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Mount Hopkins from Madera Canyon - 2 members in 3 triplogs have rated this an average 4 ( 1 to 5 best )
3 triplogs
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Aug 22 2025
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 Guides 16
 Routes 81
 Photos 1,269
 Triplogs 1,145

51 male
 Joined Apr 30 2008
 Tucson, AZ
Mount Hopkins from Madera CanyonTucson, AZ
Mount Hopkins from Madera Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 22 2025
azdesertfather • Triplogs 1,145
Hiking12.98 Miles 4,167 AEG
Hiking12.98 Miles   7 Hrs   13 Mns   2.11 mph
4,167 ft AEG   1 Hour   4 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   6 linked trail guides
Old Baldy Trail #372 to Wrightson Summit
Super Trail #134
Josephine Peak
Mount Hopkins Loop
Agua Caliente Trail #140
Vault Mine Trail #77
Partners none no partners
Planned to do Josephine and Hopkins peaks, but didn’t quite turn out that way!

Started from Madera Canyon, plan was to do Josephine first. At Riley Saddle we turned off and got a little ways in before calling it. The brush was insanely thick, no way to make it currently that I could see and I was trying to follow the HAZ track.

So we abandoned that summit attempt and headed for Hopkins, taking Super to Agua Caliente, and at the point where we were closest to the Hopkins road, we took a little, steep, unnamed path straight up to it, then hiked the road to the summit, having lunch on top.

We headed down the summit road a short distance then bushwhacked down the steep mountainside to rejoin the Agua Caliente. There was nothing really to follow there, though we did stumble onto game trails a couple of times for a little ways which helped. We then headed down Agua Caliente to Vault Mine Trail to Old Baldy, back the short distance down to the trailhead.

Weather was perfect, and we saw a number of deer and some birds. Great but tiring day!

going up Baldy and Super
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
_____________________
"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
 
Nov 12 2023
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 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Mount Hopkins from Madera CanyonTucson, AZ
Mount Hopkins from Madera Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 12 2023
DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,375
Hiking8.36 Miles 3,256 AEG
Hiking8.36 Miles   5 Hrs   39 Mns   1.63 mph
3,256 ft AEG      32 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Old Baldy Trail #372 to Wrightson Summit
Vault Mine Trail #77
Carrie Nation Trail #78
Agua Caliente Trail #140
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I have been wanting to do this hike for quite some time and the stars finally aligned so I finally got up there.

Starting from the Old Baldy TH, I started out on the Old Baldy Trail. I didn't go too far when the Old Baldy Trail went off to the left toward Mount Wrightson. Instead of going to Wrightson I continued straight on the Vault Mine Trail. From there I took the Carrie Nation Trail, the Agua Caliente Trail, and a social trail to the paved road that goes up to Mount Hopkins. I got on the road about 1.5 miles from the summit. I returned the way that I came.

These trails were all very steep -- much steeper than the Old Baldy Trail and the Super Trail that go up to Wrightson. The social trail was mostly easy to follow, but it was more primitive than the other trails.

This hike does not have as much distance or elevation gain as hiking up to Mount Wrightson, but I thought that it was tougher than hiking up to Wrightson.

I can see doing this hike again sometime, but probably not right away!
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  White Tailed Deer
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Informational/Interpretive Sign  Miscellaneous Survey Marker
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Atascosa Mountains  Huachuca Mountains  Josephine Peak  Mount Hopkins  Mount Wrightson  San Cayetano Peak  Santa Rita Mountains
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
  1 archive
May 22 2009
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 Guides 28
 Routes 20
 Photos 672
 Triplogs 169

47 male
 Joined Jan 30 2008
 Old Pueblo
Mount Hopkins from Madera CanyonTucson, AZ
Mount Hopkins from Madera Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 22 2009
Jeffshadows • Triplogs 169
Hiking6.40 Miles 3,145 AEG
Hiking6.40 Miles
3,145 ft AEG
 
no photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Vault Mine Trail #77
Agua Caliente Trail #140
Partners none no partners
Betty Leavengood's Tucson Hiking Guide hints of a route that leaves Agua Caliente Saddle and arrives at the road just below Mt. Hopkins. She also calls it a "Rough bushwhack" but more on that later. This was one of those hikes that gives you a lot of alone time. Few people ever hike the Vault Mine Trail and no one was out on the Hopkins route. When I did arrive at Hopkins, the feeling of happiness was dashed by the udder feeling of being completely alone. My two good hiking companions were not there to share the view with me so it was an empty ascent, in some ways. Recover soon, guys; it just isn't the same without the two of you there to share it! ;)

Here's a short description of the route. It is very much there and requires only minor bushwhacking in two places. It's 1.3mi from the Saddle to Hopkins and it gains 1190' in that distance without really switchbacking once. From Agua Caliente Saddle, look 110DEG southeast and you should see what looks like a game trail climbing up the south ridge. I marked the start with a large cairn, as well. It starts climbing immediately and never stops until you reach the road to the observatory; in fact, if it seems like the route has leveled off, look around because you have probably lost its path. After about 3/10ths of a mile you should encounter a backcountry campsite. Keep going.

The route continues climbing through the pines, keep looking for a small shelf or depression in the pine needles. Cairns mark many of the tricky spots. Some good ones were there, I added a few more and repaired others. After about a mile you come to a few downed logs and need to crouch below a few low tree boughs. A clearing in the pine is encountered, it is critical that you go left here. The route will wind over a small hilltop and require you to step through a some scrub before veering left again to avoid a rock outcropping. Stay left and follow the route as it climbs beside a drainage. Soon you will see a paved pull-out and the road to the actual summit which is where the MMT is situated about 500m away. Respect the rights of the property owners. It's a little abbreviated, I know. I'll post a GPS route for those interested, as well. :)
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
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AD-AVGVSTA-PER-ANGVSTA
 
average hiking speed 1.87 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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