Hi,
Mount Lemon has always been a favorite escape from the Phoenix Valley heat. Does anyone know any alternate hiking spots in the Tucson area that would get us into cool climate? I guess I would like an alternative to the northern hikes for the summer.
Still grieving over the devestation on Mount Lemon.
Alright about Mt Wrightson.....<big sigh> 10 miles round trip and a 4000 foot elevation gain. Sounds like a if you didn't start with "buns of steel" you would sure have them after that trek.
Is there any access to Mt Lemon? Any hiking going on at all up there? Or am I just dreaming? :A1:
Mount Lemmon is closed until later in the year. Wrightson is your best bet for a cool hike. The Old Baldy trail is tree lined and shady. It departs from Madera canyon and climbs to 9400'. It was about 75 degrees a few weeks ago when I did this hike with Lizard and my girlfriend.
We saw a field of golden flowers, lot's of ladybugs at the peak and my compaions saw a bear when I was photographing a dead tree witht the peak in the background.
It is a tough hike but well worth it. You get some very awesome views at the summit.
Thanks all for the great info. I'm also looking into the Pinaleno Mountains and hear there's bunches of great cooler hikes there althought it's a bit farther.
Quite a bit of the high country in the Pinalenos has been closed for some time now due to the red squirrel. There is still some open for hiking but a large area was closed by Congress over a deal with the Observatory years ago.
Another choice if you are willing to drive that far is about the same distance, the Chirachauas. You can drive to Rustler park and step out of your car at 8400'. There are numerous peaks above 9000', the highest being 9742', along the Crest trail. The meadows have wild iris. Parrots used to be endemic to the area before their plumage became so popular. I once found a big outcropping of geodes up there.
The high country attracts some very intense storms this time of the year so take caution.
I went up to Mt Graham area this past Sunday- about three hours from Tucson. Hiked on the Grant Hill Loop , hopefully will get the hike posted here soon after JOE fixes my booboos. About 8000 feet elevation at trailhead, I actually wore a light jacket the first 15 minutes on the trail. Easy loop hike in nice lush forrest, very scenic. Lots of camping opprotunities. I would highly recommend getting to Wilcox or Safford the night before or up to one of the campgrounds. Hwy 366 is very curvy and about a 10-15 mph road which takes quite a while to drive up so access is not quick to any higher elevation trailhead. I plan to go back in couple of weeks, camp out and do the Ash Creek trail.
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