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Kellogg Mountain Trail #45 - 5 members in 14 triplogs have rated this an average 3.4 ( 1 to 5 best )
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Oct 05 2024
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 Guides 1
 Routes 263
 Photos 876
 Triplogs 267

51 male
 Joined Mar 24 2021
 Tucson, AZ
Mount Bigelow TrailTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 05 2024
JackluminousTriplogs 267
Hiking2.39 Miles 582 AEG
Hiking2.39 Miles   3 Hrs   2 Mns   1.99 mph
582 ft AEG   1 Hour   50 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
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Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Wifey and I escaped the heat, hiked Bigelow and part of Kellogg looking for a nice hammock spot to chill.

On the way back we passed a lady who had attempted to take her cat for a hike. The cat wasn’t really up for it, so it got a ride in a kitty backpack instead.
 
Aug 27 2024
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 Guides 187
 Routes 991
 Photos 12,084
 Triplogs 866

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Incinerator Ridge Knagge Trail, AZ 
Incinerator Ridge Knagge Trail, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Aug 27 2024
markthurman53Triplogs 866
Hiking6.80 Miles 2,080 AEG
Hiking6.80 Miles   6 Hrs   20 Mns   1.35 mph
2,080 ft AEG   1 Hour   17 Mns Break20 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
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mamakatt22
Drove up to Mount Lemmon to the Incinerator Ridge Trail and Hiked down to just a little past the San Pedro Vista. We turned around when our GPS's indicated 2 miles. Headed back the way we came to the Knagge Trail. Headed down the Knagge to the saddle about .7 miles in and turned around. Headed back up the Knagge and took the Kellogg Mountain Trail to the Butterfly Trail and returned to our start point. Started at about 0700 to overcast skies. We headed south along Incinerator Ridge, fairly easy walking for the first half mile then the trail starts it'd descent down to the San Pedro Overlook. Easy trail to follow but does have a lot of stair stepping as you descend.

On the return hike we took the Knagge Trail, I had tried this a few years back and didn't find any sign of it but this time we managed to find traces of it. Followed it down to the small saddle about .7 miles down where we lost it. It seems the trail switch backs down the south side of that saddle. Will have to do this again when we have more time to search out the trail, would at least like to get to the remains of the Knagge Cabin. Ate lunch at the saddle and returned the way we came. The GPS track on our return trip pretty much sticks to the trail. Red flags were placed along the trail and that helped us when we weren't sure about the route. The trail is covered with brush and dead fall that also helped obscure the trail.

Once back on the Incinerator Ridge Trail we took the Kellogg Mountain Trail to the Butterfly Trail and returned. No one on the trail all day with the exception of a couple camping we saw in the early morning along the ridge. Cloud cover for most of the day kept things pleasant. No water anywhere along the trail but then there were no stream crossings on this hike.
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Apr 29 2023
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 Guides 16
 Routes 81
 Photos 1,269
 Triplogs 1,145

51 male
 Joined Apr 30 2008
 Tucson, AZ
Green Mountain Trail #21Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 29 2023
azdesertfatherTriplogs 1,145
Hiking13.45 Miles 2,211 AEG
Hiking13.45 Miles   6 Hrs   50 Mns   2.21 mph
2,211 ft AEG      45 Mns Break19 LBS Pack
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Originally planned a big group hiking from Mt. Lemmon to Sabino Canyon, but most of those wanting to do it canceled, so I chose this instead. I had Green Mountain on my bucket list for a while as one of Warren's 100 Classic Arizona Hikes, and honestly you can do a full Lemmon to the bottom hike through the trail system that is fairly close to Mt. Lemmon Highway (Aspen-Marshall Gulch-Sunset-Butterfly-Kellogg-Incinerator Ridge-Green-Bug Spring-Bug Spring Connector-Soldier, or instead of Soldier, -Sycamore Canyon-Bear Canyon to Sabino).

We decided to start at Bigelow Trailhead and took Bigelow to Kellogg, then Incinerator Ridge to Green to Bug Spring to Bug Spring Trailhead. We started out in the lower 50s and ended up around 90 degrees. On the way down we hit Leopold Point and the basically nonexistent trail up to Green Mountain Summit.

Loved the wildlife today. On the drive up Lemmon Highway I saw a gila monster on the side of the road. At the Bigelow Trailhead there were a couple of mule deer, and on the trail we ran into several bluejays, a couple of horned toads, a hummingbird (surprised to see that one buzzing around!) and several different kinds of squirrels, including one with long, furry ears.

One of our team had to pull off at the little parking turnoff across the road from Bear Canyon picnic area, but the other two of us made it to the bottom.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
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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
 
Sep 26 2022
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 Guides 1
 Routes 263
 Photos 876
 Triplogs 267

51 male
 Joined Mar 24 2021
 Tucson, AZ
Upper Green Mountain to Bigelow, AZ 
Upper Green Mountain to Bigelow, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Sep 26 2022
JackluminousTriplogs 267
Hiking6.46 Miles 1,812 AEG
Hiking6.46 Miles   3 Hrs   37 Mns   2.12 mph
1,812 ft AEG      34 Mns Break22 LBS Pack
 
no photosets
1st trip
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Hadn’t been backpacking in a while so decided to get back in shape with a partial load and a nice steep climb.

Wasn’t sure from my maps how to connect to incinerator ridge from upper green mountain so wound up going off trail; figured out the trail on the way back.

On the way up, passed a campsite on the ridge where somebody partially chopped down a live tree, probably with a hatchet. On the way back it had fallen. It was quite heartbreaking to see. Other campsites close to the trail had broken glass. Near Bigelow, someone had taken a dump in the middle of the trail. :x

It’s a great trail with some amazing views, but the overuse by people with less than stellar trail ethics is a bit much.
 
May 23 2022
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,126

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Mount Bigelow TrailTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 23 2022
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,126
Hiking4.75 Miles 1,280 AEG
Hiking4.75 Miles
1,280 ft AEG
 
Sierra and I went up in the mountains. Tagged Leopoldo Point and Barnum Rock. Beautiful morning up there
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Aug 29 2021
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,126

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Mount Bigelow TrailTucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Aug 29 2021
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,126
Run/Jog11.00 Miles 2,150 AEG
Run/Jog11.00 Miles   2 Hrs   48 Mns   4.05 mph
2,150 ft AEG      5 Mns Break7 LBS Pack
 
Bigelow - kellog - incinerator ridge to the point and a little further for the hell of it - back to bigelow - little bigs - FSR to highway and back

was a little hesitant after semi-imploding the day before but felt better overall. couldn't have been nicer up there.
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Jun 13 2021
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 Guides 170
 Routes 148
 Photos 5,914
 Triplogs 2,097

48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Incinerator Ridge Trail #18ATucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 13 2021
PrestonSandsTriplogs 2,097
Hiking8.00 Miles 2,066 AEG
Hiking8.00 Miles   2 Hrs   49 Mns   2.84 mph
2,066 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Partners none no partners
Started at San Pedro Vista a little before 6 am and it already seemed warm to me. First time hiking along this route since the Bighorn Fire so I was interested to see how it fared. Better than I thought it might’ve. Some regrowth coming in on the silver oaks and locust. Lots of low-lying smoke in the eastern sky. Saw a couple of deer grazing among the ferns along Kellogg Trail. Walked up to the summit of Mount Bigelow and then continued on along Bear Wallow Road, one of my favorites in the area. Lots of car campers barely stirring along the road. Went down the Bear Wallow drainage route a bit and noticed an old logging road I’d never seen before. Followed that to its end at the observatory, then returned via the same route. Downright toasty coming down Barnum Rock. Dry shirt and cold water at my truck, then an undesired drive down to the furnace flatlands and home.
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"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
Jul 20 2019
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,126

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Catalina Peaks, AZ 
Catalina Peaks, AZ
 
Run/Jog avatar Jul 20 2019
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,126
Run/Jog11.00 Miles 2,356 AEG
Run/Jog11.00 Miles   2 Hrs   37 Mns   4.55 mph
2,356 ft AEG      12 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 
starting from san pedro vista. hit barnum on the way out, then bigelow. ran FSR out to 5 mile mark. came back and hit Bigggie smalls, bigelow again and leopold point. nice to be back up here.
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Jul 21 2018
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,126

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Catalina Peaks, AZ 
Catalina Peaks, AZ
 
Run/Jog avatar Jul 21 2018
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,126
Run/Jog13.60 Miles 2,848 AEG
Run/Jog13.60 Miles   3 Hrs   7 Mns   4.58 mph
2,848 ft AEG      9 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
 
insanely humid but the temps were down so i took advantage in sneak in another catalina peaks run from the san pedro vista TH. hit barnum rock, leopold point, bigelow and biggy smalls on the way out. also scooted up FSR 614 just to do it. down to the hwy then back. hit barnum again on the way back, just to really stick the knife in deep :lol:
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Jul 03 2018
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 Guides 1
 Routes 3
 Photos 2
 Triplogs 7

69 male
 Joined Sep 11 2011
 Tucson, az
Kellogg Mountain Trail #45Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 03 2018
pmstirlingTriplogs 7
Hiking0.71 Miles 500 AEG
Hiking0.71 Miles
500 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
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We hiked from the Sunset trail head to the San Pedro Vista parking area, a distance of just under 6 miles, with a bit over 1,000' AEG and a lot more than that descent! This is a lovely hike, mostly shaded down several ridges with great views in all directions.

From the Sunset trail head, we took what the OpenCycle map calls Sunset trail, but seems to be better known as Bear Wallow trail. This trail doesn't seem to be on HikeArizona. It parallels the Catalina Highway for a short distance, then crosses under it through a large culvert and then crosses Bear Wallow road and climbs up to Mt Bigelow Rd. Follow this over to the radio towers, then pick up either Kellog trail down by Butterfly trail, or continue on the road around the masts and pick up Bigelow trail. Either way you end up at the junction of Kellog and Butterfly trails. I have made a great loop out of Butterfly trail with Bear Wallow trail, highly recommended.

Just down Butterfly from this junction there's a faint trail that winds up to Kellog Peak, well worth doing! Great 360 views from here. The trail continues down the other side and leads to another lookout. We made the mistake of bushwhacking down to Kellog trail from there, which I really don't recommend. It's a short distance but very steep and loose with heavy manzanita bushes.

We continued on Kellog trail to the top of Incinerator Ridge Rd and picked up Incinerator Ridge trail. There are several NF camping spots there, all full as this is July 3rd! Here we found the AZ Trail markers for the equestrian bypass. Incinerator Ridge trail winds down to the San Pedro Vista overlook, and is a lovely trail with great vistas and mostly shaded. We took a short detour up Leopold Point, again well worth it for the views east to the Pinalenos and Galieros, including Mt Graham. You can also see the Santa Ritas from here.

One thing to note is that even though it's cool up on Mt Lemmon (low 70s for us), the sun really beats down and it seems much hotter - hat and plenty of water obligatory.
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Jun 17 2018
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,126

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Catalina Peaks, AZ 
Catalina Peaks, AZ
 
Run/Jog avatar Jun 17 2018
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,126
Run/Jog10.04 Miles 2,338 AEG
Run/Jog10.04 Miles   2 Hrs   33 Mns   4.21 mph
2,338 ft AEG      10 Mns Break6 LBS Pack
 
would have loved to do more on such a gift of a weather day, but after a horrendous call night i was still tied locally.

this was still great.

hit barnum on the way out, then bigelow. took the roads out to the observatory and whitetail campground. came back and hit biggy smalls, bigelow and leopold point on the way back.
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Apr 15 2017
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,126

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Catalina Peaks, AZ 
Catalina Peaks, AZ
 
 Run/Jog avatar Apr 15 2017
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,126
 Run/Jog11.10 Miles 2,536 AEG
 Run/Jog11.10 Miles   2 Hrs   56 Mns   4.01 mph
2,536 ft AEG      10 Mns Break8 LBS Pack
 
took AZT bypass to incinerator ridge, then kellogg mountain and bigelow trails to the bigelow FSR. ran that down to the observatory then down and around the white tail campground. came back and banged out some peaks: unnamed 8400 tower peak, mount bigelow, leopold point (took a stupid way down :? ) and barnum rock!

this is a very fun route. nice and cool up there early then fairly mild all things considered. was done before noon.
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Jun 05 2016
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,126

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Catalina Peaks, AZ 
Catalina Peaks, AZ
 
Run/Jog avatar Jun 05 2016
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,126
Run/Jog10.00 Miles 2,218 AEG
Run/Jog10.00 Miles   2 Hrs   50 Mns   3.64 mph
2,218 ft AEG      5 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 
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i was on call yesterday and last night so i paid the price on this one. started later than i wanted and was exhausted before i even got out of the car :lol:

hit Barnum rock for the first time in years. also hit Bigelow and some of the high peaks off the main Bigelow FSR. turned around at the observatory. lot of big nice open mountain views. too hot though. brutally hot today. last couple miles just killed me
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May 02 2015
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 Guides 73
 Routes 176
 Photos 10,174
 Triplogs 2,324

46 male
 Joined Sep 08 2006
 
Green MT TH to MT Bigelow, AZ 
Green MT TH to MT Bigelow, AZ
 
Hiking avatar May 02 2015
JimTriplogs 2,324
Hiking5.00 Miles 1,400 AEG
Hiking5.00 Miles   4 Hrs   45 Mns   1.82 mph
1,400 ft AEG   2 Hrs    Break15 LBS Pack
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1st trip
Partners none no partners
I hiked from the Upper Green Mountain Trailhead, over a hill, down to the San Pedro Vista, and then up to Mount Bigelow using the Incinerator Ridge and Mount Kellogg Trails. I walked to the Butterfly Trail Trailhead on the northeast side of Bigelow, down a section of that, and back to the Green Mountain TH with a stop over at Leopold Point. I also took a part of ht Green Mountain Trail, and the cairned extension back to the trailhead. Signs and trails are a little confusing in this area. I think the FS did themselves a disservice by creating a multitude of smaller named trails, instead of one or two longer trails with multiple access points, which should be signed to clear things up. Oh, well.

Nice views, as is to be expected on this section of ridge, but Rose Lake Campground was full and everyone was feeling the need to have afire with green wood, or so it seemed. Smoke was thick and hiking down the smell was strong. Oak Creek Canyon(Sedona) in August strong. Lots of nice bird calls near dusk, a bees swarm passing by at the start, and heavy weekenders (crowds, not individuals).

I also did a few off trail excursions to look at forest reproduction, but I'll hedge low on the AEG.
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average hiking speed 2.05 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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