Chiva Falls
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
Address: | Arizona Trail, Vail, AZ 85641, USA |
GPS: |
32°16'53.6"N 110°37'59.4"W Maps | Directions |
State: | Arizona |
Trail Length: | 8.00 miles |
MTB Difficulty: | Intermediate |
Trail Type: | Out & Back |
Hike Difficulty: | Intermediate |
Elevation Gain: | 2635 feet |
Trails/Routes: | 4.4 mi |
Waterfalls Streams Rocks Bicycles Motorized Use
Hike, Mountain Bike, and Swim
Chiva Falls is a waterfall nestled within Coronado National Forest. The path to get there is quite rocky, proving a favorite for mountain biking and motorized vehicles, although hiking is also possible. At the falls, there is a pool to swim in, but be cautious before diving to make sure it's deep enough.
This is a popular route for motorized recreation, so the trails are now basically double-track and be aware of where you are among all the social trails and paths. Courtesy of sdmb.org
This is a trail that requires previous experience with off-roading or mountain biking, due to the difficult terrain. As with most of Arizona's desert waterfalls and pools, take care to avoid flash-flooding conditions. Even though the best time to view the falls is when they've been replenished with precipitation, a heavy rain or monsoon could prove dangerous on the trail.
More Information
Never modify trail features. Ride trails when they're dry enough that you won't leave ruts. Speak up when you see others on the trail and always yield to hikers, horses, and others coming uphill. Always ride on the established trail.
Read MoreBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read MoreDirections
From Mount Lemmon, Arizona
- Head south toward E Ski Run Rd/Summit Rd (0.1 mi)
- Turn left onto E Ski Run Rd/Summit Rd (0.3 mi)
- Slight left onto E Ski Run Rd (3.0 mi)
- Turn left onto N General Hitchcock Hwy (2.0 mi)
- Continue onto N Mt Lemmon Hwy (22.6 mi)
- Turn left onto N Mt Lemmon Short Rd (0.5 mi)
- Continue onto N Soldier Trail (3.5 mi)
- Turn left onto E Tanque Verde Rd (1.1 mi)
- Continue onto E Redington RdDestination will be on the right(7.5 mi)
Redington Road is rough, but there are places to park along the road, both a couple of miles from the trailhead, and further along the rocky, gravel road. Once the pavement stops, it will be rough, but will ease up.
Trails
Distance ?
4.4 milesElevation Gain ?
25 feetReal Ascent ?
755 feetReal Descent ?
730 feetAvg Grade (0°)
0%Grade (-33° to 38°)
-66% to 79%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
Other Mountain Bike Trails, Swimming Holes, and Hiking Trails Nearby
Tanque Verde Falls
Tucson, Arizona
2.7 miles SWTanque Verde Falls are a set of waterfalls and pools inside of Tanque Verde Canyon near Tucson, Arizona. The canyon is located within Coronado National Forest. There is a parking area on the...
Hike, Swim 0.5-9.3 miFrog's Hollow
Vail, Arizona
3.8 miles NEFrog's Hollow is a little-known swimming hole located along the Arizona Trail in the Upper Tanque Verde Canyon near Tucson, Arizona. It is found by hiking or mountain biking along the Arizona or...
Hike, Mountain Bike, Swim 1.1 miLa Milagrosa Canyon
Tucson, Arizona
5.8 miles WLa Milagrosa Canyon is a hidden gem just east of Tucson, Arizona and north of the Tanque Verde area. It features many rock-climbing walls, and even a seasonal waterfall with pools for swimming, best...
Hike, Mountain Bike, Rock Climb, Swim 2.4 miSycamore Reservoir
Tucson, Arizona
6.4 miles NWSycamore Reservoir is a small lake up in Bear Canyon on Mount Lemmon that was originally a water source for an abandoned prison camp. Nowadays, the lake is great for recreation, complete with a...
Hike, SwimCactus Forest Trail
Tucson, Arizona
7.6 miles SWPart of the approximately 10-mile Cactus Forest Trail runs through Saguaro National Park East and provides a nice landscape introduction for newcomers to the desert. A 2.5 mile dirt trail that...
Hike, Mountain BikeSeven Cataracts
Tucson, Arizona
7.8 miles NWSeven Cataracts is a set of waterfalls located within Willow Canyon near Tucson, Arizona. The best way to reach the pools at the bottom involve some canyoneering to maneuver down the rocks along the...
Canyoneer, Hike, Swim 1.0-7.5 miHutch's Pool
Tucson, Arizona
11.2 miles WHutch's Pool is a popular destination near Tucson, Arizona. Famed for its cool water in the desert heat, the pool is an 8-mile hike round trip into the canyons and mountains of Sabino Canyon...
Hike, Swim 2.7-3.5 miSeven Falls
Tucson, Arizona
11.3 miles WSeven Falls is a waterfall located in the Sabino Canyon near Tucson, Arizona. It's a great hike and a fun swimming hole, and listed often as one of the best or most popular activities of the...
Hike, Swim 3.6 miLemmon Pools
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
12.4 miles NWHidden among the trees and boulders of Mount Lemmon lies Lemmon Pools, a swimming hole near the Santa Catalina Mountains and Mount Lemmon itself. It's about 8.5 miles round trip to the pools and...
Hike, Swim 1.0-1.2 miMaiden Pools
Tucson, Arizona
13.7 miles WOver the course of time, the Ventana Stream has exposed the canyon’s base granite, and then smoothed and formed into a series of small pools -- now called the Maiden Pools. With...
Hike, Rock Climb, Swim 2.8-3.5 miRomero Pools
Tucson, Arizona
18.9 miles NWNestled in Arizona's Catalina State Park, just north of Tuscon, are the Romero Pools. The pools are accessible by a hike through Romero Canyon that takes an average of two hours. The hike gets...
Hike, Swim 1.9 miMontrose Pool
Tucson, Arizona
18.9 miles NWMontrose Pool is a seasonal catchment accessable through the Romero Canyon trail in Catalina State Park, Arizona. The pool fills up after rain, but is often dry. The trailhead is the same...
Hike, Swim