Park Ranger Steve Haas Talks About The Diversity Of Ecosystems & Ease Of Use In This RV Friendly Park Just Outside Tuscon, AZ
Outside Tuscon, the majesty of the Sonoran Desert allows many different possibilities to exist. As culture and society have flourished in the area, there must always be a balance of progress but also connection to the natural world. Catalina State Park finds that balance because of its idyllic but strategically placed encampment within various ecosystems allowing it to thrive but yet be wholly accessible to all the creature comforts modern society has to offer. Park Ranger Steve Haas sat down with The Buzz to discuss the history, the dynamic structure of the area and the opportunities for solace for RVers within this oasis.
The Buzz: Can you talk uniqueness of Catalina State Park?
SH: I think what is unique about it is that it has almost turned into an urban park. It wasn’t like this 20 years ago. There wasn’t any development up here at all. But for better or worse, there is a lot of development around the park but that is what makes it so special from my standpoint. We get so many compliments from people when they come in and by the time they get down to the main trail head and they are hiking, they just kind of sigh with relief. Two minutes ago they were at work or shopping but now they are out here and hiking the Canyon Loop Trail. [Now] they are just out in wilderness. You really have a unique situation because you have the best of both worlds. You have an In N’ Out Burger across the street and a Wal-Mart close by…but once you get into the park you have opportunities for solitude…opportunities for reflection…opportunities for challenge…plus getting out on miles and miles of trails. Personally that is what I love about the park. It is unique in a sense that it is the best of both worlds.
The Buzz: What is exceptional about the trails specifically?
SH: Probably one of the most popular hikes in the park is the Canyon Loop Trail. It is about 2.2 miles and takes you through different habitats. Instead of rain and snowfall, it has water flowing in the Southerland wash so you are crossing the creek two or three times. There is a mix of desert uplands so you have the saguaros, the oakatios, the mesquites [but] then you also have the riperian habitat which tends to be the area along the creeks. There are different trees…[like] hatburys, cottonwoods, and ashes that you will only find [in these] raperian areas. The Canyon Loop Trail gives you the culmination of [all these] different eco systems in a short amount of time.
The Buzz: Can you discuss the ecosystem and what makes it work?
SH: We are in the Sonoran desert so some of the prominent species are saguaros. You will probably see over 5000 saguaros in the park so that really is what sets the park as well as Saguaro National Park which is close by. These saguaros are just a magnificent species. The way they have adapted to the desert environment is truly amazing in my mind. But then again we are home to over 150 species of birds. And that is really because we have that range of eco systems. We also have the mesquite mosce which is a mesquite forest which is really a lot of mesquites just outside the riperian area. That brings in the birds. In terms of the encroachment, again we are pretty fortunate because of the wilderness area. There is nowhere else to build really around because it is either state park land, national forest land or wilderness area. And wilderness area has even more restrictions than some of the other ones. [For that reason] it will be in a natural state in perpetuity. It is interesting compared to the last 20 years because it used to be there used to only be a park and desert around. Now, it is has become a different thing…more of an urban park.
The Buzz: Historically what was the area?
SH: Specifically the park was the Hohokam Indians. Then there is Romero Ruin which is a trail in the park that basically interprets an old Hohokam site. Romero was a rancher that basically built his homes on where the Indians built their ruins. It is all really because of the water and the Southerland Wash. [There isn’t water at] all times of the year but [during] certain parts of the year that is where the different Indian tribes and the ranchers would settle. [From that base camp], they would move up and down the mountain. In the summer [with] the heat, they would move up to Southern Catalina Mountain with their cattle.
The Buzz: How accessible is the park to all walks of life?
SH: Tuscon is great. Really some of the things that I would recommend which are on the other side of the mountain would be Sabina Canyon which is run by the National Forest Service. That is a great recreation area. You can also drive up the Catalina Highway up to Summer Haven. They have a town up there. From the park here, you’re looking up at that whole mountain range. But on the other side of the mountain you can drive all the way up to basically 9,200 feet. That is pretty cool because in 14 miles you start at this [basin] level in Tuscon which is the Sonoran desert and by the time you get up [to the other side of the mountain], there is a ski resort up. So you basically, because of the ecosystems, you’ve traveled from basically Mexico to Canada in less than 14 miles. There is just a lot to do. That, in my mind, makes Catalina State Park a great base camp for exploring the area.
Tim Wassberg
A graduate of New York University's Tisch School Of The Arts with degrees in Film/TV Production & Film Criticism, Tim has written for magazines such as Moviemaker, Moving Pictures, Conde Nast Traveler UK and Casino Player. He enjoys traveling and distinct craft beers among other things.
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