The PCT begins on a low hill near Campo (elev. 2,915′), a small town near the Mexican border. It then passes through Lake Morena County Park, tunnels beneath Interstate 8, and climbs through chaparral, scrub oak and pines to the rim of the Laguna Mountains. The trail dips into Anza-Borrego Desert State Park at Scissors Crossing, and then winds through the San Felipe Hills and lesser mountains of the Cleveland National Forest before crossing Highway 74 at 4,900 feet and climbing the backbone of the San Jacinto Mountains.

Esperero Cathedral Loop gives you a beautiful and steep tour of a portion of the Catalina Mountains in Tucson, AZ! This is one of the long run routes the Tucson Trail Runners group has been running since the 1970s and times on the course are available online dating back to 1979 (long before Strava)! From Sabino Canyon, run on the tram road until you hit Esperero Trail, where you will take a left. The trail quickly becomes steep and takes you up to Cardiac Ridge, then through Esperero Canyon and past Bridal Veil Falls where there is sometimes water flowing.