Boynton Canyon Trail - Sedona - Coconino National Forest

Trail information: Mileage: 5 miles round trip / Elevation: about 4,500-5,000 (very little change, just a few small up's and down's with one short climb at the end) / Location: Take 89A in Sedona to Dry Creek Road, take until it ends then follow signs to Boynton Canyon trailhead / Note: You need a National Lands Pass or Red Rocks Pass to hike here

This hike is through a spectacular and well loved box canyon in Sedona. This enjoyable, mostly level trek gets you right up to the red rocks and into a closed in canyon. It is a popular trail even on a weekday which is when we hiked it. It is frequented by helicopter tours and has a large resort and exotic homes that you hike along for about 1/3 of the trail. As long as you aren't looking for solitude and an area untouched by humans (which is probably going to be difficult to find in Sedona) this is a great little trip that is easy to do even for someone who isn't in super fit condition. The early part of the trail is out in the sun but the further into the canyon you go the shadier and cooler it turns, as the bottom of the canyon changes to mostly pine trees. During the winter the far reaches of the canyon get little sunlight and the floor still had a layer of frost on it at 2 in the afternoon (so warm clothes are in order in the winter here)! The trail meanders through interesting rock walls with unusual spires and a "mitten." During the spring it appears there may be a small creek that runs down the canyon floor. Make sure to not give up without doing the final climb at the end as it brings you just above the trees providing an awesome view of the canyon you just hiked (see pic). While I'm not in to the "vortex" thing this whole area is a spiritually inspirational place and I always look forward to my trips here. With all the interesting formations and majestic red rocky cliffs towering above this is definitely well worth the hike.

• For more technical information on the trail visit the Coconino National Forest trail page

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Coronado National Forest - Finger Rock Canyon Trail

Trail info: Mileage: 9.2 miles (out and back) / Elevation (low-high): 3120-6880 / Location: At the very north end of Alvernon Rd - take Swan north to Skyline and turn left, take Skyline to Alvernon and turn right, then watch for the trail parking on the left at the top of the hill

Wow! There are few trails that I return from that have dealt me a butt kicking like this one. I doubt I've ever hiked a trail as difficult as Finger Rock. I hurt for 2 days after this hike! The trail starts off easy enough, then progresses to steep switchbacks and patches of large rocks to climb over throughout much of the journey to the top. The views and beauty of the area certainly make it worth the grueling hike. It is a spectacular trip to say the least climbing up from the desert terrain, through the canyon, and into areas of juniper and pine. Just take plenty of water and high energy food and the best pair of hiking shoes you can afford. There are not only great views of finger rock, but interesting rocky hillsides and Tucson below. A mix of clouds and sun made for an ideal hike and I made many stops to gaze at the awesome rugged landscape and put my heart back in my chest. I ran into the typical dessert wildlife such as lizards and buzzards circling, waiting for any hikers that didn't make it back. I did run into several other hikers on my trip, as this trail is popular despite being so challenging. When I reached the trail's end I enjoyed lunch, a great view, and some r-n-r before heading down. I was glad to have my head lamp with me as I didn't return until well after dark with sunset being at 5:30 these days. Hiking back under the setting sun does make for a stunning return trip on about any hike. As the bright sun slipped beneath the mountains a sliver of moon came into view and hung over the city below, just adding more beauty to this great day. However, once it's dark this trail can be tough to see, although I never had a problem other than needing to slow down my pace so as to not loose it.

• For more technical information on the trail visit the Coronado National Forest trail page

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Hiking around Patagonia

Recently I traveled to Patagonia, AZ to camp and enjoy the lake and surrounding area.

I. Hiking: Nature Conservancy Reserve - My first day I spent the afternoon hiking around the various trails, amounting to about 2 1/2 miles, along the creek, managed by the Nature Conservancy. This area is particularly suited for birding, but as I was visiting at the wrong time of year I saw very few birds. It was a pretty hike and I did see deer and a tarantula, (and lots of grasshoppers!) so I'll revisit this place in the spring and judge it then.

I setup camp for the night in the highly scenic, well maintained state park campground which provides sites close to the water and exceptional facilities. That evening I was treated to an amazing sunset, the likes of which I haven't seen around AZ in quite some time, largely due to the pathetic excuse for a monsoon season we had this year. Anyway, I finally was blessed by the intense, outrageous kind of sunset that photographers love, that seemed to go on forever. After that I enjoyed salmon cooked over the fire and then returned to the lake to watch the near full moon rise over the lake. It was quite the evening!

II. Hiking Sonoita Creek Natural Area - This would be the day for my big hike along the creek that flows out from Patagonia Lake. You need to acquire a permit at the Patagonia Lake entrance due to a limit on how many visitors the area is allowed per day. The hike begins in the natural area parking lot. My route was the Sonoita Creek trail, then out the NM & AZ Railroad trail as far as the campsite and back, up Cottonwood Loop, and continuing on a newer trail labeled Blackhawk that goes up to the west side of the lake and then back to the parking lot via an access road. All together this is about 7 miles of fairly easy travel, as the railroad trail is mostly flat and you'll only really go uphill on the return trip as you come out of the canyon back to the lake. I really enjoyed this easy, peaceful trail and the fall color along this interesting riparian area. If you like trails that follow along streams, as I do, this is one not to be missed. I spent lots of time leaving the trail to go down along the creek, gazing at the reflections of the golden trees against the blue water. If you don't mind getting your feet wet then just stay with the main trail (labeled "horses") which has several stream crossings keeping you right along the water. One of the "hiker" paths does wander far from the creek just to keep you from getting wet, but does provide a nice overlook of the canyon below. A unique contrast exists here, as a shallow canyon with water, plants, and sizable trees, is only a short distance below the typical desert landscape. After an enjoyable hike I crashed out for a nap on the edge of the lake before returning to the truck to head home. This was an amazing couple of days and one of my favorite trips this year. I'll be sure to return in the spring for birding season. Patagonia rocks!

Patagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek information

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Chiricahua Nat'l Monument Hiking Trip

Trail info: Echo Canyon (start), Hailstone, Mushroom Rock, Inspiration Point, Big Balanced Rock, Heart of Rocks, Sarah Deming, Lower Rhyolite Canyon (end) / Total Mileage: 9.8 / Elevation change: 6780 (start) - 6330 - 7010 - 5400 (end) generally gradual changes / Note: The best way to hike this is to sign up for the free shuttle in the visitor center which leaves at 8:30am and drops you off at the Echo Canyon trail head. You then hike back to the visitor center. (This also makes your hike mostly downhill!)

I spent a few days camping in the Chiricahua's, but the main event was this hike combo, which I took at a leisurely pace and made a day out of it. Only through pictures or seeing it for yourself can one truly appreciate the awesomeness of this area. Out of all the places I've traveled to, this park is without question one of my all time favorites. Few trails do I return to again and again to hike, but this is one of them (I think this was my 4th time). This is a land of impressive volcanic formations that look similar to stalagmites in a cave; the Apache called these spires, "standing up rocks." These stunning pillars cover the hillside, many formed in ways as to defy gravity. The trails not only provide fantastic views of these features but place you in their midst, allowing you to walk amongst their majesty. Unlike so many trails which feature one main attraction or an endpoint with some grand view, these trails are just mile after mile of incredible scenery. The day was beautiful, although quite windy and cool at times. I kept putting on and taking off layers as I hiked. Nearing the end of the season there were few others out on the trails. I had hoped for more fall color, but there are few deciduous trees here except in the valley. The trails are well marked and easy to hike with gradual changes in elevation. This is a hike I don't like to rush as there's so much to take in. Even with a lunch break, plenty of photo stops, and the relaxed pace I hiked at, I still completed the trip in 7 hours. Most people in reasonable health should have no problems finishing this trek before sunset. After a great day of hiking it was back to camp for dinner. It was a cold night again and my equipment was just barely keeping me warm enough. I awoke the next day to snow with more on the way and ended up working my way home the long way, stopping for lunch in Tombstone, and dinner in Patagonia, before traveling a primitive road to Nogales and then returning to Tucson from there. A pretty wild journey, but fun.

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Saguaro National Park - Pink Hill / Loma Verde / Cholla / Cactus Forest Loop

Trail info: Loop is 3.1 miles / virtually no change in elevation
Location: Trail head is near the end of E Broadway Blvd

I did this just to enjoy a beautiful evening and get some exercise in. The trail really doesn't feature anything you wouldn't see elsewhere in the park, but it's a nice hike nonetheless. It is a very eroded trail, likely due to heavy equestrian use which at least means there's no way you could get lost on this thing. I moved quickly along this mostly flat trail watching the sunset and the moon rise and admiring some of the massive saguaro there. Not much else to say about this one.

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Santa Rita Mountains / Madera Canyon / Bog and Kent Springs Trails

Trail info: 6.2 miles round trip / elevation (low-high) 4820-6720
Location: Trail head is in Madera Canyon at the picnic area just past campground turn off.

It was the perfect day for a drive to Madera Canyon for a leisurely (only moderately difficult) hike through the woods to enjoy the last of the fall color mostly from the massive sycamores. This hike isn't overly long but it does have some steep stretches to it despite the relatively minor elevation gain. The trail is rocky with loose ground in places so wearing hiking shoes will make it easier going. I hiked up enjoying the openness of the trail which allows for awesome views up at Mt Wrightson. It was good that it was a cool day with a breeze or the sun might be a bit much on the many unshaded areas. Where the loop begins I went to the left to hike the loop in a clockwise direction. This turned out to be a good choice as the trail is quite steep descending from Kent Springs down to Sylvester Spring and personally I'd rather go down the tough hills. The areas near the springs were particularly attractive with gold and orange leaves dropping in the wind. All the springs had water, but only at Kent Springs was any coming down the mountain side. I rested and ate lunch there enjoying the sound of the trickling spring and staring up at the canopy of trees above. A squirrel, and some birds and butterflies also joined me, no doubt attracted to the one spot on the mountain side that still had water flowing. It was a peaceful, but windy day with the smells of fall and pine needles being carried through the air. The hike was just the right length allowing me to go at a more relaxed pace and really soak up the beauty of the canyon.

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• For more technical information on the trail visit the Coronado National Forest trail page

• Camping and lodging are available in the canyon area for overnight stays
  

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Santa Rita Mountains / Madera Canyon / Mt. Wrightson

Day 1: Madera Canyon: This was quite an adventure filled 3 day trip in an area known for its wildlife, particularly birds. My first day there was setting up camp and just some general sightseeing and locating trails. The sunset the first night was nice and I went up to the end of the road where I could observe the last light warming the mountains with its red glow. That night the winds whipped up something fierce and I thought I would wake and find I was no longer in Arizona, like in “The Wizard of Oz.” I got very little rest which was disturbing considering the next day was my big trip up the mountain. I was almost ready to pack it in the next morning but breakfast seemed to revive me and I felt ready for the trek ahead.


Day 2: Mt. Wrightson Hike: I began early expecting that by taking the Super Trail to the top (a more gradual climb) and then the Old Baldy trail on the way back (a more steep descent) would give me about 13.5 miles of hiking for the day, most of it uphill. The hike climbs through a lot of forest with many great views along its course. There were still many areas of beautiful wildflowers despite being late in the season. Deer, birds, and copious lizards made up the wildlife I spotted on this trip. The interesting birds on this hike included some sort of Oriole (I think) and a hawk. I guess I needed mom with me to figure out what they were. The elevation didn’t really nail me until my final ascent to the summit which goes from about 8700 to 9453 in under a mile. I’m not sure I’ve ever hiked to this height before but the views along the way and at the peak made it worth it. You could see for miles in all directions up there without anything obstructing your view. No wonder back in the day there was an observation building to spot wildfires erected there. (Its remains are visible in my pic above) You even look down on the Smithsonian’s Whipple Observatory from the summit. I spent a while at the top enjoying the view (and celebrating my achievement, thanking God and everyone else like I'd won an Olympic medal or something) and a hardy snack before beginning my descent, which if timed right would have me finishing my hike as the sun was setting, providing some more nice photos of Mt. Wrightson with that late day light I love. It was a wonderful, cool descent with different views and even a few trees with golden leaves on this side of the mountain. The Baldy trail is quite steep and I was glad I had chosen it only for my return trip. It was hard to put the camera away as there were so many great overlooks along the way back. I timed the trip perfectly and was hiking most of the final couple miles of the trek under the setting sun. Then it was back to camp and dinner! This nights excitement I’ll call “Skunk Fest.” It started while sitting on the tailgate of my truck eating dinner. Hearing a noise I looked down to discover a skunk sniffing the ground below me (only inches from my dangling feet); it wandered around my truck and looked at me several times before heading off. Later I spotted an all white skunk, and then another. I spent most of my time in the truck that evening as I really didn’t want to get sprayed. I crept carefully to my tent that night, fortunately without any unpleasant encounters.


Day 3: Madera Creek Trails: This morning I awoke to wild turkeys making their way through camp. There’s certainly plenty of action around this place! Today would be easy hikes along the (mostly dry) creek, about 7 miles total, doing each trail segment out and back. This is the area birders flock to (pun intended) during the spring. I saw quite a number of birds on my hikes but really had little to identify them. There was a woodpecker, nuthatch, a jay, a blackbird with white patches on the top of its wings, some sort of finch, and a tanager among what I spotted and recognized. My mom would really enjoy this area. The trails along the creek are easy and even paved in places with many benches for bird watching. They are also easy to access with the road being nearby allowing me to do small chunks of the trail and then return to my truck for food and to move on to the next section. Even this time of year there were places the creek had water and the wildlife was plentiful in those stretches. Besides many birds, I also encountered deer and squirrels and such while hiking. After a relaxing day of animal watching it was back to Tucson. Definitely worth coming back in the spring during birding season.

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Walnut Canyon NM / Rim and Island Trails

Trail info: Each trail is below 1 mile - the Rim trail essentially has no elevation change - the Island Trail goes down around 240 steps/185 ft into the canyon
Location: About 10 miles outside of Flagstaff off I-40 exit 204

Walnut Canyon combines beautiful canyon scenery and a look at life of the Sinagua people who once resided there some 800 years ago. The canyon with its many overhangs and shallow caves provided ideal places for their homes to be built and remain fairly sheltered from the elements. Up and down the canyon remains of their dwellings are everywhere you look. The rim hike provides overlooks of many of the dwellings as well as the remains of a pueblo and pithouse built at the top. This is an easy, mostly paved hike that anyone can do. The Island Trail has many stairs that descend to a rock island in the canyon which has many dwellings that you can get a closer look at. Information on the canyon, its’ plant life, and the history of the inhabitants is provided. This is an impressive place and features more Indian dwellings than I’ve seen anywhere else in my travels.
While the size of the dwellings aren’t much compared to nearby Wupatki, the number of them in a relatively small area is amazing (probably where the idea for apartment complexes originated). It is definitely worth the trip down the Island Trail to see inside the dwellings as well as to better view the surrounding canyon walls with their many home sites. This definitely would’ve been an awesome place to live (except when it snowed and Sunset Crater erupted.) Oh well, no place is perfect.

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Fatman’s Loop Trail / Mt. Elden / San Francisco Peaks

Trail info: 2 miles, elevation (low-high) 6900-7500
Location: HWY 89 just north of Flagstaff Mall

Really gigantic ancient juniper trees and some excellent views, including some of Sunset Crater (pictured at right), are the features of this enjoyable short hike. It climbs gradually, but nothing major and all the trails in this area are well marked and easy to follow which is always a plus. This trail can also be used as a lead in to hike all the way to the summit of Mt. Elden, but my brother and I had other plans and weren’t really interested in hiking to the top on this one. It was an enjoyable trip but there was little fall foliage on this side due to the type of trees, unlike our previous days hike in Lockett Meadow which is an autumn leaf paradise with all the aspens around. Overall, a hike that is probably nice anytime of year. It's a popular hike due to its proximity to the city and nice to use when you just want to get out for a pleasant stroll.

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Coconino National Forest - Lockett Meadow/Inner Basin Trail/San Francisco Peaks

Trail info: appx. 3.6 miles roundtrip (Meadow to Inner Basin and back)
Location: Take AZ 89 east out of Flagstaff - Turn left at Forest Road 522 which is opposite the entrance to Sunset Crater NM

Early October is definitely the time of year to visit Lockett Meadow as it’s alive with the beauty of golden aspen leaves shimmering in the sunlight. Getting there is a bit interesting as you will need to drive several miles on forest road 522, a narrow, winding, low maintenance road with sharp drops. There is a camping area there, and of course, the highly scenic Inner Basin trail, the passage to the heart of the San Francisco Peaks. The meadow area and much of the trail features stands of aspen contrasted by the dark green pines with mountain peaks towering in the background. We ascended towards the basin on this fine day under a few clouds, but mostly sunny skies, the scent of pine filling our noses. Even with it being a weekday a good number of other hikers were out making this popular fall trek. This walk is a bit rocky so good hiking boots are a plus for the journey. It is generally a gradual climb with nothing to steep to handle and the trail is wide and well defined unlike many of my excursions as of late. As spectacular as the hike up was, on reaching the inner basin we realized that the leaves there were a bit past prime. It was an enjoyable trip nonetheless, just not at the level of color we’d hoped for. This is such an amazing place to be where mountain peaks surround you and on a good day the basin provides a view all the way to the painted desert. A touch of snow, barely visible, capped Mt. Humphrey and from the forecast it seemed likely that more was on the way. The fall air was a bit brisk and occasional gusts of wind brought golden leaves raining upon us, while the mountains were constantly creating various cloud formations overhead. We spent some time enjoying the views, watching clouds, and snapping pictures before returning to the meadow. Wonderful day and at a perfect place for an autumn outing.

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Coronado National Forest- Mt. Lemmon - Aspen Trails

Circuit: Aspen Trail / Aspen Draw / Mint Spring / Marshall Gulch Loop

Trail info.: Mileage (total loop) 8.3 miles + distance along road (?) / Elevation (low-high) appx. 7400-8600 ft

Location: starts at Marshall Gulch Picnic Area

With autumn underway I decided to check out the Aspen Trail and enjoy some fall color. The leaves were pretty close to peak color on much of Mt. Lemmon and it was a great cool day for a long loop that would lead me through much of the aspen stands on the mountain. I began at the Marshall Gulch picnic area and hiked up the Aspen Trail from there. It didn’t take long before I was immersed in the largest area of Aspen you’ll encounter on the whole trail. The leaves were dropping quickly likely because of dry conditions so I was happy I picked this for my outing. I slowly walked admiring the trees and trying to capture some of their beauty on film (err... memory card). The trail climbs gradually from the gulch and through the forest and until you pass the big trail junction where several trails converge it is not too difficult. Eventually the trail climbs fairly steeply with many switchbacks as it works its way up to radio ridge (where the radio towers are and the ski lift ends). This ascent provides some outstanding views along the way which give a good excuse to stop and catch your breath and avoid heart failure. Dropping down the Aspen Draw trail I once again wandered through some Aspen trees as I descended into the valley and the town of Summerhaven. I strolled through quite a bit of the town as I worked my way back to the Mint Spring trail to continue my loop. I was quite excited to see more aspen as I started up the Mint Spring trail. Here new aspen are growing in an area where the old growth pine forest burned away several years ago. There were also some nice views at this point in the trail. Once you curve around the slope the trail becomes nothing much other than a hike through burnt trunks of trees until it gets close to the trail junction. I then finished my trip with one of my favorite sections of trail on the mountain, Marshall Gulch. Sadly, there wasn’t much water in the stream due to the dry weather but enough to enjoy the sound of trickling water here and there. Today my hiking pace was just about perfect as I made it back to my vehicle just as it was getting dark with the glorious moon light guiding me back the last 1/8 of a mile or so.

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Coronado National Forest - Mt. Lemmon - Oracle Ridge + Red Ridge Trails

Trail info.: Length: (done as a loop - Oracle Ridge to Catalina Camp to Red Ridge) 7.3 miles (+ hike back to vehicle at trail head) appx. 2 miles = about 9.3 miles round trip, Elevation: (low-high) 5680-8160
Location: Red Ridge trail head is off the ski road, Oracle Ridge trail head is a short distance down the control road from the fire station

It was another beautiful day for hiking with mostly sunny skies and a gentle, cool breeze making for a pleasant temperature. At first Oracle Ridge trail passes through many burnt up trees and I figured on another trail through nothing but charred remains from the fires. However, I was delighted at the abundant wildflowers and areas that the fires missed leaving plenty of smaller plants thriving. On the positive side, even where the trees had burned, there were many unobstructed views where I could see for miles in all directions. I would say incredible views would be the prime feature of this high elevation trail.
The trail was at times rocky and part of the way it followed what once was a rough road undoubtedly created to access Catalina Camp in the valley below. The miles ticked off quickly on this mostly level to downhill ridge top trail. It wasn't long before I made it to a trail junction with the Catalina Camp trail and began heading off down the hill. It was a bit steep and rocky in places, making me wonder how even in good condition you could get a vehicle down this road. The trail wandered on down the mountain to the camp. I was curious as to what this camp would be like as it is marked on my map but nowhere could I find any information about it. It turns out to only be a closed off 1 room shack with a storage shed nearby. More like the remains of a camp.
Historical, yes, but nothing to offer the weary hiker in search of rest. It was apparent as I hiked around that this is a popular overnight destination; although, I never ran into another soul on my hike today. There were remains of campsites along a small stream which I'm guessing flows year round as it had quite a flow to it considering it's September. I hung out and enjoyed a snack here while listening to the soothing sounds of the stream. As I hiked on I became worried as I temporarily lost the trail and it was at times difficult to distinguish the actual trail in this area verses paths other campers had made or that water running off the mountain had created on its way to the stream. Thankfully, after some prayer and retracing my steps I found my way to the trail junction for the Red Ridge trail. (I did those that will come after me a favor by setting up some stacks of rocks particularly in the spot where I went off course.) Ahh, these mountain trails definitely have their surprises! I was expecting a well defined path on this journey, as most of my trip was on the Arizona Trail. If you were to have problems in this area, stay with the stream as it will eventually intersect the Red Ridge trail and there is a good stack of rocks marking the spot. I was a little concerned when I reached the trail signpost as someone had etched a letter "D" in front of the word "RED." Would the Red Ridge trail really be a "DRED" to hike? Not if you don't mind intense, heart-pounding, uphill stretches. The trail was well defined, easy to follow and not too rocky, but between the steepness and elevation gain I hiked at a snails pace and even then had to stop numerous times to bring my heart rate down. It was a beautiful hike offering some great views, especially of some rugged rocky cliffs which the late day light illuminated magnificently. Sunset was arriving quickly and its warm light accentuated the hills and rocky features below. I soon was off the trail and began the trip along the road back to my vehicle. Yet another blessed day and further proof that it's hard to find a hike that isn't worth taking in the Catalina Mountains.

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Coronado National Forest - Linda Vista Trail

Trail info: Length: appx. 2.7 miles round trip depending on which trails you take - Elevation: (low-high) 2720-3120 - Location: Linda Vista Blvd just off of Oracle Rd near the school

I decided at the last minute to go for an evening hike as the heat in Tucson has been a little less intense thanks to some rain and a little extra cloud cover, plus the slight breeze was delightful. This ended up being a great sunset hike with its short length and nice overlooks right at the base of the mountains. As long as you don't mind watching the sunset over the city this is a nice spot without having to go out of your way to get there. (This hike is on the edge of the wilderness area but you are surrounded in all directions except east by development.) While the trail gets you close to the mountains it is a steady climb making it a pleasant stroll. The direct late day sunlight on the mountains made them a glowing yellow turning to pink as the sunset progressed. Lots of birds and bunnies scurried about as I hiked along and there were plenty of cacti to look at. With no worries about trying to get back to the trail head at any given time I was able to hang out and watch the sun setting and along with it a sliver of moon.

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Coronado National Forest - Mt. Lemmon - Green Mountain / Brush Corral Trail

Trail info: Length: 8.5 (Green Mtn. up and back) + .9 (Brush Corral Shortcut) + 1.8 (Brush Corral from shortcut back to Green Mtn.) = 11.2 mile loop, Elevation (low-high): appx. 6000-7600 ft.

This trail is all about big views. Many panoramic overlooks of the valley below and plenty of interesting rock structures. At least the Green Mountain portion of the trail is very well maintained and on a recent hike I ran into a fire crew who were doing an excellent job of improving it. Like a typical mountain trail it has long up and downhill sections even though there is not a huge elevation change over the trip. The upper portion of the trail near San Pedro overlook is particularly nice early in the morning as the sun highlights the rocks. My trek on this occasion was particularly nice as it had rained the night before and the lower part of the trail was moist and refreshing as I walked along in the early morning hours. The forest was alive with sounds of animals enjoying the coolness. I hiked up viewing the interesting rock formations above me watching the light changing on them as the sun rose. By the time I reached the Brush Corral shortcut trail things were getting a bit warm even though it was only mid-morning. It was going to be a hot day on the mountain. The shortcut trail is quite a steep downhill trek at times and sometimes easy to loose sight of the trail. Thankfully there are many little rock piles to follow so I never felt like I was off track too much. Once on the Brush Corral trail heading back towards the Green Mountain trail the hike gets down along some pools that during the spring likely have some running water. For now they made a great place to relax and have lunch under the shade of the forest. After this point the trail begins working its way upward and passes a number of interesting rock formations and provides plenty of good views. It dips into another area that likely has water in the spring before climbing quickly back to the Green Mountain trail. When I hiked this it was quite overgrown although the fire crew mentioned the possibility of working on that trail too. You may want to stick with pants for this trail unless you want to get scratched up. Soon I arrived at the Brush Corral, Green Mountain junction and began the trek back which offers great views and some towering rocks to look at. It was getting into the late afternoon and some rolling thunder and storm clouds made for some excitement. I stopped and watched some butterflies and hummingbirds enjoying the agave in full bloom. There were a number of these amazing plants along this hike. As I was coming down the final stretch of trail it was obvious a good storm was brewing and the lightning was quite awesome. I got back to my vehicle just as the rain began. I took off for some of the overlooks, not far away, to watch the storm roll through. It made for great entertainment as I ate dinner, watching the show of lightning and intensely colored clouds with the sun peaking through them until it disappeared below the mountains. Another beautiful day on the mountain had come to a close.

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Coronado National Forest - Mt. Lemmon - Box Camp Trail

Pools, streams, wildflowers, and awesome viewpoints abound on the Box Camp Trail, a moderate hike down the southwestern side of the Catalina mountain range. If you took this trail to its end, Box Camp Canyon turns into Sabino Canyon. I didn't go that far, just far enough to get some amazing views of the city below (Tucson). After all, it was a rather warm day and I knew it would be pretty toasty at 3760 feet where the trails meet up; or, maybe all the vultures circling above me was just a bad omen of what would become of me should I not be able to make my way back up the mountain. Anyway, the first mile or so of the trail goes along the mountain side through grass and ferns and a lot of burnt trees with very little change in elevation. That is followed by a good downhill moving into the forest with a stream and pools with banks of wildflowers. This made for a great spot to relax, have a snack, and watch the bees enjoying the plentiful golden columbine flowers. The trail follows along the stream for about a 1/2 mile before intersecting the Box Camp Spring Trail. If you hike the spring trail for a few tenths of a mile it goes down to another area with a seasonal spring and some pools. For the extreme hiker this little side trail goes still further and STRAIGHT DOWN a hillside to another stream, which had almost no water in it this time of year. With some water flow it could make for a neat waterfall, but otherwise there is little point to hiking down this really steep overgrown trail through thorny plants (unless maybe you're training for "Survivor" or something). Anyway, I made it back to the main Box Camp trail and headed further on it as it looked as if there may be some good views ahead. After a mile or so more I came to a rocky area providing a panoramic view of Tucson; although the haze and smoke from fires really limited what could be seen. This was yet another enjoyable trek in the Catalina's that provided a variety of things to see.

• If you are looking to travel to Tucson, or anywhere else, be sure to click over to my travel site.

• If you like the images you see they are available at my Zazzle gallery.

• For Coronado National Forest visitor information click the link.

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