The Butterfly Trail

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…

An Arizona Trail Horse Expedition

One of the quiet success stories in the history of the Arizona Trail is the way that three distinct groups of outdoor enthusiasts came together and pooled their efforts to make the Trail the wonderful reality it is today. Those three main groups are hikers and backpackers, trail bikers and equestrians. Dave Hicks, Executive Director…

National Parks Free Weekend

This weekend, August 15 – 16 is the final of three entry-fee-free weekends offered by the government in all national parks and monuments this summer. Though entrance fees will be waived, other fees such as campground fees remain in place. Hit the road and enjoy. Here is a sampling of a some parks and monuments…

The Aspen Loop

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…

GPS Favorites

I have long been fan a of Garmin; handheld GPS units. Most all of the Garmin units I’ve tested have been accurate, reliable, light, rugged, and well designed. Our most popular models are in Garmin’s “Mapping Handhelds” product category, designating units that can display optional maps and usually with built in base maps. As of…

Sycamore Groves in the Santa Rita Mountains

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…

Southern Arizona Hiking Groups

Looking for people to hike and backpack with in Southern Arizona? Check these groups out: Southern Arizona Hiking Club Green Valley Hiking Club The Ramblers (University of Arizona's Hiking Club) Tucson Hikers The Tucson Hiking Meetup Group Tucson Backpackers The X Hiking Club Tucson Alt Hikers What is your favorite hiking group?

Stop the Rosemont Copper Project

Arizona congressional representatives Gabrielle Giffords and Raul Grijalva have turned up the heat on the Forest Service in an effort to stop the disastrous Rosemont Copper mining project south of Tucson in the Santa Rita Mountains. Read about their recent efforts in an article in The Green Valley News. View the approximate location of the…

Sutherland Thrash

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,…

100 Days of Service

We are so fortunate to be able to live and play in the magnificent Southwest! Our love and passion for our precious wild lands runs deep, so early this year the Summit Hut launched its “100 Days of Service” program to benefit non-profit outdoor, conservation, and environmental advocacy organizations in southern Arizona. It’s a simple…