Reviews of Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Area (Tourist Attraction)

Lindsey Kowalski

It's about 15 from the base of the mountain. The campsites here have some shade. There's a seasonal Creek running through it, and is tucked away from the highway. There are parking spots for day-use hikers to park. It's a short jaunt from Tucson to find a fun place for kids to explore.

Doug Murphy

Bug springs/prison camp down hill night ride... COMING IN HOTT

Sarah Rooffener

We camped here early in the winter and again this spring. It is a great in between spot to camp for rock climbing. We LOVED rock climbing on the hills above the campground. Fantastic climbing. I also enjoyed reading all of the history of the prison camp that was there.

Tracey Bonjour

Had a really good time camping there. Nice hiking spots

Sandra Carretero

Great hiking and climbing

Bruce Betzler

High desert adventure at it's best!

Jorey Cimmer

Great history hidden on out Mt

Mike Lancaster

Nice easy hike. 7 miles up the road to My Lemmon. Not a lot of shade.

Josh Rosas

More of a camp host presence for the facilities would be nice.

Eric Jackson

By itself, it's not much, but this is a great place to access a lot of what the Catalinas have to offer, like rock climbing, day hikes (or longer) into the wilderness, even equestrian trails.

Pam Sands

Really enjoyed this beautiful place and the great walking trails. First time for me. Will be back

ryan clay

Beautiful clean campgrounds and the scenery was gorgeous. Also had a very nice memorial for the prison camp and was a good lesson in history!

dan bolin

Basic National Forest camping amenities in a cozy setting.

H THATCHER

Water and nice place for day trip.

Christie I Delgado

Very open location. Not so much shade, but the trails are beautiful.

Michelle Schackart

BEAUTIFUL

Pablo Moyano

Great hiking trails

September Lambert

Cool place. Read about it's history on the sign there. Stream running during certain times of year. My dogs enjoy romping through it. Fall, winter and spring are best times. Too hot in summer.

Steven Terry

This is a great area to get on to the Arizona Trail or camp during it's camping season. Not a ton or parking for non campers. Access the south end of Bug Springs Trail also.

Vince Franzen

Sites are geared more towards trailer camping. Sites do still work for tenting, but Molino Basin would be a better experience.

James Tillman

Closed to vehicles when we were there on a Monday. Not sure why. The hiking trails are nice and take one through some beautiful desert / mountain foothills terrain.

Rome5150 T275C

Awesome biking, hiking, and daytime/nightime picnicking/camping!

Christopher Delzell

Sad. Make a point to visit this monument to our national shame.

Gary Crockett

Really couldn't judge it fairly. It was closed because of flash flood danger. My daughter and I walked through the campground on the way to the Arizona Trail. It was a great day to hike.

Dan Janes

It was hot and very interesting

Annelise Leopard

Awesome history here. Definitely worth stopping and reading all the history of this place

Jason Latting

Climb, hike and take in some history! Great winter get away

Rachel Veeneman

Great exploration and camping location

Sharon Scofield

This is now a multi-use trail but I knew it as Prison Camp. The name Prison camp came from the Federal Honor Camp begun in 1937 to house federal prisoners supplying labor to build a road providing access into the Santa Catalina Mountains. Prisoners had been convicted of federal crimes ranging from immigration law violations to tax evasion to bank robbery.

C. Boren

One of my favorite trails. Lots of fun wildlife on the Arizona Trail

Gem Hudman

Great place to camp

Joseph Robson

Great hiking from here, look for deer.

Olga Moreno

(Translated by Google) Super father this place (Original) Super padre este lugar

Steven Strosser

Great for a quick getaway. No running water, so be prepared. Beautiful scenery and hiking. Fave spot in winter

Chris Schmandt

This ia a trailhead for some good hikes, and also a small and quiet campground. Check out online for the largely off trail hike to Gibon Mtn. if you are up for and capable of off trail navigation. There is an interesting story to the name. Hirabayashi was a Japanese citizen who challenged the internment of the Japanese during WW2. He lost the case in the Supreme court, but the decision was repudiated in 2011. He was also a Quaker and was convicted of draft resistance, serving a sentence of hard labor (building the highway) at a low security Federal prison camp at the trailhead location - a number of old foundations are there. Read about it on the wiki, interesting story. It is a very scenic location at least to spend a prison sentence, and reasonable temp in the summer.

Stephanie Chavez

Very beautiful place.

Ruby Slipper

Grate camp and hike location halfway up Mt Lemon. Lots of historical landmarks. Made it there for Easter. Ended up making friends thanks to my dog and we had a feast together.

Wolff

Nice and interesting it got some history to it

Brooke Newell

Beautiful hiking trails and wildlife

Stryder Staffa

This is my favorite way to enter the Santa Catalina Mountains. The climbing here is great, the trail is clear and well maintained. When the campground is open you can park at the trailhead but when the campground is closed you can just park at the entrance and walk through the campground. The Arizona Trail (AZT) crosses directly at the beginning of the trailhead. If you go right you head up into the Eastfork area of the mountains. If you go left you head downhill to Molino Basin. My favorite way to go is to, Prison Camp, otherwise known as Soldier Canyon, a small box canyon that is great for climbing. To get there you go right at the trailhead. At the first marked junction go left towards the "Soldier Trail" but instead of taking the taking that trail you pass into the creek bead and head downcreek. Just past the concrete slab you go to the right out of the wash and then down a rocky gully to the lower sandbar. When water is flowing there is a beautiful waterfall here. Climbing can be found here and further down the canyon as well. Enjoy!

Khalil Salman

Very nice area to park for free and start a bike ride road or mountain bike

David Williams

GREAT HIDE AWAY FOR LOVERS

Kelli Hartley

Nice place to camp, hiking areas, lots of trails, ruins you can check out

Christopher Martin

Wish there was more information available

William paskevich

Great history of Japanese internment @ Mt.lemmon

Dave Slagle

This is a great place to camp. Biking and hiking trails start and finish right from the campsite. Lots of great views.