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| | | Tortolita Figure-Eight, AZ | | | |
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Tortolita Figure-Eight, AZ
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| Hiking | 16.24 Miles |
2,647 AEG |
| | Hiking | 16.24 Miles | 9 Hrs 6 Mns | | 2.15 mph |
| 2,647 ft AEG | 1 Hour 32 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | I came across the Tortolita Lasso Loop route that @Jim_H added recently and thought that it looked like an nice area to check out. I didn't realize until we got there that Wild Burro Trailhead is located behind a guard building for the Ritz-Carlton nearby...that's probably the first time I've had to check in with a guard to reach a trailhead  .
We hiked a variation of the lasso loop route to avoid spending as much time in the wash in Wild Burro Canyon, which didn't look as interesting. There are a lot of different varieties of cacti along the early part of the trail, and we quickly turned onto Lower Javelina, then reconnected with Wild Burro in the wash for a brief stint, then took Alamo Springs Spur to Alamo Springs Trail. It was nice to get further away from the hotel and the buildings as we got deeper into the canyon, but it's a popular area, so there were quite a few hikers and mountain bikers throughout the day.
Ridgeline Trail offered nice views of the various mountain ranges along the horizon, and there were some handy signs labeling the peaks and canyons in that area, though the signs had some errors and typos . Quite a few areas along Ridgeline had evidence of fire damage, but it was mild and it looks like the area has recovered quite a bit. I also found a random pot sherd on Ridgeline Trail...not sure what tribe inhabited this area, but I didn't expect to find that.
We explored a little around Wild Burro Tank and checked out the stone corral and the remnants of the structures nearby, including the water tank and the solar windmill. The side of the tank had "Rail X Ranch Burro Canyon Well" printed on it in small letters...I'll have to look up the history there. There was a little water in the wash nearby, trickling out of the pipes.
After we reconnected with Wild Burro Trail, we saw two crested saguaros only 10-15 minutes apart. I went off-trail for some close-up views of the first one but only got long-distance shots of the second. I'd never seen two so close together, and I was lucky I noticed the second one that was pretty far off the trail.
We stopped at Alamo Spring and explored the well, the line shack, and mortar holes in the rocks nearby...it's a beautiful area with some nice granite. On the hike out, we avoided the wash again and turned the route into a figure-eight loop, following Alamo Spring Trail back to the the parking lot. Overall, it was a nice hike and a good intro to the Tortolitas. They don't have the breathtaking views of some of the more rugged peaks or canyons and aren't particularly "wildnerness-y" with the bike traffic, the views of the hotel and golf course, and signs/benches along the trails, but it's still an enjoyable area and makes a nice "city" hike...an upscale South Mountain of sorts. |
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