"My brother and I started at 4:45 am and made it to the summit in about 3:50. The trail was in good condition and only had some overgrowth in places and was pretty easy to follow. " — ZachTeich • Jun 15, 2023

"I hopped on the trail from the Miller Creek trailhead at 0737, arriving to the Saguaro Park line at 0804. On the way to the park line I intercepted a few foxes chasing a rabbit. They circled me for a bit and then ran away; cute and fat critters they are! I made it to Happy Valley around 0921, which was fairly flat, but once you hit the Rincon peak trail, it is all uphill. I enjoyed stunning views of Mica Mountain, Helen's Dome, and Tanque Verde peaks from the "staircase" ascending Rincon. I caught my first close glimpse of Rincon around 1001 ahead of a draw and made the slow last 1.5 miles from there to the summit, which took a full hour. I reached the summit by 1101, stayed on top and ate lunch for 30 mins, before cruising down and reaching my car at 1425. The summit was spectacular and well worth the adventure. It's no pun intended, the "capstone" hike of Southern AZ as you can see almost every noteworthy peak from the summit vista on a clear day like mine, including Mt. Lemmon, Mica Mountain, Mt. Wrightson, Miller Peak, Apache Peak, Chiricahua Peak, and Mt. Graham. The last 0.3 miles before the trailhead I nearly stepped on a rattlesnake, which was not happy to see me. This trai..." — mchikes • Oct 12, 2020

"Serious leg burner! Camped at Happy Valley Saddle camp after Mica and woke up early for Rincon the next morning. Best views of the entire backpack from the top! Complete TR: https://themtsarecalling.com/mica/" — Christopher • Apr 19, 2020

"This is quite the jaunt! 8.1 miles one way, 4300 ft cumulative elevation gain, and a very steep finale! And this is the fast way to get to the summit... Starting from the East, the access road (Mescal Road turning into FR35) is passable by most cars if it hasn't rained recently. There are nice camping spots located along the road and at the trailhead. Most are shaded by pretty big trees. Happy Valley is definitely a nice place. The hike itself follows very well-defined and well-signed trails within the Eastern Unit of Saguaro National Park - you will see none of the giant cacti on that side of the mountain. A lot of the hike is pleasantly shaded, and the views once on top are grand. You can make out dozens of peaks of the Tucson area. Be aware that pets are not allowed and you need a permit to camp only in the designated campsites. The Happy Valley Saddle one is equipped with a bear-proof container and an outhouse. The springs up there are semi-reliable so carry all the water you need if you decide to backpack, or inquire ahead." — Gabsolute • May 13, 2017