Among all the high places surrounding Tucson, Rincon Peak, at the southern end of the Rincon Mountains, is on my “top three” list of the area’s most beautiful peaks (the other two are Cathedral Peak and Mt Wrightson). Rincon Peak seen from a view point near Manning Camp It is tall, massive, pleasingly shaped, and…
Category: Activities
Linda Vista Trail
The Linda Vista Trail is really a network of three or four trails, all tucked under the north side of Pusch Peak in the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. Very easy to access, trailhead parking is just a few hundred yards off Oracle Highway. This is a great place to enjoy a high quality yet…
Phoneline Trail
There is little doubt that Sabino Canyon is the most visited recreation area in southern Arizona. Surrounded by the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, Sabino Canyon is wild and spectacular, yet very easy to access from the Tucson area. Most visitors ride a commercial tram or walk the road (closed to traffic) that runs four miles along…
Ragged Top
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
Keeping Cool in the Wilderness of Rocks
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…