Charouleau Gap 3.5

​Charouleau Gap is a fun and scenic Jeep trail through the Catalina mountains, but it is long and remote with a rating of 3.5.  You will spend all day on the trip. 
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The trail can be done in either direction - we have a slight preference to start in Saddlebrooke and end in Oracle.  The trail is described in this direction.

This sign was put up by the Tucson Rough Riders.  It is correct.

There is a GPS - gpx track at the bottom of the page.
Start the trail by heading east  across the Canada Del Oro Valley then starting to climb toward Charouleau Gap in the Catalina Mountains.  The climb is infrequently rebuilt by the Forest Service for fire control access, but it has been a long time and the trail is heavily eroded.  There are several optional play areas on the way up, one called Mini Moab.
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Heavy erosion
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Steeper than he thought
Kissing Rock is one of the favorite extra credits along the trail.  It can be bypassed.

One successful route is to climb the far right groove, staying in it until the front passenger tire is a couple feet beyond the small hole visible behind the rear passenger tire.
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Kissing Rock
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Kissing Rock route
There are nice views of Mount Lemmon after passing through the unimpressive Charouleau Gap.

There are many boulder collections along the way.
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Mount Lemmon
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Boulders
Descend from the Gap then spend almost 3 miles crossing back and forth through, and driving in, Canada Del Oro wash.  The area pictured here is called the Car Wash.  This 3 mile stretch is impassable in high water conditions.

The Step is an extra credit a few hundred feet off the main trail.  It is steep and a bit off-camber at the top, but it can be done.
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The Car Wash
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The Step
Climbing out of Canada Del Oro has as many challenges as driving down it.  More boulders, erosion and the steep ledge pictured here.

The Escalator is a named hill that is not as difficult as the name might suggest.
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Steep ledge
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Escalator
Updated 2019.
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