January 2026.
Tucson, Arizona.
Arizona is known for its beautiful sunsets, and with the promise of the spectacular colors we’ve seen so many times, I asked Gemini where we might find a good vantage point near our apartment in Tucson. The suggestion was the Finger Rock Trailhead at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Knowing my wife and I wouldn’t be hiking far, I asked if there were decent sunset views just a short distance up the trail. That’s where the AI stumbled. It claimed, “…the parking lot and the immediate paved/hard-packed area at the trailhead will be perfectly fine for photography.” Not exactly. The west side of the lot is hemmed in by a block wall tall enough to hide both the street and its traffic from the nearby homes. I’d have needed a very tall tripod to see over it. One thing Gemini did get right was the advice to arrive early—Saturday evenings fill up fast. We pulled in around 4:15 PM and claimed the last available parking space.
As it wasn’t yet time for sunset, I turned my camera toward Finger Rock. This photo is from the same location as the opening image, but I used the phone’s zoom lens to isolate the spire. Though it looks like a small outcropping from the valley floor, the freestanding ‘finger’ is actually a massive 100-foot (30 m) tower of stone. The late afternoon light softened the rugged textures, casting warm tones across the layered rock. Even from a distance, Finger Rock commands attention—its vertical stance and jagged silhouette pointing skyward.
We arrived at the Finger Rock Trailhead just before sunset, hopeful for a short hike and a scenic view. The trailhead sign welcomed us into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, framed by desert flora and the glow of a burgeoning sunset. From the outset, we knew we wouldn’t reach the peak—or even the typical one-mile turnaround at Finger Rock Spring. The goal was simpler: climb just high enough to catch the sunset and, with luck, a better view of Finger Rock.
A few minutes into the hike, we reached a sign marking the continuation of Finger Rock Trail #42 and Pontatoc Trail #410. The sign stood among saguaros and rocky soil, a reminder that this wilderness is both beautiful and demanding. The incline was already testing our limits, yet we passed several hikers on their way down—people who had clearly ventured far beyond the point we’d ever reach.
This was as far as we made it—our turnaround point after a short but strenuous climb for us, even as many younger hikers were already on their way down from much higher on the trail. With the parking area closing at sunset, everyone we passed was clearly timing their descent. Beyond this spot, the trail narrowed, and the footing grew more uneven, a reminder that Finger Rock is known for its steep, demanding terrain. We paused here to take in the rugged landscape.
As the sun continued its descent, the light softened and warmed the terrain around us. The rocky slopes glowed amber, and the saguaros cast long shadows across the canyon floor. Though the sun still sat high above the horizon, we knew better than to linger—our descent would be slow and careful, and the trail’s uneven footing was best navigated in full light. We turned back reluctantly, catching one last glimpse of Finger Rock before the golden hour gave way to dusk…