There are obvious signs for Madera Canyon along the way.Once on White Horse Canyon Road, you'll drive 11 miles straight into the Madera Canyon Recreation Area, enjoying a view of Wrightson along the way. The summit itself offered some amazing 360 views of southern Arizona and parts of Mexico, but unfortunately when we went it was literally swarming with ladybugs and flies, with quite a few bees present as well. Are you an outfitter, hunting guide, game processor or local hotel? This enormous wildlife sanctuary is Quebecs second largest park and is home to 6 rivers, 400 lakes, a myriad of waterfalls, numerous streams and 40 mammal species. A couple in our group were affected by the altitude. Pretty day with some rumblings of thunder. Left with the sunrise around 7:30 and summited at 11:15, stopping frequently to take pictures. Turn left here and drive into the trailhead parking lot, Supervisor's Office Then he showed us the pictures. We clocked it at 15 miles and surprised others havent pointed out the discrepancy. Besides, it's only $5 so don't take the chance of getting caught. Amazing views. Super Trail was less traveled based on the vegetation overgrowth through some sections but has great views the whole way down. Towering more than 7,000 feet over the surrounding savannas and deserts, Mt. Mt. Im not that breed and consider myself in shape. ) or https:// means you've safely on official, secure websites. With no breakfast and piss-poor preparation, I climbed to the pass just below the summit in about 2 hours, and was a pile of mush. On Madera Canyon Road, I stopped to take a picture of Mt. Miller Peak to the southeast. As soon as one of the hikers said she came from the Abbey up the road, we couldn't help but hear "The Sound of Music" dancing in our heads as we looked up at Mt. (FYI, once paid, this fee will also allow you to visit Mount Lemmon and Sabino Canyon in the Tucson area during the same day. It was such a beautiful day with reasonable temp and winds. I was really enjoying being there. Since I had a long drive back home, I decided to go back the way I had come up leaving at 11:00 AM. Wrightson summit; very steep and even steeper in the last .9 to the top [6], The final approach to the summit is north facing and may be impassable without special equipment during the winter due to ice.[7]. Beautiful trail, but a real butt-kicker. Want to report conditions for this trail? This was harder than anticipated. Started the hike around 8:30 on a Sunday. The weather was fantastic and spent half the time in a tshirt. This junction marks the end of Four Springs Trail. TUCSON, Ariz. - Bear Springs Trail begins on a tree-lined drive looking straight up at Mt. Wrightson, the highest peak in the Santa Ritas. Due to extensive damage caused by a fire in the summer of 2005, both the Old Baldy and Super trails have been closed. Saw bear scat in many places. The extensive rain was welcome and the trail was solid throughout with little mud to speak of. Epic day of hiking. A park ranger suggested going up Super Trail since it is less steep and returning on Old Baldy Trail which is a little shorter than Super. Most moderate hard hike completed so far. For example, the I hiked Old Baldy up and Super trail back and recommend that. Reached the trailhead and by the time I started my hike, it was 7:00 AM. Wrightson is Arizona's 8 th most prominent peak and the 49 th highest ranked peak. Look at it from afar (maybe from nearby Mount Ian) and you'll be in awe of its pleasing . I took my 2 older kids 13 and 15, they found it difficult but worthwhile. Hiked up in the pitch black, Friday night. Left the vacation rental house in Oro Valley north of Tucson at 5:30 AM (sunrise 6:40 AM). 89) to AZ Hwy 82; northeast on AZ Hwy 82 to AZ Hwy 83; northerly on AZ Hwy 83 to the Sahuarita road; west along the Sahuarita road alignment to I-19 Exit 75; south on I-19 to Grand Avenue (U.S. Hwy 89). Happy birthday, Miniature! Definitely agree with others that micro spikes were needed for safety higher up. Great hike to work on your fitness while putting little stress on your frame. Mount Wrightson (O'odham: Ce:wi Duag[4]) is a 9,456-foot (2,882m) peak in the Santa Rita Mountains within the Coronado National Forest, in southern Arizona, United States. LockA locked padlock Super trail is nice for solitude and views on a more relaxed trip back down. (2), Images 12.2 miles total. Taking my time, clocked 5:55 moving time with 10.6 miles total - excellent hike! Lot of ice on the North side, snow 2 feet deep toward the summit. Used poles and trail running shoes. Josephine Saddle via Super Trail and Old Baldy, Old Baldy and Mount Wrightson Summit Trail, Old Baldy, Vault Mine and Agua Caliente Trail, Vault Mine, Agua Caliente, Super Trail Loop. Well worth the elevation gains. Beautiful view from the top. Also be mindful for snakes and large predators, We found quite a bit of large predator skat, looked like bear and mountain lion. The Super trail as it raps around the south side of the summit is a little over grown right now, so bring pants. Continuous incline. Gorgeous views made up for any challenges!. Overall gorgeous mountain, terrain is beautiful with the snow but I would layer and bring light gloves and a beanie for the summit it was pretty exposed with lots of wind and cold. The However, his season came to an end after he suffered a foot injury that led to him being placed on season-ending injured reserve. From Tucson, drive south on I-19 toward Nogales. Constant incline. So much fun. Above the midpoint of the 8 at Josephine Saddle, the Super Trail loops around the south side of the mountain through even more arid country, while Old Baldy switchbacks through thickets of New Mexico locust on a west-facing slope to Baldy Saddle. Ronning said thanks to Ibuprofen he was only a bit sore and stiff the next day. Lots of shade, but bring sunscreen and a hat. Well taken care of. Ryan Kang/AP. Large swings indicate a good layering system should be used. We enjoyed the wrap around gorgeous views. Leave Interstate 19 at the Continental Road/Madera Canyon Exit and follow the Madera Canyon Road about 13.5 miles to the Mt Wrightson Picnic Area entrance. Very soft snow on the South side. Black bears, more than any other big game species in Arizona must be hunted early in the morning or late afternoon during the early fall hunts, if the hunter is to have an opportunity to locate the animals. It's a great way to start this 13.5 mile scenic hike. At 9,456 feet, Mount Wrightson is the tallest peak in the vicinity of Tucson Arizona. Closed the door of the car when the heavens opened up. We made the peak in 4:20 and back down in about 3 hours. Actually, you dont even have to go all the way to the top to enjoy great views. Wrightson via the Crest Trail #144 is the same no matter which trail youve followed to the saddle. The Old Baldy Trail is the shorter of the two at 10.8 miles roundtrip. Going up I would take old trail to Josephine then instead new trail to baldy saddle. The Old Baldy Trail is open to the summit as of March 2006. Trees line the walk at the beginning of the Bear Springs Trail as hikers look up at Mt. What a great hike! Cant wait to come back! The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. You can see just about forever no matter which way you look. Ian etc. Beautiful and looooong. Head out when the first early bird day hikers arrive. Many of these landmarks are visible from dozens of overlooks along both trails. Reached the 8750 ft saddle at 11:41 AM and took a short rest. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. beautiful hike. Ok.so the trail was quite nice. LockA locked padlock A sign on the trail warned about Africanized Bees ahead. Was first to top so had summit to myself for most of time - spent over an hour up there. Went up and back from TH to Josephine Saddle on the Supertrail which is a great trail. Trail is nice, sandy/rocky/snowy. Saw tons of wild turkeys and deer everywhere. Watch out for bears! The diversity which characterizes this desert oasis extends into other, more out of the way, habitats within the Wilderness, serving as a powerful attraction to nature lovers who value wildlife watching as a vital element of their wilderness experience. I quickly and cautiously went past a tree that was marked by a pink ribbon. Mt. View on the summit was spectacular! These two trails intersect at Josephine Saddle (7,080 feet, 2,160m) halfway to the peak, so hikers can choose one route for the lower path and one route for the upper. 30 minutes, time to roll. Old Baldy is the name by which those familiar with the Santa Rita Mountains know the centerpiece of this 25,260-acre Wilderness. Make sure you wear shoes with good grip and you bring your spikes. The hike tops out at about 5,700 feet, but the climb is so gentle along the way that hikers hardly notice the elevation gain. Bear Springs follows a water system built 110 years ago to supply hydraulic mining operations near Kentucky Camp with water from Bear Springs. In winter the park attracts people that come tocross-country ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile along the snow covered trails. 11.4 was the Alltrails logged distance, but the phone may have been inadvertently paused for a small piece. Trails will probably remain closed until Summer 2006. http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/. I feel like this was somewhere around 13 miles total instead of 10. Lowest 24 January, 2023 19.9 F; Average 2023 46.7 F; Highest 5 February, 2023 79 F; Lowest 24 January, 2023 19.9 F; Average January 46.1 F; Highest 13 January, 2023 There are several springs at different locations, including Bog Spring, Sprung Spring, Kent Spring, Armour Spring, Baldy Spring, McBeth Spring and Bellows Spring. excellent page! Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. It is located in Madera Canyon, part of the Santa Rita mountains and the Coronado National Forest, and it's a popular excursion approximately 30-minutes south of Tucson. Currently lot of ice and snow up there. Very top snow free. Absolutely loved the 360 views on top. Trail lies in the Mt.Wrightson Wilderness Area. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock At 8:23 AM, 2.56 miles and 7090 ft elevation, I reached Josephine Saddle (and the junction with Super Trail).Looking down the canyon where the trail came from. Hiker 2 met us after 20 more minutes of watching the big black. Plenty of parking and restrooms at trailhead. Its more like 12 miles, also Saw two bear, one was 20 ft off the trail and drooling and creeping forward to my dog and me. Since most summit this peak as a day hike and start the day from the desert lowlands of Tucson, you won't have a chance to acclimatize your body. Motorized and mechanized vehicles and equipment, including mountain bikes, are not permitted in Wilderness. The hike begins on Gardner Canyon Road, where the better-known Gardner Canyon Trail also begins. Directions: Leave Interstate 19 at the Continental Road/Madera Canyon Exit and follow the Madera Canyon Road about 13.5 miles to the Mt Wrightson Picnic Area entrance. He had also seen a female and cub above the ridge. Sutton, 25, was taken in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Bears. With a prominence of 4591 ft, Mt. The last mile to the summit of Mt. The trail is in great shape, with a few short icy sections. Un trail con excelentes vistas, gran altura. Beautiful trail. We did the Old Baldy trail both ways. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Distance 11 miles Elevation gain 4000 feet. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The temperature was perfect, not too many people, zero bugs and there were birds galoremy 1 star comes from the incline. Wrightson is the highest point of the Santa Rita Mountains that rise 35 miles to the south of Tucson, Arizona. Apparently the hills have more than just music. 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