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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• Chiricahua National Monument web site
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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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