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Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina Mountains - 3 members in 7 triplogs have rated this an average 3 ( 1 to 5 best )
7 triplogs
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Feb 04 2025
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,124

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina MountainsTucson, AZ
Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina Mountains
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 04 2025
fricknaley • Triplogs 4,124
Hiking9.74 Miles 1,437 AEG
Hiking9.74 Miles   3 Hrs   19 Mns   3.19 mph
1,437 ft AEG      16 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
50 Year - Baby Jesus Loop
50 Year Trail - Catalina Mountains
Partners none no partners
15 years since I have been out here! hard to believe. It was a nice day. Met some vaqueros at the cement trough and strung enough spanish together to laugh at the little goldfish in the trough
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hi
 
Dec 27 2023
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 Guides 104
 Routes 256
 Photos 16,118
 Triplogs 528

53 male
 Joined Dec 30 2005
 Tucson, AZ
Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina MountainsTucson, AZ
Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina Mountains
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 27 2023
Mike_W • Triplogs 528
Hiking10.10 Miles 1,628 AEG
Hiking10.10 Miles   6 Hrs      1.68 mph
1,628 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I did this solo hike 13 days after spraining my right ankle on the Flat Iron (Superstitions). My ankle is at 90+% now and I had minimal pain/discomfort while hiking. I parked my capable 4x4 as soon as the road got really bad and didn't want to deal with the huge rocks and bad erosion in some places. I ended up walking down the road, staying to the right, and after hiking roughly 0.4 miles from where I parked, I saw a cul-de-sac just up ahead and a wash to my left. You will want to walk to the wash and look for a trail entrance here. You'll also see a fence line that says no vehicles allowed. Here's where you can enter the Baby Jesus trail, although I didn't see any signs anywhere on my entire hike. The trail was maintained very nicely but there were a few tricky places where I lost the trail. A GPS is helpful to use for that reason. On the way up I saw 2 hunters coming down, and about 1/2 mile further 2 women hiking down. They said there were petroglyphs about 4 miles out and I didn't think to ask specifically where they were but after summiting the high point, I did continue on the main trail to try to find these petroglyphs. I didn't find any so I'll need to research this further. If you just hike to the high point and back, the round trip distance should be about 6.6 miles. I ended up hiking 10.1 miles all day with the added distance for exploration. I was able to explore some rocky areas South of the high point but didn't see any petroglyphs. I suspect they are not in a wash/canyon but probably higher up. Not sure if they are near the trail or not.

Near the high point I found a plastic jar registry that was hidden pretty well. The first entry was in 2009 and there were no other entries until 2021! Then, a few more this year including mine.

Apparently I also summited peak 3,887 just by chance, while I was looking for petroglyphs.
_____________________
Michael Williams
IT Professional
Rocky Point Vacation Rentals
Ocean Front Condo in Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico
www.beachfrontmexico.us
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Mar 18 2023
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 Guides 16
 Routes 81
 Photos 1,269
 Triplogs 1,145

51 male
 Joined Apr 30 2008
 Tucson, AZ
Hohokam HillTucson, AZ
Hohokam Hill
Tucson, AZ
Hike & Climb avatar Mar 18 2023
azdesertfather • Triplogs 1,145
Hike & Climb7.61 Miles 554 AEG
Hike & Climb7.61 Miles   5 Hrs   7 Mns   2.10 mph
554 ft AEG20 LBS Pack
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina Mountains
Partners none no partners
Michelle and I with some friends and someone who knew where the best petroglyphs were around Sutherland Wash. WOW, quite a place! Rocks covered all over this rather large area.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Substantial
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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
 
Dec 17 2022
avatar

 Guides 16
 Routes 81
 Photos 1,269
 Triplogs 1,145

51 male
 Joined Apr 30 2008
 Tucson, AZ
50 Year - Baby Jesus LoopTucson, AZ
50 Year - Baby Jesus Loop
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 17 2022
azdesertfather • Triplogs 1,145
Hiking11.30 Miles 1,644 AEG
Hiking11.30 Miles   6 Hrs   30 Mns   1.83 mph
1,644 ft AEG      20 Mns Break20 LBS Pack
 
Linked   linked  
50 Year Trail - Catalina Mountains
Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina Mountains
Hohokam Hill
Sutherland Trail #6
Partners none no partners
It was a nice, beautiful day that turned out at the end to be really tough at the end. We started out with plans to do the full 50-Year/Baby Jesus loop, but my wife's knee started giving her pain, and new boots that she hoped she had broken in after wearing them all day the day before she discovered were not a good fit. We started off of Golder Ranch and did the loop clockwise. When we were about halfway down Baby Jesus, we decided to go off-trail toward Hohokam Hill and try to see the petroglyphs that Mountain_Rat has documented. There was quite a bit of bush to whack through, taking us longer and being more of an indirect route than expected. We did make it and we also checked two other peaks nearby scouring for petroglyphs but found nothing on any of them, and we looked pretty thoroughly, so that was disappointing and it cost us a few hours. We ended up cutting the loop short, taking the trail link west back to Baby Jesus, and then taking Golder Ranch Road back to the car as the sun had already set. All in all it was a good experience, but once again I am reminded of the unpredictability of bushwhacking! 😂
_____________________
"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
  1 archive
Jan 16 2021
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 Guides 170
 Routes 148
 Photos 5,914
 Triplogs 2,097

48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina MountainsTucson, AZ
Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina Mountains
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 16 2021
PrestonSands • Triplogs 2,097
Hiking5.30 Miles 964 AEG
Hiking5.30 Miles   1 Hour   52 Mns   3.12 mph
964 ft AEG      10 Mns Break
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
First time hiking in this area for me. Parked where the trailhead road turned savage and walked down to Sutherland Wash. Followed the wrong path behind an ancient trail sign at first. Satellite imagery and the HAZ route sent me through the cholla mine field to reach the well traveled route of Baby Jesus. Some great saguaros and granite boulders along the route. Made it to the high point of the trail in a saddle where a sinking sun signaled my turn around point. Explored a bit of Upper Baby Jesus Trail on the way back. Nice area. Saw no one on Baby Jesus. Great trail name, had me thinking of Will Ferrell’s prayer in Taladega Nights.
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"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
Dec 21 2017
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 Guides 27
 Routes 670
 Photos 12,111
 Triplogs 857

56 male
 Joined Jul 05 2006
 Mesa, AZ
50 Year - Baby Jesus LoopTucson, AZ
50 Year - Baby Jesus Loop
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 21 2017
DarthStiller • Triplogs 857
Hiking10.70 Miles 1,292 AEG
Hiking10.70 Miles   4 Hrs   52 Mns   2.33 mph
1,292 ft AEG      16 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
50 Year Trail - Catalina Mountains
Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina Mountains
Sutherland Trail #6
Partners none no partners
Started my Christmas vacation, so the most appropriate trail to do seemed like the Baby Jesus Trail. I originally planned to hike bigger 15 mile loop from Catalina State Park, but since we had dinner planned, I decided to take a shorter route by starting at the end of Golder Ranch Drive and making it a 10-11 mile loop. I parked on State Trust Land, so I went online the night before and got a permit.

Started hiking about 7:30am, and some clouds also arrived at time just at the top of Mt. Lemmon, making for some really nice pics as the morning sun peeked over from the east side. After about an hour or so, most of the sky was overcast, so the picture opportunities weren't as much. Saw a deer running away after a mile in, then when I got a chance to zoom in for a distant pic, I noticed there were three of them.

The 50 Year Trail just paralleled the road and was pretty coated with horse droppings. It was confusing at times if the trail I was on was the actual 50 Year Trail or some other trail. At a few sections the 50 year seems to be along a primitive road. The Baby Jesus Trail was the best, it climbs a bit, which gives you closer views of Mt. Lemmon and some views of the area below. The one mile section of the Sutherland was basically a dirt road, but very rocky. Only saw one hiker the entire time.

Pretty chilly in the early morning. It warmed up a bit, but still pretty cool. perfect hiking weather, didn't even drink half of my 3 liter bladder.

This is likely my last hike of 2017, which makes this year the most miles in one calendar year I've logged on HAZ. I was hoping to make 400, but it looks like I'll be 11 or 12 miles short of that. Something to shoot for next year I suppose.
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Oct 26 2017
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 Guides 187
 Routes 990
 Photos 12,079
 Triplogs 865

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Cherry Tank and Baby Jesus loop, AZ 
Cherry Tank and Baby Jesus loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 26 2017
markthurman53 • Triplogs 865
Hiking13.70 Miles 2,284 AEG
Hiking13.70 Miles   6 Hrs   12 Mns   2.62 mph
2,284 ft AEG      58 Mns Break20 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Baby Jesus Upper Trail - Catalina Mountains
Baby Jesus Trail - Catalina Mountains
Cherry Tank Trail - Catalina Mountains
Partners none no partners
Started early in the morning before sunrise to finish up some more of the trails on the west side of Samaniego ridge near Golder Ranch. Used the Middle Gate trail to hook up to the Cherry Tank Trail (I have also heard this referred to as the Hidden Valley Trail). The lower Cherry Tank Trail has two access points from the Middle Gate Trail, I started in on the trail furthest North and returned via the Southern route. I hiked up to where I hiked a couple days before at the junction with the Cowboy Slickrock Trail and returned. I really like this hike up the upper reaches of Sutherland Creek, The Massive rock out crops impresses me every time I see them (even though it has only been twice now). On returning to just a couple hundred feet from the Middle Gate Trail I took an unnamed trail (which I am now calling the Baby Jesus Upper Trail) 2.4 miles south to the Baby Jesus Trail on Baby Jesus Ridge. For an unnamed trail it is in better condition than many of the other trails in this area. Fairly easy going along this trail as it crosses a few streams coming down off of Samaniego Ridge. At 1.3 miles in there is a cement trough at a place called Cement Dam Tank and Spring. There was water in the trough and for this to occur this late in the year I would have to assume this is a permanent spring. From here it is about 1.2 miles to the Baby Jesus Trail which I continued south on to Cargoden Canyon and the Sutherland Trail. The Baby Jesus trail is in good condition for its entirety with a little bit of confusion about 1 mile from the end point on the Sutherland Trail. There are side trails that want to take you off the ridge that the trail follows and if you aren't careful you will find yourself on one of these. A GPS is helpful here. Just south of Baby Jesus Ridge is another Spring called Wooden Trough Spring and it had water also. The trail passes by a cement trough along the trail. The actual spring is up the hill to the east and I am not sure if there is an actual wooden trough there or not. On the return trip to the start point on the lower Baby Jesus Trail there are some very large Saguaros with many large arms. Not necessarily the largest I have seen but definitely the most I have seen in one area. Of the trails I have been on in this area the Baby Jesus set and the Cherry Tank trail have the most to offer.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Saguaro
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Wooden Trough Spring
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average hiking speed 2.11 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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