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Hike Arizona: Tucson and southeast |
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Butterfly Trail Loop, Mt. Lemmon, TucsonHike: This hike is best done using a two-car shuttle. One thousand acres were set aside in 1935 near Butterfly Peak to preserve one of the most varied areas of vegetation in the Southwest. Ranging in elevation from 8300 feet near Kellogg Mountain to 6700 feet at Novio Spring, the Butterfly Trail Loop is a classroom for the botanist and the hiker.
Trip Report
 Sabino Canyon to Hutch's Pool, Tucson
Seven Falls, Sabino Canyon, TucsonHike:Sabino Canyon is very rugged and beautiful! This is a very easy and popular hike to the incredible Seven Falls. There are exactly 7 stream crossings on the way to Seven Falls. We will take the wide trail off the southeast side of the parking lot. When you reach the road bear right. Once you reach the end of the road, you'll spot the rest rooms and tram stop. The beginning of the Bear Canyon Trail is just to the left of the rest room. It's nearly 2 miles from the parking lot to the trail's beginning and then another 2 miles to reach Seven Falls. At most of the crossing points, the footing is stable. For those times when there is a lot of water running in the creek, it can be more challenging. You reach the seventh crossing after about 35 to 45 minutes. The seventh crossing is the hardest when the water is up. But it is usually possible. After this seventh crossing, the trail climbs up the south wall of the canyon on a couple of long switchbacks, and then heads up-canyon, gently ascending. After you round a corner, you see the rock formation that towers over Seven Falls ahead. About 20 minutes after the seventh crossing you are directly opposite Seven Falls, which is a gorge on the north wall of Bear Canyon with a series of small waterfalls and pools. The trail forks here, with the left-hand fork taking you down to a large pool at the base of Seven Falls and the right hand fork continuing up Bear Canyon. There is a forest service sign indicating that the Bear Canyon Trail continues on the right-hand fork. Seven Falls has a number of large pools. It's a great place to hang out.
Take I-10 south to Tucson to Orange Grove Rd. Exit, go left on Orange Grove Rd. Orange Grove Rd. to Skyline Drive, right on Skyline Dr. Skyline Dr. to Sabino Canyon Rd. Sabino Canyon Park Recreation area will be right in front of you, take a left onto Sabino Canyon Rd. and an immediate right into the parking lot.
Trip Report
Aspen Trail, Mt. Lemmon, TucsonHike:This is a short 3.7 mile, gentle hike through the mountain forests. The ride up and back is spectacular, take turns driving up and down the mountain so you can sight see. There is an elevation change from 7400' to 8200' and the temperature should be quite comfortable for hiking. In addition to refreshing 70-degree summer temperatures, the alpine of this forested hike is further enhanced by a several stands of aspen trees along the route. For a longer hike, take a detour on the of Rocks Trail which connects to the Marshall Gulch path. If you follow the Rocks Trail a short distance, you'll see a variety of dramatic sculpted and sheer ravines that the heart of the Santa Mountains. This is also a reintroduction area for endangered bighorn sheep.
To access the trail head, take Speedway (in Tucson) east to Wilmont, then turn left. Wilmont will turn into Tanque Verde at Pima, continue on Tanque Verde to Catalina Highway, then turn left. You will be driving up Mount Lemon about 30 miles keeping left at the Summerhaven-Ski Valley junction. Drive through Summerhaven to the Marshall Gulch Picnic Area where the road dead ends. (There is a fee to drive up the Mount Lemon Road).
1999 Trip Report
2000 Trip Report
Green Mountain Trail ,Santa Catalina Mountains, TucsonHike:This is a moderate to strenuous day hike on the East Side of the Santa Catalina Mountains that will carry the hiker through a variety of scenery, including canyon country, lush riparian habitat, forests of oak, pine, and fir, chaparral thickets of manzanita and nolina, and commanding views of valleys, mountain ranges, and the endlessly fascinating granite rock formations of the Santa Catalina Range, as we hike from the General Hitchcock Picnic Area to the San Pedro Vista, 3.7 miles uphill, and return along the same route. We will walk through the picnic area to just beyond a large green water tank and then cross a creek bed to our right to pick up the trail. The trail will climb gradually upstream through a forest of oak, fir, ash, and Ponderosa pine, along with bracken fern and canyon grape as an added bonus. We will continue climbing to Bear Saddle at the two-mile point and head left at the saddle. From time to time we can expect to see significant fire damage from both the 2002 Bullock fire and the 2003 Summerhaven fire from earlier this summer. Both fires consumed thousands of acres of chaparral and forest timber on the slopes of the Santa Catalinas, as well as hundreds of cabins and homes throughout the Summerhaven community. Along much of this trail we will encounter a number of smaller and often faint spur trails heading eastward, but will bypass them, while staying on the main trail. A quarter mile beyond Bear Saddle is the first one — a faint trail to the right going to Maverick Spring. We continue left on the main trail. Another 0.4 miles and then another 1.2 miles brings us to two more trail junctions to Brush Corral to our right. We stay on the main trail to our left in both cases, as it starts to switchback uphill through oak, fir, and more Ponderosa pine. Shortly after the last Brush Corral junction, we pass a now closed-off fork that was the old Green Mountain Trail, but is no longer used. From here, we continue climbing for another 0.3 miles, before dropping several hundred feet to the San Pedro Vista. The vista point offers great views of San Pedro Valley, the Galiuro Mountains, and numerous picturesque rock formations. After a rest and lunch break, with plenty of time for picture taking opportunities, we will return via the same route, remembering to watch for the trail junctions along the way.
From Interstate 10 in Tucson, exit at Grant Road (east bound) and drive for approximately four miles. After you pass Craycroft Road, Grant will curve to the southeast and intersect with Tanque Verde Road. Take Tanque Verde Road to the Catalina Highway. Milepost 0 is at the base of the Catalina Mountains. Follow the Catalina Highway (also know as the Mt. Lemmon Highway) to Milepost 12 and start watching for the General Hitchcock Picnic Area & Campground, which will be on the right side of the road between Mileposts 12 and 13. Park at the end of the road.
Trip Report
Finger Rock, Pusch Ridge Wilderness, TucsonHike:As you look toward the Santa Catalinas from metropolitan Tucson, one of the most distinctive landmarks on the Pusch Ridge skyline resembles a closed hand with the index finger extended to make a #1 sign. This is Finger Rock, a 100 foot high formation that marks the steep canyon that bears its name. The trail starts easy and gets progressively rougher. Because of its graduated layout, hikers can tailor an outing along this trail to fit the amount of effort they want to expend. Or, they can go for it and continue past Mt. Kimball to Linda Vista Ridge and the head of Ventana Canyon. Many who come here choose Finger Rock Spring as a good turn-around point. A little looking around reveals some good picnic spots and outstanding overlooks. Beyond the spring, the trail steepens and becomes harder to follow. What has been rocky, rough going becomes even more so. Not surprisingly, as the going gets rougher the overlooks get better. Dramatic vistas of Finger Rock, the sheer walls of the canyon, Tucson and the mountains beyond add to the lung busting grades to give hikers plenty of incentive to stop, take a break and look around. This hike starts in saguaros and climbs through the Upper Sonoran Zone into a habitat of yucca, live oak, juniper, and agave. The trail leads into the Pusch Ridge Desert Bighorn Sheep Management Area, so leave your dog at home. Finger Rock Trail ends at a junction where a set of switchbacks leads into Ventana Canyon toward Tucson and where Esperero Trail #25 leads to other trails that continue up the slopes of Mt. Lemmon. The trailhead is signed about 100 feet above the road's end. Just beyond Finger Rock Spring, 1.1 miles in, follow the trail branch to the right, up the canyon wall the straight ahead route is a false trail. As the trail starts to climb, you are challenged by loose rocks and dim trail to the 3 mile mark, where there is a nice view of Finger Rock on your left. It is now 1.5 miles to an intersection over somewhat better trail, still climbing but not as steep. At the intersection take a left, where the trails end and the Mt. Kimball peak is only a half mile away.
Take I-10 south to Tucson and take the Orange Grove Rd. Exit, go left on Orange Grove Rd. Follow Orange Grove Rd. to Skyline Drive. Follow Skyline (have to make a left to stay on Skyline) to Alvernon Way and turn left (north) to the trailhead and parking lot at the end of the pavement.
Trip Report
King Canyon Trail, Saguaro National Park, TucsonHike:This is a hike up a canyon past petroglyphs and old mines to intersect with the Hugh Norris Trail near the top of Wasson Peak. The trail begins as an old jeep road and for the first mile is a wide, rocky walk along the west side of the ridge. Most of the year the canyon drainage is dry, but in times of rain the rush of water would be an awesome sight. As the road approaches the intersection, it drops into and crosses the canyon Off the trail and to the left about one-quarter of a mile down the canyon drainage and immediately past a small dam are many petroglyphs. As you cross the canyon bottom, a short side trail to the left leads up to the Mam-a-Gah picnic area where there are six tables and one ramada. The King Canyon trail turns to the right, past the rest rooms. The Sendero Esperanza trailed is immediately past the restroom and to the left. King Canyon Trial is straight ahead and, as the sign indicates, reaches Wasson Peak in 2.6 miles. Past the intersection the trail narrows and continues up the canyon. In about 200 yards the trail crosses another drainage and then goes along a low ridge between King Canyon and the side drainage before beginning to climb. The trail continues to climb along the east side of the hill and is easy to follow. In about one mile it reaches the top of the ridge and again becomes an abandoned road. The road winds around the side of the hill and comes to the intersection with the Sweetwater Trail (because there is no legal access to the Sweetwater Trail, the Park Service recommends that you go down and return from this intersection). From this intersection the trail climbs steeply to the west. The main obstacles on the trail are the large rocks carefully placed to prevent erosion. The peak directly above you is not Wasson. The trail becomes a series of switchbacks that climb steadily. There are several fenced mine shafts along this portion of the trail, all with warning signs. As you switchback up the trial, more nines become visible, some in paces that look totally inaccessible. As the trial reaches the top of the switchbacks, most of the city is visible, and Wasson Peak stands out to the north. As the tail levels along the north side of the ridge, you can see the trial intersection ahead. Another fenced mine is on the right, this time with the warning sight in Spanish. Past this mine, the trail is level briefly and then climbs in a few switchbacks to the trial intersection. This is the end of the King Canyon Trail. To reach Wasson Peak, follow Hugh Norris Trial 0.3 miles to the summit. The final section is easy and well worth the climb.
Take I-10 south to Tucson. Exit I-10 at Speedway Blvd. Turn right and go west on Speedway, over Gates Pass to the intersection with Kinney Road. Turn right on Kinney Road to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The parking area for the King Canyon Trail is 0.1 miles past the entrance to the museum and on the right.
Trip Report
Garwood-Carillo Loop, Saguaro Nat'l Park, TucsonHike:Starting at the shelter, we will proceed to the first junction and turn right on the Garwood Trail. To the west notice the Tucson Mountains: their high point, Wasson Peak dominates the park's west unit. At Bajada Vista Trail, be careful to stay on Garwood Trail (bear right, pass Wildhorse Trail, then bear left). Just after climbing onto a rocky ridge, turn left on Carrillo Trail. A cement truck once drove up this road! Find the concrete and stone foundation near the top of this hill which once held a generator. On the slope below, Tucson businessman L. Nelson Garwood built a “get-away” ranch in the mid-1950s. The dam to the left provided a reliable water supply. Passing the dam on your right, bear left and up into the Rincon foothills. Fences along the way are reminders of cattle grazing that continued legally i the park until 1979. Transfer of the over-grazed allotments to the Park Service led to wilderness designation and restoration of natural processes. At Wildhorse Trail turn right, then immediately left up hill. (Here we cold take a side trail through the gate leads 1/3 mile to a natural water tank.) Continuing on, we will see a steel stock tank at Rock Spring. Goldfish were stocked by cowboys to discourage algae, prior to Park Service management. We will continue up a wash to the Carrillo Trail going up and out of the wash. Notice vegetation changes along this ridge: mesquite stands, grassy groves, resurrection moss on bare rock, and cottonwood trees where water nears the surface. At the top of the ridge consider the 100 square mile expanse of the Park: the vast cactus forest below and the towering Rincon Mountains above. We will descend into another wash and join up with the Douglas Spring Trail, which will bring us down to the trailhead.
Take I-10 south to Tucson. Exit I-10 at Speedway Blvd. Go east on Speedway to the end of the road which is the trailhead. Park at the Douglas Spring Trailhead.
Trip Report
Rincon Mountains Backpack TripHike:This overnight backpacking trip will hike a portion of the Arizona trail in Saguaro National Park - East. We will start at the Miller Creek Trailhead , hike up the Turkey Creek Trail to Spud Rock Campground. We will spend the night at Spud Rock campground. The first day will be 8.3 miles. For those that want to go, we will go on an optional 6.5-mile hike on top of the Rincons. On Sunday, we will descend down Heartbreak Ridge to Happy Valley Saddle and then to miller creek trailhead 9.2 miles.
Romero Canyon, Pusch Ridge WildernessHike:This is one of the state’s most beautiful and remote hiking areas. This trail provides us with excellent views of the western Santa Catalina Mountains and the north side of Pusch Ridge. The trail alternates between statuesque saguaros and forested areas of sycamore, oak and velvet ash, culminating in an area of pretty pools and water polished granites. There is a day use charge of $4 per vehicle. See also: Arizona Day Hikes Romero Pools, Sierra Club Tucson Trail Guide Arizona Highways Hike of the month, November, 1991 Arizona Highways Hike of the month, November, 1996 AZ Central: Hiking Catalina State Park, Romero Canyon Trail, May 29, 1996
To reach Catalina State Park and the Romero Canyon Trailhead, take the Tangerine Exit off of Interstate 10 in the Marana area North of Tucson. This will be the first exit approaching the Tucson area. Head East on Tangerine for approximately six miles to Oracle Road (State Route 79). Turn right (South) on Oracle Road, and after about one mile you will reach the entrance road to Catalina State Park. Drive about one more mile to the parking area ($4.00 per vehicle) at the end of the park road. The trailhead lies opposite the parking area.
Trip Report
Madera Canyon, Mt. WrightsonThe Motorola Hiking Club will be hiking Mt. Wrightson. These are difficult "A" hikes due to elevation change (over 4000 feet), and length. For experienced hikers only! Saturday - The Florida Canyon Trail which goes into the Crest trail. This is highly recommended and supposedly much more scenic than the Baldy Trail (which is quite beautiful). It is 7 miles each way (if you go to the top of Wrightson), is easier hiking, and less crowded than Baldy. Sunday - The Baldy Trail to the top, and then back the same way or the Super Trail (longer but less steep). We will be on the trail by 8:00 a.m. each day, so it is recommended you spend Friday night and Saturday night near Madera Canyon. Lodging: The hike leader is staying at the Santa Rita Lodge Nature Lodge and is looking for a person to share the unit - they have no cabins left, but have 7 “efficiency units” with either double beds or king bed with fireplace, (and all have a kitchen and bathroom). There is a limit of two adults per room, and a dog is an extra $10.00 per night and MUST be kept on a leash (the katamunde(sp?) will kill dogs). Humming birds are “in” right now. Call 520/625-8746 for reservations. There is also a campground (used mostly for trailers - 13 stalls; $10.00 per night) at Box Springs, and of course you can camp in the National Forest (no bathroom, picnic table etc.) The Madera Kudo B&B has 3 cabins available at $75.00 per night/$15.00 per extra person. There is one bedroom with one full/double bed and a pull out couch in each cabin. No pets. It is 1/4 mile past the Santa Rita Lodge. Phone 520/625-2908. For additional information, see the following web sites. Mt. Wrightson from Madera Canyon, Sierra Club Tucson Trail Guide Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Coronado National Forest, Old Baldy Trail & Super Trail Coronado National Forest, Crest Trail
Trip Report
Aravaipa Canyon, SaffordHike:Aravaipa Canyon, with its outstanding scenery, desert fish, wildlife, rich history and opportunities for primitive recreation, was preserved in 1984 by an Act of Congress (and later expanded in 1990) to remain free from the influence of man and to be protected in this condition for all future generations. Expect a "WILDERNESS" Experience Because a designated wilderness area is to be affected primarily by the forces of nature, the following conditions can be expected when you visit Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness (ACW):
From Phoenix (190 miles/4.5 to 5 hours): Take US Highway 60 to Globe. At Globe, continue on US Highway 70 to the Klondyke Road (8 miles east of Fort Thomas). Take this graded dirt road 45 miles to the East trailhead. Several stream crossings, suitable for passenger cars, will be encountered in the last 10 miles.
Trip Report
Miller Peak Backpack tripHike:Backpack the first segment of the Arizona Trail — Mexico to Miller Peak. The Arizona Trail begins near the U.S.-Mexico border in the Coronado National Memorial. The Memorial commemorates Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez Coronado's search for the Seven Cities of Cibola in 1540, the first major European exploration of the Southwest. The Arizona Trail follows the Crest Trail from Montezuma Pass into the Coronado National Forest and the Miller Peak Wilderness of the Huachuca Mountains. The Crest Trail provides outstanding views of the San Pedro and San Rafael Valleys as well as prime access to a number of spur trails, including trails to Miller Peak and Ramsey Canyon. Miller Peak Wilderness is a land of sheer cliffs, soaring summits, and deep canyons, with diverse habitats that range from desert grasslands to mixed conifer and aspen forest. Over 170 species of birds, including 14 species of hummingbirds, live in the Wilderness, making for world-class bird watching. An amazing variety of wildlife, including animals normally seen south of the Mexican border, can also be found in these diverse life zones: over 60 species of reptiles and 78 species of mammals including coatimundi, javelina, black bear, and mountain lion.
To reach the Huachucas/Miller Peak from Tucson, drive east on I-10, then south on Highway 90 just before the turn-off for Benson. Continue to Sierra Vista and proceed south on Highway 92 for 20 miles to Montezuma Pass Road. Turn right and drive to the parking area on top of Montezuma Pass. The Crest Trail begins across the road to the north. |
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