You can’t miss Pusch Peak, which dominates the skyline above Oro Valley at the western end of the Santa Catalina Mountains, just north of Tucson. Pusch Peak, Bighorn Mountain, and Table Mountain form the Pusch Ridge, which in turn is part of the magnificently wild and rugged Pusch Ridge Wilderness.

All of these Pusch-es are namesakes of George Pusch, a German immigrant who showed up in Arizona in 1874, at 27 years of age and proceeded to establish the historic Steam Pump Ranch along the banks of the Canada del Oro beneath the north side of Pusch Peak.

Pusch Peak from the Linda Vista Trail

The best word to describe the hike to the top of Pusch Peak is “steep”. The route first follows the gentle Linda Vista Trail for a little over a half mile through a beautiful Sonora Desert bio-community, but then strikes up a hiker’s route towards the summit, which is relentlessly steep and very economic in its use of switchbacks.

This is a hike for those in good physical condition and you’ll have to work hard to get to the top, but it’s very nice up there. Not surprisingly, the views are great; my favorite is the view east along Pusch Ridge towards Table Mountain, Mount Kimball and the top of Mt. Lemmon.

Summit view: Pusch Ridge, Mt. Kimball and Mt Lemmon

Find the trailhead a few hundred yards east of Oracle Road on Linda Vista Blvd (3.1 miles north of Ina Road). The Linda Vista Trail consists of a network of loop trails. From the trailhead strike out southeast on the central, main trail segment for 0.57 miles where it connects with the outer loop trail. At the intersection turn left (east), and walk a short distance to a rusted, illegible metal sign which marks the intersection with a hiker’s route that climbs to the summit of Pusch Peak. Turn right (south) at the sign, onto the hiker’s route. The route is well beat in and continuously steep. The summit is reached about a mile and half past the metal sign.

Season: Fall, winter and spring. Summer heat on this hike can be dangerous.

Water: None. Bring plenty of your own

Difficulty: Difficult, a little over 4 miles round trip, with 2,700 feet of elevation gain. On the two mile segment from the trail head to the summit, the majority of this elevation gain occurs in the final 1.5 miles – steep hiking!

Note: Dogs are not permitted in this area.

Maps: Green Trails Santa Catalina Mountains; or National Geographic Arizona digital map software.

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Ragged Top is widely regarded as the finest peak in the Silver Bell Mountains, which rise out of the desert plain west of Marana, Arizona. The Silver Bells are home to an estimated 35 – 50 desert bighorn sheep, likely the only remaining bighorns in the Tucson area. The area lies within Ironwood Forest National Monument, authorized by President Clinton in 2000.

Ragged Top

A visit to Ragged Top is rewarding not only for the great hiking and sweeping summit views, but also for the experience of visiting an amazingly pristine portion of the Sonora Desert. In addition to its namesake ironwood trees, this new monument shows off large, healthy stands of other classic Sonoran vegetation, including saguaro and cholla cactus, palo verde trees, and much more. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum provides an excellent online biological survey of the monument.

Though not long, this should be regarded as a difficult hike. A trip to Ragged Top’s summit involves 2.6 to 4.8 miles of walking (depending upon where you park your car) and about 1,600 feet of elevation gain. There are no established trails, so the venture involves cross country route finding and plenty of bushwhacking, though you are likely to appreciate the many faint game trails that criss-cross the peak’s flanks. To reach the summit, one must negotiate steep and brushy terrain, and near the top there are 2^nd and 3^rd class sections of rock scrambling to deal with. Hikers must also take care on slopes and gullies steep enough that dislodged rocks can roll and bound downhill for some distance.

Ragged Top – Wolcott Peak saddle

Ragged Top’s summit is guarded by a rampart of steep cliffs, and the key to reaching the top is to make your way to a high saddle or notch just west of the summit. The North Gully route is quite direct: it ascends a steep and brushy ravine on the north side of the peak which terminates at this saddle. There is a similar ravine on the south side of the mountain that ends at the same notch.

On our visit to Ragged Top we decided to do a loop route which went through the saddle between Ragged Top and Wolcott Peak, up the South Gully to the summit, and then down the North Gully.

2^nd and 3^rd class terrain near the top, with the South Gully below

Drive out Silver Bell Road to the north side of Ragged Top. There is a very handy online map provided by the BLM to help find the way. Turn south off Silver Bell Road onto a jeep road (32.46756 N, 111.47487 W, WGS84). The jeep road is not four wheel drive, but a high clearance vehicle is desirable. Park near the end of the jeep road, a mile after leaving Silver Bell Road.

To start the loop route, walk south to the broad saddle between Ragged Top and Wolcott Peak, and then turn west, first contouring under the summit of Ragged Top and later working up a steep slope towards the crest of a prominent ridge sweeping south from the summit ridge. As you near the crest of the aforementioned ridge, look for the prominent South Gully which cuts up directly towards the high saddle just west of the summit. From the high saddle, work east a little before climbing a steep ravine towards the summit. Near the top there is a section of 2^nd and 3^rd class rock scrambling. On the descent, back at the high saddle, complete the loop by dropping down the steep and brushy North Gully, finally using game trails to contour east around the base of Ragged Top back to the car.

Ironwood Forest National Monument

Season: Fall and winter. This low elevation area is very hot in the summer. Avoid ascents of Ragged Top from late February through April; this is lambing time for desert bighorn sheep.

Water: None. Bring plenty of your own

Difficulty: Advanced. The loop described here is 2.6 miles long with 1,600 feet of elevation gain. (Parking the car at Silver Bell Road instead of the end of the jeep road adds another 2.2 miles to the day.) Steep terrain, including 2^nd and 3^rd class rock scrambling is encountered. Moderately strenuous. There are no established trails, so route finding is required; map, compass and/or GPS can be useful. Brushy, so long pants are recommended.

Maps: USGS; or National Geographic Arizona digital map software.

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An hour’s drive or so out of Tucson near the top of Mt Lemmon, the Butterfly Trail has long been a popular hike. Is the Butterfly Trail nice? Well, here are quotes from the National Forest web page about the trail:

“This is a delightful trail that passes through an area of such diverse biology that part of it has been designated a Research Natural Area. … You’ll be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable outdoor classroom than this. … Along the trailside, a variety of trees are mixed and matched in diverse communities that include ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and southwestern white pine in the high, cool areas; Arizona madrone, box elder and bigtooth maple in the more moderate areas; and alligator juniper, various species of oak and yuccas in drier, more exposed areas. Moist ravines are decorated with columbine and butterfly weed, while south facing slopes provide an appropriate habitat for prickly pear and hedgehog cactus. … Views along this trail are as diverse as the biology …”

“Diverse biology” along the Butterfly Trail

Yep, the Butterfly Trail is surely nice. I love how quiet it is along the Butterfly, and since the trail is on higher, north facing slopes, this trip is a good choice during the warm months of the year.

An unusual attraction along the trail is the wreckage of an F-86 fighter jet that crashed in 1957, in the canyon bottom upstream from Novio Falls. The Butterfly Trail enters this canyon from the west just above Novio falls, and leaves the canyon bottom a quarter of mile upstream as it begins to climb towards Mt Bigelow. Just as the Butterfly leaves the canyon bottom towards Bigelow, a beat-in hiker’s path leaves the trail, heading up-canyon another tenth of a mile to the crash site. (This junction is at approximately 32.42549 N, 110.71816 W, WGS84.)

F-86 Wreckage

There are many ways to construct an enjoyable hike along the Butterfly, depending upon how ambitious and fit you are feeling. Two trailheads just off the Mt Lemmon Highway serve the trail: one across the road from the Palisade Ranger Station and the second near Soldier Camp.

One of the easiest ways to enjoy the area is to walk the Butterfly for about a mile and a quarter from the Soldier Camp trailhead and then return the way you came.

Or, arrange to have two cars, one parked at each trailhead, and you can hike the trail 5.7 miles end to end. Hiking from Soldier Camp to Palisade is the hardest direction to go, with 1,920 feet of elevation gain, compared to about 1,280 feet of gain when you travel in the opposite direction.

An in-and-out hike from one trailhead to the other and then back again, is about 11.5 miles. I have also created a nine mile loop by walking dirt Forest Service roads that snake from Mt Bigelow down towards Soldier Camp (this requires walking a half mile beside the Mt Lemmon Highway to close the loop).

Hikers climb towards Mt Bigelow

From Tucson, drive the Mt Lemmon Highway towards the little town of Summerhaven. The first of the two trailheads for the Butterfly Trail is at the Palisade Ranger Station (32.41105 N, 110.71525 W, WGS84), and the second is further up the Mt Lemmon Highway at a trailhead parking lot in the Soldiers Camp area (32.42736 N, 110.7408 W, WGS84).

Season: Spring, summer and fall. Snow obscures many sections of the trail during winter cold spells. This hike can be warm in the lower elevation portion.

Water: As always, bring plenty of your own. Water is usually present near Novio Falls, though the flow can slow or cease in the driest months of the year. If you do collect water, purification is recommended before using.

Difficulty: From easy, to moderate, to hard; depending on how you plan the hike. Popular choices include an easy in-and-out trip from the Soldiers Camp trailhead, for a 2.5 mile round trip with a 500 foot elevation gain; a 5.7 mile end-to-end trip; or an 11+ mile back and forth trip with a 3,200 foot elevation gain.

Notes: This is a Forest Service fee area.

Maps: Rainbow Expeditions Santa Catalina Mountains, Green Trails Maps Santa Catalina Mountains, or National Geographic Arizona digital map software.

Click Map for larger image

Mt. Lemmon is understandably a very popular destination for outdoor recreationists of all stripes. It’s about a one hour drive from the Tucson valley to the little village of Summerhaven near the top of the mountain. Cool, accessible, beautiful!

One of the best payoffs for making the trip up Mount Lemmon is a relatively short and easy hike known as the Aspen Loop. About 4 miles long, the route circles non-descript Marshall Peak, a high point on a forested ridge which separates the Wilderness of Rocks from the headwaters of Sabino Creek. This short hike has plenty to offer: rich conifer forests, aspen groves, fern gardens, a lush and mossy riparian area, and some fine, sweeping views of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area.

On the Aspen Loop

The massive 2003 Aspen Fire started in this area, and though the devastation is very evident along many sections of the trail, I can’t help but be impressed and awed by the vigorous signs of rejuvenation obvious everywhere. This remains one of the most delightful hikes in southern Arizona.

For reasons unknown even to myself, I prefer to walk this loop in a clockwise direction, striking first up the Aspen Trail as it leaves the southern end of the parking lot diagonally up a steep hill. A mere quarter of a mile away from the road, one enters a lush stand of trees and ferns, dominated by what seems like hundreds of aspen trees. During most summer months, this area sparkles with green.

The trail soon climbs out of the aspen grove and begins to swing around the southern side of Marshall Peak. At about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, look for a trail spur heading more-or-less west from the main trial. This little spur is about a quarter of mile long and ends at a small rock outcrop known as Lunch Ledge, which sports a grand  view of Cathedral Peak in the heart of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness.

Conifer and ferns on the flanks of Marshall Peak

Next, the Aspen Trail continues on to Marshall Saddle where there is a five-way trail intersection. Here, the loop leaves the Aspen Trail and turns east down the Marshall Gulch Trail back towards the parking lot. Marshall Gulch is lovely. The creek bed almost always shows water and the luxuriant green growth is soothing for the heat-weary soul.

Reach the trailhead (32.42782 N, 110.75556 W, WGS84) by following the Catalina Highway from the Tucson to the small settlement of Summerhaven. Drive through Summerhaven and continue about half a mile to trailhead parking at the very end of the road. The Aspen Trail angles up a hillside near the far southern end of the parking area, while the Marshall Gulch Trail heads up the canyon behind a poorly located outhouse on the west side of the parking lot.

Cathedral Peak seen from Lunch Ledge

Season: Spring, summer and fall. The trailhead is closed to vehicular access for much of the winter, and snow often obscures many sections of the route. This hike can be warm on the exposed ridges during summer months.

Water: As always, bring plenty of your own. Water is usually present in Marshall Gulch, though the flow can slow or cease in the driest months of the year. If you do collect water, purification is recommended before using.

Difficulty: Moderate. The full loop is about 4 miles long with a 720 elevation gain. An even easier and shorter outing is the lovely walk part way up and down Marshall Gulch.

Notes: This is a Forest Service fee area.

Maps: Rainbow Expeditions Santa Catalina Mountains, Green Trails Maps Santa Catalina Mountains, or National Geographic Arizona digital map software.

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Mt Wrightson looms large on the drive up Madera Canyon Road in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson, and the hike to this towering summit from the end of the road is the signature outing in the area.

So, it can be easy to miss some trailheads near the mouth of Madera Canyon that access a loop trail which visits two of Madera’s side drainages. Graced with several springs and tangled groves of white barked sycamore trees, oak, pine and fir - this is a lovely area to spend time in.

Sycamore cathedral near Bog Springs

A direct hike to Bog Springs requires a round trip of a little over 3.5 miles with an elevation gain of a just less than a thousand feet. The cathedral grove of sycamore trees around the spring is exceptionally beautiful and serene.

Walking the complete loop takes in Sylvester Spring, Kent Spring, and Bog Springs, adding another 700 feet of elevation, for a about a 6.5 mile round trip hike from the trailhead; a distinctly harder hike than the in-and-out trip to Bog Springs. On the loop hike, there are some nice long views out Madera Canyon as you traverse the steep slopes between Kent and Bog Springs.

Tramping uphill towards Sylvester Spring

Two trailheads serve this loop. The first trailhead (31.72681 N, 110.8803 W, WGS84) is on the east side Madera Canyon Road just past the turnoff to Bog Spring Campground. Marking the turn into the parking lot, a sign declares “Madera Trailhead, PICNIC AREA”. In the parking lot, the trailhead is conveniently marked with another sign: “BOG SPRING TRAILHEAD”.

The second trailhead (31.72225 N, 110.87943 W, WGS84) is just a few hundred yards up Madera Canyon Road, but here one parks in a parking lot on the west side of the road identified by a sign stating “Amphitheater and Nature Trail”. The trailhead here is on the opposite (east) side of the road from the parking area.

Once on the trail, the loop junction is reached after a little more than a mile; turn left (east) towards Bog Springs, or continue straight (south) towards Sylvester and Kent springs.

Season: These hikes can be done year round. During summer months it can be hot here, so early starts are recommended.

Water: There is often water at Bog Springs, Kent Spring, and Sylvester Spring, but best to bring plenty of your own.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate if you choose to hike to Bog Springs and back; a little over 3.5 miles round trip with just less than a 1,000 foot elevation gain. Moderate if you walk the complete loop; just over 6.5 miles round trip with a 1,700 foot elevation gain.

Maps: Green Trails Maps – Santa Rita Mountains.

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A trip up the Sutherland Trail from Catalina State Park to the top of Mt. Lemmon is a challenging hike!

For starters, the word “trail” may not be an appropriate descriptor for the route. The first five miles are pretty easy to follow; a beautifully maintained trail leaves the parking spot at Catalina State Park, but after following a jeep road and power line for a while, the trail quickly deteriorates as it begins a steep climb up the flanks of Sutherland Ridge. The next 3.5 miles of trail are very challenging to stay on; often a bush whack route decorated with small rock cairns that are all too easy to miss in the heavy brush and among numerous rock outcrops.

Coral Bean blossoms

And then there’s the elevation gain: about 6,300 feet vertical from the trailhead at Catalina State Park to the parking spot on top of Mt. Lemmon. That’s a big climb! (Hike from the Colorado River to the North Rim and you knock off 5,800 feet, while the famed hike up Mt Whitney comes in at 6,100 feet.)

Exposed rock low in Cargodera Canyon

There are logistics to deal with too. This trip can be set up as a one-way, 11.5 mile hike, if a vehicle is available on top of Mount Lemmon when you finally stagger into the parking lot. Alternatively, you can make a big loop by hiking from the top of the Sutherland Trail to Romero Pass and then down Romero Canyon to the original trailhead. This reduces the elevation gain to a piddly 5,700 feet, but increases the distance to about 20.5 miles.

Jeep road and power line

The combination of big elevation gain and hard bushwhacking make this route challenging indeed, but the hike is also spectacular and satisfying. The low elevation Sonoran landscapes are lavish, and Cargodera Canyon may surprise you with a few quiet trickles of seasonal water. Once atop Sutherland Ridge, the hiker is presented with spectacular views of the big peaks of the Pusch Ridge and the headwaters of Romero Canyon. The “window” in Window Rock is clearly visible from many spots along the brushy and rocky spine. This area is seldom visited and feels extraordinarily wild and primitive, with lots of bear scat scattered along the way.

High on the Sutherland Ridge

Reach the trailhead (32.42553 N, 110.90828 W, WGS84) by following North Oracle Road (State Highway 77) north from Tucson towards Oro Valley. Turn right (east) into Catalina State Park about 6.3 miles past Ina Road. Signs guide the way to the trailhead parking lot near the end of the road.

The Sutherland trail heads north from the parking lot. After 0.8 mile, turn left (north) at a junction with the Canyon Loop Trail; 1.8 miles later turn right (east) at the intersection with a jeep road and power line. About 2.7 miles later, a metal sign marks the spot where the Sutherland Trail leaves the power line road and soon begins climbing up the side of Sutherland Ridge. The next 4 miles are a thrash, first gaining the ridge top, and then working up the ridge until reaching the Cañada del Oro Trail where you turn right (east) and climb uphill to the junction with the Mt Lemmon Trail. Follow the Mt Lemmon Trail east for about 1.5 miles to the Mt Lemmon trailhead parking lot; or to complete the 20.5 mile loop down Romero Canyon, follow the Mt Lemmon trail west a few steps before turning south towards Romero Pass.

A Collared Lizard shows color in Romero Canyon

Season: Spring and fall. The high elevation section of this hike is subject to winter snow, which can limit vehicular access to the Mount Lemmon trailhead. The route has plenty of western and southern exposure, so it can be dangerously hot in the summer.

Water: Seasonal water can sometimes be found along the Sutherland Trail in Cargodera Canyon, and in Romero Canyon. Bring plenty of your own.

Difficulty: Very difficult. The one way trip from Catalina State Park to the Mount Lemmon trailhead parking is about 11 miles long with a whopping 6,300 foot elevation gain.

The alternate loop hike up the Sutherland Trail and down Romero Canyon is over 20 miles long and climbs 5,700 feet; a very long day of hard hiking.

The upper 4.5 miles of the Sutherland Trail is overgrown and difficult to follow. I suggest wearing long pants; shorts are not a good idea on the Sutherland Ridge. The likelihood of losing the trail is very high, so competency in cross country navigation is a must. A good map, with compass or GPS is recommended.

Notes: Catalina State Park requires entrance fees, and the trailhead at the top of Mount Lemmon is a Forest Service fee area.

Maps: Rainbow Expeditions Santa Catalina Mountains or Green Trails Maps Santa Catalina Mountains.

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When it’s time to cool off, the Wilderness of Rocks is a popular destination for Tucson area hikers. At an elevation of over 7,000 feet, the Wilderness of Rocks stretches across a broad, rocky bench perched beneath the high summit ridge of Mt. Lemmon. The headwaters of Lemmon Creek gather here, and the small stream almost always shows water. Shaded in most places by trees and cliffs, this riparian zone can be a delightful reprieve from the hot deserts far below.

The loop hike described here begins almost from the very top of Mt. Lemmon. Heading west from the trailhead, the route works down Mt Lemmon’s broad summit ridge, and then turns south onto a prominent spur ridge which shows great views of Oro Valley, the headwaters of Romero Canyon, and the high peaks scattered along Pusch Ridge.

Weathered formations in the Wilderness of Rocks

Once in the Wilderness of Rocks, hikers wander among stately stands of Ponderosa pines, fern gardens and untold numbers of gleaming white rock formations and gargoyles. It’s great hanging out beneath the tall pines that line Lemmon Creek’s shallow pools.

Lemmon Creek

Finish the loop by hiking up the Lemmon Rock Lookout Trail. This steep section climbs 1,800 feet in under 2.5 miles, a tough climb! Watch for rock climbers on the long 400 foot south ridge of Rappel Rock, easily seen from several sections of the trail. No surprise, the Lemmon Rock Lookout Trail ends near Lemmon Rock Lookout, a small building listed in the US National Register of Historic Places and which is still staffed from May through September. The short side trip to the lookout with its fantastic views of the Catalina Mountains and much of southern Arizona is very worthwhile.

Lemmon Rock Lookout

Reach the trailhead (32.44036 N, 110.7858 W, WGS84) by following the Catalina Highway from the Tucson valley towards the small settlement of Summerhaven. Just short of Summerhaven, turn right (west) onto “Ski Run Rd”. Continue on Ski Run Road past the ski facility through a gate (often closed during winter months), and on up the narrow winding road to the trailhead parking lot near the top of Mt Lemmon.

The Mt. Lemmon Trail #5 leaves the west side of the parking lot right next to a fenced electrical facility, crosses a dirt road and then joins an old jeep trail heading west along the broad summit ridge. A few tenths of a mile later, the junction with the Lemmon Rock Lookout Trail is reached, which marks the beginning and end of the loop route. Clockwise or counter-clockwise? The route is described in a counter-clockwise direction above, but take your pick.

Season: Spring, summer and fall. The trailhead is closed to vehicular access for much of the winter, and snow often obscures many sections of the route. This hike can be quite warm on the exposed ridges during summer months.

Water: Water is usually present in Lemmon Creek, though the flow can slow or cease in the driest months of the summer. If you do collect water, purification is recommended before using. Make sure you have plenty of water for the more exposed hiking getting into and out of the Wilderness of Rocks.

Difficulty: Somewhat difficult. About 8.5 miles long with a 2,000 elevation drop and then gain. Some sections of trail can be hard to follow, so map and compass/GPS are recommended.

Notes: The trailhead is in a Forest Service fee area. The area was impacted by the 2003 Aspen Fire.

Maps: Rainbow Expeditions Santa Catalina Mountains, Green Trails Maps Santa Catalina Mountains, or National Geographic Arizona digital map software.

Click Map for larger image

Loop hikes are wonderful. It can be exhilarating to take in a big sweep of country without retracing steps. You usually see more and get to enjoy a feeling of fresh discovery the entire way.

A few years ago I stumbled upon a great loop hike which starts in the bottom of Madera Canyon and passes through Baldy Saddle, just below the top of Mt Wrightson.

Rising to an elevation of 9,453 feet, Mt Wrightson is the high point of the Santa Rita Mountains and also the highest of the peaks surrounding the Tucson valley. The vast majority of visits to Wrightson’s summit are made hiking the very popular Old Baldy and Super Trails which start at the end of Madera Canyon Road.

Arizona Gray Squirrel near Bog Spring

The loop hike described here is a more demanding way to reach the top of Mt Wrightson, but is very scenic and visits some less travelled areas of the Santa Ritas.

Find the trailhead (31.72681 N, 110.8803 W, WGS84) on the east side of Madera Canyon Road just past the turnoff to Bog Spring Campground. Marking the turn into the parking lot, a sign declares “Madera Trailhead, PICNIC AREA”. In the parking lot, the trailhead is conveniently marked with another sign: “BOG SPRING TRAILHEAD”.

Mt Wrightson from the Four Springs Trail

Early on, the route passes the lovely sycamore grove at Bog Spring, then climbs and traverses to Kent Spring and the beginning of the Four Springs Trail. Above Kent Spring the Four Springs Trail enters some of the vast area that was ravaged by the 2005 Florida Fire. The trail traverses the head of Florida Canyon past the seasonal water seep at Armour Spring, in an area where the devastation was particularly intense.

Burn near Armour Spring

The Four Springs Trail is followed all the way to the Crest Trail, which runs 3.2 miles south along a high crest ridge to Baldy Saddle and the base of Mt Wrightson’s summit pyramid. From Baldy Saddle, you might as well scamper up to Mt Wrightson and back before following the Old Baldy Trail down to Josephine Saddle and on to the trailhead at the end of Madera Canyon Road. To close the loop, walk about 1.3 miles along side Madera Canyon Road to the original trailhead.

Season: Though this hike can be done year round, there are seasonal considerations. Winter snow and dangerously slippery ice can impede or halt progress altogether at the high elevations, especially on the summit dome of Mt Wrightson. During summer months this hike can be very hot in the lower elevations, so early starts and an ample supply of water are recommended.

Water: There may be seasonal water at or near Bog Spring, Kent Spring, Armour Spring, Baldy Spring, and Bellows Spring; but as always, bring plenty of your own.

Difficulty: Strenuous. This hike is long and hard. There is a 4,600 elevation gain. According to my GPS odometer, the loop is 17.5 miles long, but a Forest Service map at the trailhead suggests a mileage closer to 16.3 miles. No matter, this is a hike for those in good physical condition, and one should allow a full day to complete it. I recommend bringing along a map of the route.

Note: The trailheads are in a Forest Service fee area.

Maps: Green Trails Maps – Santa Rita Mountains.

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Check out this pair of warning signs, displayed back to back on a sturdy wood post near a popular southern Arizona trail head. Many thanks to "The Curmudgeon" for a hearty laugh, and thought provoking warnings.

Leaving the road head, this sign with its dire warnings is prominently displayed as you head into the back country:

Leaving the back country, as you approach the road head, this sign with its somewhat different set of dire warnings is prominently displayed on the back of the same sign post:

Milagrosa means “miraculous” in Spanish and indeed, it is a little miraculous to find such a pleasant loop hike tucked away in the far northeast corner of the Tucson valley. The hike dips in and out of both Agua Caliente Canyon and La Milagrosa and cruises ridge tops on both sides of the canyons as it traces its loop. On the ridges the trail sports views of canyons, towering cliffs, and the city of Tucson. Both drainages can show seasonal water and pools, and many hikers forego the loop trail and linger near the water in the canyon bottoms. This is a low elevation hike, one to avoid in summer heat.

Seasonal water in Agua Caliente Canyon

To reach the trailhead, turn east off the Catalina Highway onto Snyder Road and drive for about 1.4 miles before turning left (north) onto Avenida de Suzenu. Park where Avenida de Suzenu dead ends into Horsehead Road near signs warning that night time parking is prohibited. (Public parking is prohibited at all times east along Horsehead Road; please respect this private property.)

Agua Caliente – La Milagrosa loop trail

From the parking area, walk east along Horsehead Road through a residential area for about 0.6 mile till it ends at Wentworth Road. Just past Wentworth step east across a fence near a metal gate, cross Molino Wash and then hike east up a jeep road that contours around a hillside. The jeep trail soon passes a small abandoned rock house and then reaches an intersection with another jeep trail taking off left (north) up a ridge. This intersection marks the beginning and end of the Agua Caliente Canyon – La Milagrosa loop trail. We are describing the loop in a counter-clockwise direction, so bear right at the intersection and continue to the wash below. After crossing the wash, the trail turns left (east) just before a gate marked with a “Private Property” sign. Four or five hundred yards later the trail abruptly turns right (south) and switchbacks very steeply to a ridge top above before continuing east about 1.4 miles to a trail junction. Turn left (north) at the junction and begin the descent into the bed of Agua Caliente Canyon. Once in the creek bed, the trail heads upstream a few hundred yards before leaving the bottom again and switchbacks up the north side of the canyon to the ridge top between Agua Caliente and La Milagrosa. The trail passes another junction (stay left) as it works west back towards the beginning of the hike. Before closing the loop, the trail crosses La Milagrosa, finally descending a broad ridge to the jeep trail junction.

Saguaro sentinels above La Milagrosa

Season: Fall, winter and spring. This hike can be hot, especially in the summer.

Water: There can be seasonal flows in Agua Caliente Canyon and La Milagrosa but bring plenty of your own.

Difficulty: Moderate. The full loop is about 6.1 miles long with an elevation gain of about 1,200 feet including all the ups and downs in and out of Agua Caliente and La Milagrosa.

Maps: USGS Agua Caliente Hill AZ, or National Geographic Arizona digital map software.

Click map for larger image