I stayed at Gilbert Ray campground and as the sun started setting raced up the trail for a better view. And I was truly rewarded! Highly recommend for watching the sun set. Full disclosure- I did not complete this trail, only got to the ridge for the view.
Nice hike. Great views of surrounding area.
Trail is very rocky. You have two options on the direction you go. Very nice and the cacti are budding. Not to crowded.
Hiked this trail 3/16/20 and it was great, perfect length for the 3ish hours I had. Went clockwise from McCain TH and that is definitely the way to go, getting the climb in early before you're tired or it gets too hot. No shade to speak of - wear a hat & bring plenty of water! Really nice views of Saguaro NP and adjacent mountains at the top, and the climb up was definitely exercise but not at all brutal.
Beautiful trail. Easy to follow
Beautiful views along the way. A great inventory of wildflowers blooming. Looks like another great year for wildflowers. So many flowers that you overlook the structures associated with the AZ Sonoran Desert Museum. A definite 5 star without the road noise and obstructed views.
We did the trail clockwise. There is a steep rise in elevation at first going that way. Beautiful views from the ridge.
It's a nice little trail with a decent ascent and nice views. The only reasons I wouldn't give it five stars are (1) the road noise and (2) the fact that most views include man-made structures. It was an enjoyable hike but I think there are better trails in SNP.
