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| Hiking | 6.67 Miles |
995 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.67 Miles | 4 Hrs 30 Mns | | 1.48 mph |
| 995 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Note: on this hike we hiked the Tortolita BM (3259), the Tortolita Mtn high point (estimated elev. 3267), and Peak 2892.
Michael and I decided to park in a new housing development North of Dove Mountain West Park. We could have parked at the park but decided the hike would be interesting enough starting for this point further North and that would give us more time to explore the area and do some of the sub-peaks and points of interest along the way.
We started off entering a drainage area and doing a class 3 short climb up a steep rocky section to get up on top of an embankment. Then, we headed South and within a few hundred feet we found a low barbed wire fence that we were able to step over. From there we did an open Country hike to a sandy wash, crossed it and found an old road leading out of the wash. We continued until we reached a road junction. At this point we hiked a total of 0.92 miles. We turned right and continued for roughly another 1/4 mile until we saw a road junction. There was a road leading North and a road leading East but a metal gate across the eastern road. This area to the East was AZ State Trust land. We decided to enter to check out an old corral a few hundred feet past the gate. There was a metal tank here probably used for game water or for cattle that was completely dry. There must not be any cattle in this area anymore.
We went back the gate and took the road heading North. After we hiked a total of 1.8 miles we saw the road turn right and we were looking up at saddle North of Peak 2892. It appeared that from this saddle we could follow the ridgeline up to the Tortollita Benchmark and the ridgeline looked pretty steep North of the saddle. At the saddle we decided why not summit Peak 2892. By doing this summit first, we had an option to come back the same way from the benchmark OR we could find another route down. Getting to Peak 2892 was pretty straight-forward except we did need to dodge some teddy bear cholla in some places. We got some photos but did not find a registry there.
We returned to the saddle and started climbing up the steep rocky slope heading up to the benchmark. There were a few tricky areas along the way. We found a land bridge way up high that connected one rocky area to another. To the left of the land bridge there was a canyon heading left, and to the right of the land bridge there was a canyon heading right. It was a very unique area. We kept going and eventually we ended up at a high point. We thought we were on the actual benchmark but apparently this was the high point of the mountain, different than the benchmark in this case. I found an old plastic tupperware container which was broken and sandwiched between some rocks at the high point. There was a notebook with 2 names. We both signed it and re-constructed the registry with better security against the rain and intense sun that we know will be coming in a few months. This registry has seen better days but at least it will survive for now. If anyone plans on doing this hike, a small glass jar would be useful to replace the flimsy plastic tupperware.
We continued over to the benchmark which was probably only 10-20 feet lower in elevation. At the benchmark location we did see a US survey marker and alternate marker with an arrow pointing to the benchmark location. We found a glass jar in a rock pile that had some really old pages that was quite flakey. We got photos of as much as possible. At the summit we also found a 15 foot metal pole that may have been used in conjunction with an antenna at some point in the past and several nails. The metal pole was laying on the ground. There were pieces of wire attaching the pole to some stakes in the ground. We found 2 stakes holding the wire down. The pole most likely blew over because of strong winds. We weren't sure what it was used for. I had a quick lunch at the summit and we thought about the best way to descend. At least we had a few options and because we already summited Peak 2892, we didn't have to go down the same way.
We ended up following the ridgeline North and Northeast to get down. There were a few rocky cliff areas that we needed to hike around to the left or the right. We found several clearings along the way down but were able to weave left or right and really never had anything more than class 2 the whole way down. When we got to the saddle below, we stayed Southwest of the canyon, for the most part. There were a few areas where we needed to dodge some cactus or thorn bushes, but in general it was open Country. A few times we dropped down into the wash when it was wider or clearer. Eventually we noticed we were only 500 feet from the dirt road. We kept moving forward and eventually ran into the road.
We followed the road back, but this time we decided to try another extension of the road going SW instead of W. We saw a cattle tank nearby so went over to take photos of it. It was completely dry and we didn't see any cattle or wildlife of any kind. We continue of that road until it dead ended. Then, we need to do an open Country hike to get back to the main road that we were on earlier that day. We ended up taking that road back to where we parked. All in all it was great hike and quite an interesting area.
I thought this was the last remaining Tortolita peak for me with over 300 feet of prominence. According to the PB website it is, but I found 4 or 5 other numbered peaks in this range on the PB app that I have not done yet. I'm thinking these must all be LoJ peaks.
Stats:
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Distance (round trip): 6.67 miles
AEG: 995 feet
Strava moving time: 3 hrs 5 mins
Strava elapsed time: 5 hrs 35 mins
Driving Directions:
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From anywhere in Tucson, take I-10 to Twin Peaks Road (exit 244).
Take exit 244 and head East off the highway.
Continue on W Twin Peaks Rd for 3.9 miles.
At Tangerine Road, Twin Peak Rd becomes Dove Mountain Blvd.
Continue onto N Dove Mountain Blvd for 4.6 mi.
At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and stay on N Dove Mountain Blvd. continue for 1.5 mi.
At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit and stay on N Dove Mountain Blvd. continue for 400 ft.
Turn right onto N Dove Reserve Dr.
This is a gated community still under construction as of January 2025. The gate was open when I was here.
If the gate is open:
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continue for 0.6 mi.
Turn right onto N Saguaro Nest Trl. continue for 0.3 mi.
Turn left onto W Janusia Ln. and park on the side of the road.
When I parked here in January 2025, all of the lots around where I parked were empty lots.
If the gate is closed:
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You can continue West on Dove Mountain Blvd and you will see a park up ahead with many places to park.
Park here and begin your hike here.
You will have to do any open Country hike going North to meet up with my published route.
It should be fairly easy hiking. |
| _____________________
Michael Williams
IT Professional
Rocky Point Vacation Rentals
Ocean Front Condo in Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico
www.beachfrontmexico.us
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