La Milagrosa Ridge • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Nov 08 2024
		Jackluminous • Triplogs 266

Hiking	10.94 Miles	1,897 AEG

Hiking	10.94 Miles	3 Hrs 37 Mns	3.02 mph
	1,897 ft AEG

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I hadn't done much hiking east of Molino Basin, so I set off with the intention of hiking to the junction with La Milagrosa on the AZT, starting at Molino.

At the base of the mountain, a Sheriff's deputy was blocking the road due to a bad accident up the mountain. "Nobody is going up, it's bad" he said. So I diverted to La Milagrosa, figuring I'd hike up to the AZT for lunch and then turn around.

Parking was full, suggesting I wasn't the only one diverting here. Surprisingly, there weren't many hikers on La Milagrosa, and all of them were below the split with Agua Caliente Canyon. I saw no one above that.

I had a good pace all the way, and it felt great. The skies were clear, the air cool, and the slight breeze was pleasant.

I've been frustrated with smartphone tracking apps lately and have been using my Garmin eTrex instead, which does a great job of tracking routes but often does a terrible job accurately measuring pace. There are virtually no trees on this hike, so it actually functioned perfectly. Perhaps I only need a smartphone as a secondary data source when hiking in treed areas.

Just below the AZT junction, about a half dozen cows were hanging out at one of the pools near the trail. When they spotted me they all tried to hide behind a tree, which was quite comical.

At the junction I looked around for a place to string up my hammock, but the cow patties made the area seem less pleasant and remote, so I hiked east down Belotta a bit. I soon found a couple junipers that were positioned just right and had enough lower branches missing that the hammock was doable, and I enjoyed the quiet for a while (and lunch).

I needed to be back to civilization by 4, so I only afforded myself half an hour hang time. I packed up and headed back, saying farewell to the stealthy cattle. I made it back to the car in time to drive home and arrive at precisely 4pm.

2 archives

Nov 11 2023

Guides 93
Routes 397
Photos 4,984
Triplogs 4,124

49 male

Joined Jun 20 2003
Tucson, AZ

Soldier/AZT/Milagrosa Loop, AZ

Run/Jog		Nov 11 2023
		fricknaley • Triplogs 4,124

Run/Jog	17.00 Miles	3,589 AEG

Run/Jog	17.00 Miles	4 Hrs 17 Mns		4.16 mph
	3,589 ft AEG	12 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

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Redington Pass - AZT #10

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Revisiting a loop i like that takes in a nice, big area. Changed it up and went up to Shreve Saddle to pay a visit before heading east on the AZT. Nice challenging day. Felt decent, not great

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hi

Feb 02 2023

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Milagrosa Caliente Loop, AZ

Hiking		Feb 02 2023
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	7.10 Miles	1,626 AEG

Hiking	7.10 Miles	5 Hrs 15 Mns	1.55 mph
	1,626 ft AEG	41 Mns Break

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mamakatt22

Ginny and I did a hike that at least I have done many times, the La Milagrosa - Agua Caliente Loop. This time I would head upstream to check out the upper creek. the end of last year I hiked down the creek from Bellota Ranch and turned around when the interesting to difficulty factor got to low. This time I would head up from the crossover trail . Didn't take long before it was more work than it was worth. This is a tough canyon to walk up. especially when it is flowing. Not sure it would be easier when it isn't flowing.

The loop portion of the hike is along a good trail with spectacular views of Milagrosa and Caliente Canyons. I am interested in checking out La Milagrosa Canyon from where the trail crosses over the creek up to where it meets with the Arizona Trail, looks like a interesting canyon. Maybe do a loop with the creek and Milagrosa Trail. Good flow in both canyons but not enough to hinder crossing.

Medium flow

Medium flow

Molino Canyon

Light flow

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Sep 19 2022

GrottoGirl

Guides 3
Routes 569
Photos 11,976
Triplogs 1,634

50 female

Joined Sep 18 2009
Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Sep 19 2022
		GrottoGirl • Triplogs 1,634

Hiking	3.91 Miles	649 AEG

Hiking	3.91 Miles	2 Hrs 29 Mns	2.08 mph
	649 ft AEG	36 Mns Break

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Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

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Mar 12 2022

Pivo

Guides 2
Routes 512
Photos 5,579
Triplogs 4,277

69 male

Joined Mar 01 2009
Aztec, NM

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Mar 12 2022
		Pivo • Triplogs 4,277

Hiking	10.06 Miles	2,267 AEG

Hiking	10.06 Miles	4 Hrs 2 Mns		2.49 mph
	2,267 ft AEG		8 LBS Pack

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Baja Arizona Hiking

SkyIslandHiker

Out an back hike today to the pools just before the junction of the AZT. Still some water in the pools. We only saw a few other hikers on trail today.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Brittlebush

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

Pools to trickle

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Feb 14 2021

Guides 93
Routes 397
Photos 4,984
Triplogs 4,124

49 male

Joined Jun 20 2003
Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Feb 14 2021
		fricknaley • Triplogs 4,124

Run/Jog	15.80 Miles	2,212 AEG

Run/Jog	15.80 Miles	3 Hrs 36 Mns		4.56 mph
	2,212 ft AEG	8 Mns Break	5 LBS Pack

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Bellota Trail #15

Redington Pass - AZT #10

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big loop i like using catalina highway up to soldier trail, soldier to hirabiyashi, AZT out to la milagrosa ridge.

it was chilly and cloudy at the beginning. i kinda struggled all day after two difficult nights at work. tried to just keep it moving, even if ugly.

tough day but a fun route

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Jan 30 2021

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

La Milagrosa Canyon Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jan 30 2021
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	4.65 Miles	944 AEG

Hiking	4.65 Miles	3 Hrs 42 Mns	1.29 mph
	944 ft AEG	6 Mns Break

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mamakatt22

I have wanted to check out the lower La Milagrosa Canyon for some time. My curiosity was peaked while hiking the La Milagrosa, Agua Caliente Loop hike. Rather than just walk up the creek from the junction with the Agua Caliente Creek I headed up the ridge between the La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Creeks. From the ridge I could see the falls which are quite impressive even though they were dry. I was also able to see the route that would allow me to get to an area above the lower falls and the upper. Access to the creek above the upper falls doesn’t look possible (at least for the average hiker that doesn’t do rock climbing). Getting to the upper portion of this canyon can be from the creek using the La Milagrosa Ridge Trail. Rock climbers use lower La Milagrosa Canyon because of its cliffs and typically use the creek bed for access.

We started the hike from the La Milagrosa Trail head and continued to the Agua Caliente Creek. From the creek bed we went up La Milagrosa Canyon and soon found a user trail that leads up to the ridge between the two canyons. This is a fairly well defined route up to the ridge. There are some good views of both canyons from this ridge. From this peak the route further up the ridge is a little vague but quite doable. After about ¼ mile along this ridge you are above the falls and the route to the falls is visible. We saw a fairly easy route to an area above the first falls and below the second. Really neat area and would be even more interesting if there was water flowing. From the ridge it would be awesome if you were able to witness a flashflood coming down this canyon. From the falls to get above the choke point in the creek we headed back out and up along the hillside on the east side of the creek. This is totally off trail. Once above the choke point we head back into the creek and head down to the point above the choke point.

This was a fun hike and exceeded any expectations I had. The creek was dry with the exception of pools but hopefully with continued storms it will be running soon and at that point I want to come back again maybe this time just follow the creek bed up to the falls.

Dry

	La Milagrosa Canyon	Dry	Dry
	Some pooling

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1 archive

Jan 02 2021

Pivo

Guides 2
Routes 512
Photos 5,579
Triplogs 4,277

69 male

Joined Mar 01 2009
Aztec, NM

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Jan 02 2021
		Pivo • Triplogs 4,277

Hiking	9.67 Miles	2,569 AEG

Hiking	9.67 Miles	4 Hrs 59 Mns		2.08 mph
	2,569 ft AEG	20 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

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MyRudy

RedwallNHops

Joel suggested this. TH parking area was pretty full, we only saw a few people in the canyons. They were probably climbers.
Rudy did pretty well on his first canyon, needs to figure out problem solving on approach.

Only two "stew pools" with water.

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Feb 10 2019

Guides 93
Routes 397
Photos 4,984
Triplogs 4,124

49 male

Joined Jun 20 2003
Tucson, AZ

Soldier/AZT/La Milagrosa, AZ

Run/Jog		Feb 10 2019
		fricknaley • Triplogs 4,124

Run/Jog	15.85 Miles	3,450 AEG

Run/Jog	15.85 Miles	3 Hrs 45 Mns		4.42 mph
	3,450 ft AEG	10 Mns Break	6 LBS Pack

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Santa Catalina Mountains - AZT #11

Bellota Trail #15

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challenging run and a loop i like.

it was chilly for most of the run and super humid. sun came out the last couple miles. lot of water on the trails.

handfull of hikers here and there. yo yo'd for miles with a couple of very nice mountain bikers and we ended up finishing at the same time. that was pretty cool.

saw 3 horses out on the AZT bellota segment.

felt pretty good today. took 15 minutes off my last time

went to work afterwords for a bit

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1 archive

Jan 28 2018

tibber

Guides 21
Routes 1,182
Photos 36,858
Triplogs 1,570

69 female

Joined Feb 26 2004
Phoenix, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Jan 28 2018
		tibber • Triplogs 1,570

Hiking	6.56 Miles	1,457 AEG

Hiking	6.56 Miles	3 Hrs 54 Mns	1.84 mph
	1,457 ft AEG	20 Mns Break

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writelots

Since I was down in Tucson for the Oracle Rumble, I decided to hang out with Wendy and this is the hike she chose for us. Saturday nite, however, we got to eat at Mosaic and despite a long wait, it was worth it. Very yummy! a little different spin on Mexican flavor. It definitely lived up to the hype.

Oh, the hike. About 1/2 hour from Wendy's we parked at an unofficial trailhead. I'm glad the community allows people to access this hike from here. You walk a paved road a bit before it turns to dirt and crosses a wash onto another road and down into the wash of La Milagrosa Canyon before you head up onto the Ridge. The great part of this hike is what Wendy calls "slabby goodness". Slabbiness is so great for hiking especially on this very windy day. At a makeshift gate we encountered a resident of the area and his two Mexican rescue dogs. He pointed out to us some very faint petroglphys on low-lying rocks just barely off the trail. I couldn't really get a good photo of them though as they are so faint. We thot it unusual to see the glphys on such low flat rocks.

From there we continued our gradual hike up the Ridgeline with occasional peeks over the edge down into La Milagrosa Canyon which continued to get deeper the further along the ridge we went. And then we went more to the other side of the ridge and would get a peak down into Agua Caliente Canyon. It's definitely dry and the plant life reflected that as I can imagine this being a much prettier hike; altho, I was duly impressed by what I saw. When Wendy and Sirena did it a couple years back, they were crossing thru water in several areas. Eventually it was time to veer to the other side of the ridge to the Agua Caliente side. The trek down here is a bit on the slippery side.

Once down into the canyon it opens up wide and you start heading slightly southwest. We took a break in the wash and would have stayed longer (we had boulders for our backs) but it was just too darn windy and a bit nippy. So we continued thru the wash/Canyon a little further before crossing up and out of the wash by this rather large slabby area. It's a bit of a climb but not bad. Once out there is an intersection that takes you up to the summit of Agua Caliente Hill but not today.

From here it is all downhill with views into the Valley of Tucson. You drop nearly 1000 feet in 1 3/4 mile as you stay on the other ridge. Gnat Tank is devoid of water of course. It's not a really big tank anyway. Once again you come to a fence and since we couldn't figure out how to open the big green gate from this side, Wendy went over the barbed wire fence and then saw the locking mechanism that needed to be lifted in order to slide the lever. You just couldn't see that from this side. After the gate the ridge gets a little narrower and once you get across to the other side, you now have to go almost straight down to reach the wash as the usual trail has been blocked off. I saw this trail before we started and didn't realize we would be taking it.

The trail down is a bit dicey in spots so you have to take extra care. Fortunately it's short-lived but I was still glad to be on level ground. You stay in the wash for awhile before you get back to where you started. We encountered a few folks here as we made our way back to the TH. Surprisingly, it was a little warm when we got down to the bottom. It's a great hike and I'm sure it would be even better with water based on previous pictures I am just now looking at.

Thx for suggesting it Wendy, it was a wonderful choice which allowed me to get back to Phx in daylight.

Part 1: TH to Milagrosa Ridge [ youtube video ]
Part 2: Milagrosa Ridge to Agua Caliente Canyon [ youtube video ]
Part 3: Agua Caliente Ridge and back down to same named wash: [ youtube video ]

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] HAZ Food

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Gnat Tank

Dry

Gnat Tank

Dry

Dry

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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled.

1 archive

Jan 28 2018

writelots

Guides 19
Routes 40
Photos 5,624
Triplogs 341

52 female

Joined Nov 22 2005
Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Jan 28 2018
		writelots • Triplogs 341

Hiking	6.56 Miles	1,457 AEG

Hiking	6.56 Miles	3 Hrs 54 Mns	1.84 mph
	1,457 ft AEG	20 Mns Break

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tibber

I love this loop - I've done it when you couldn't keep your feet dry and when it was so dry you felt like your mouth was sand. Either way its beautiful and fun with the perfect mix of a challenge and a coast.

It was nice to share it with Tibber - I always love bragging on Tucson's trails. So much slabby goodness on this one!

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Throwing a Wendy

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Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.- Barack Obama

Aug 05 2017

MSimmons

Photos 4
Triplogs 62

37 male

Joined Jan 30 2016
Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Aug 05 2017
		MSimmons • Triplogs 62

Hiking	6.00 Miles	1,500 AEG

Hiking	6.00 Miles	3 Hrs 30 Mns	1.71 mph
	1,500 ft AEG

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jrousoshammond

Intended to make an evening of the Milagrosa/Agua Caliente Canyon loop, but ran into trouble finding the trail up the south side of AC Canyon. There'd clearly been some serious flow through there in recent days, and if there were cairns before they've washed away now. After some poking around we headed back the way we'd come. Should have spent five seconds studying the map beforehand cause the route really isn't tricky: once you get down to the bottom of the canyon, follow it west for about a thousand feet. Off to the left is a wash, and the trail goes up the west side of that - we spotted it on the way back from up on the ridge ](*,)

Still a great hike. Agua Caliente Canyon is awesome, and it was particularly nice around sunset. Because we missed our turn, we came upon an impressive basin/waterfall just beyond where we should have exited the canyon.

Also saw a Colorado River toad! Biggest frog or toad I've ever seen.

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Apr 02 2017

Guides 93
Routes 397
Photos 4,984
Triplogs 4,124

49 male

Joined Jun 20 2003
Tucson, AZ

Soldier/AZT/La Milagrosa Loop, AZ

Run/Jog		Apr 02 2017
		fricknaley • Triplogs 4,124

Run/Jog	15.55 Miles	3,239 AEG

Run/Jog	15.55 Miles	4 Hrs		3.99 mph
	3,239 ft AEG	6 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

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Santa Catalina Mountains - AZT #11

Bellota Trail #15

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good big loop using catalina highway, soldier trail, the AZT and la milagrosa ridge. perfect day. felt decent for the most part. saw some people here and there.

ended up being a small fire in molino basin the next day. yikes. certainly wasn't from me burning rubber :lol:

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hi

Mar 12 2017

MSimmons

Photos 4
Triplogs 62

37 male

Joined Jan 30 2016
Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Mar 12 2017
		MSimmons • Triplogs 62

Hiking	12.00 Miles	2,212 AEG

Hiking	12.00 Miles	4 Hrs 30 Mns	2.67 mph
	2,212 ft AEG

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Nice afternoon/evening hike along Milagrosa Ridge and then east along the Arizona Trail for a bit. It was hot and tough at first, but leisurely and idyllic later on. I enjoyed seeing the small peaks northeast of Agua Caliente Hill, like 5005, which sports a remarkably green north slope.

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Mar 12 2017

kpgnorris

Triplogs 12

67 female

Joined Aug 28 2016
Tucson

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Mar 12 2017
		kpgnorris • Triplogs 12

Hiking	10.50 Miles	2,212 AEG

Hiking	10.50 Miles	4 Hrs 25 Mns		2.47 mph
	2,212 ft AEG	10 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

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This was a beautiful hike. BUT: I left the trailhead around 9 am, and it was a very, very hot hike. A breeze kicked in after about 3 miles, but there is no shade at all on this one. The only two spots that I would have stopped were the end, at the pools, and at the wash crossing, which had some running water today.
However, it was a glorious day, and I had the trail almost to myself

Wildflowers Observation Substantial
Brittlebush, mountain lupine, fairy dusters, dwarf morning glory, penstemon, purple thistle, ocotillo, desert zinnia, creosote

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1 archive

Jul 03 2016

JuanJaimeiii

Routes 596
Photos 9,604
Triplogs 2,400

58 male

Joined Jan 30 2011
Chandler, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Jul 03 2016
		JuanJaimeiii • Triplogs 2,400

Hiking	9.93 Miles	1,884 AEG

Hiking	9.93 Miles	2 Hrs 57 Mns	3.42 mph
	1,884 ft AEG	3 Mns Break

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Headed down to Tucson to do what I thought was one Nick and I did before. Whoops I thought we did La Milagrosa but it turns out we did Agua Caliente Hill. Not a big deal but it threw me off when I got to the Trailhead and nothing looked familiar. :lol:

I hiked it to where it intersects the Arizona Trail. Hot and humid but still an enjoyable day out there.

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Jan 16 2016

azdesertfather

Guides 16
Routes 81
Photos 1,269
Triplogs 1,144

51 male

Joined Apr 30 2008
Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Jan 16 2016
		azdesertfather • Triplogs 1,144

Hiking	16.11 Miles	4,023 AEG

Hiking	16.11 Miles	5 Hrs 54 Mns	2.99 mph
	4,023 ft AEG	31 Mns Break

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Agua Caliente Hill

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My plans today were changed at the last minute, I had a free day, so decided to head to La Milagrosa. Started at 10:15 and was greeted by the TORCA Trail Medics. Three guys and a gal, riding dirt bikes and fully armed...weapons of choice? shears and a gas-powered weed wacker. The dead grass along the back half of Milagrosa Ridge was waist high and overgrowing the trail, they definitely had their work cut out from them but did a fabulous job.

Made it to the end of La Milagrosa at noon, put my foot on the AZT there and watched a bunch of bikers whizzing by. Then headed back, thanked all the workers, and veered off Milagrosa at the Agua Caliente Canyon Loop turnoff. Descended down the ridge into the canyon (lots of water flowing in the canyons on both sides of MIlagrosa, by the way), and then took the turnoff toward Agua Caliente Hill. It is only less than a 1/2 mile trail that connects into Agua Caliente, 1 1/2 miles from the top.

Made my way up Agua Caliente, and probably like most people their first time out, was fooled by which peak was really AC. Being called "Agua Caliente Hill" I assumed it was the one in the foreground that the trail was heading to...then I went passed it and realized I had a BIT more climbing to do! Finally made it to the top of AC just before 2:30, rested for 10 and signed in, then headed down. Just as I started heading down, a solo hiker was also making his way to the top. He told me it was his second trip up today. Yikes, I enjoyed it but wouldn't enjoy it THAT much.

Made it out just past 4.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark Summit Register Log

Light flow

Medium flow

Molino Canyon

Medium flow

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"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." — Henry David Thoreau

Feb 27 2015

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

La Milagrosa Agua Caliente Loop, AZ

Hiking		Feb 27 2015
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	7.40 Miles	1,826 AEG

Hiking	7.40 Miles	4 Hrs 7 Mns		2.51 mph
	1,826 ft AEG	1 Hour 10 Mns Break	15 LBS Pack

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Start at the La Milagrosa Ridge Trail Head and follow La Milagrosa Ridge Trail up about 2.5 miles then head south on a trail that goes toward Agua Caliente Creek. This trail will cross Agua Caliente Creek for a short distance and exit on the south side. Once on the other side and up on the flats there is a trail that heads west that is the La Milagrosa Agua Caliente Trail, this trail will take you back to the starting point. Before I head back I will continue south along the trail to a small Saddle were the Agua Caliente Peak Trail is, this will be my turn around point. From here I will head back to where the La Milagrosa Agua Caliente Trail is and follow that back along the South side of Agua Caliente Creek.

This hike is another one of those that even though I lived here all my life, I have never been on. I missed out, better late than never as they say. This is a nice loop trail that can be done in the winter months or early morning in late spring (April May). Good views around lower Agua Caliente Creek before it enters the Tucson Valley. The trail is easy to follow and not a lot of extended ups or downs. At the time I was here both La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Creeks were flowing.

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Feb 16 2015

Guides 93
Routes 397
Photos 4,984
Triplogs 4,124

49 male

Joined Jun 20 2003
Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Feb 16 2015
		fricknaley • Triplogs 4,124

Run/Jog	9.98 Miles	1,783 AEG

Run/Jog	9.98 Miles	2 Hrs 25 Mns		4.25 mph
	1,783 ft AEG	4 Mns Break	5 LBS Pack

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i had forgotten how beautiful it is out there in la milagrosa land. awesome trail and awesome day. took my sawyer out and filtered a couple bottles out by the azt.

:y:

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hi

Jan 22 2015

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

La Milagrosa Ridge Trail, AZ

Hiking		Jan 22 2015
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	10.40 Miles	2,408 AEG

Hiking	10.40 Miles	5 Hrs 4 Mns		2.57 mph
	2,408 ft AEG	1 Hour 1 Min Break	15 LBS Pack

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