Wild Burro Wash - Tortolita Mountains • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Wild Burro to Cochie Spring

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Wild Burro to Cochie Spring

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Jan 29 2022
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Hiking	10.30 Miles	2,100 AEG

Hiking	10.30 Miles	3 Hrs 20 Mns	3.09 mph
	2,100 ft AEG

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Wild Mustang Trail

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Nothing too exciting, just wanted some time on my feet. Needed to practice hiking in the dark after rolling out of bed an hour before, got in almost 90 minutes of hiking with my headlamp in before the sun started peeking out. Hiked to the end of the trail sign next to the windmill and turned around.

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Jan 08 2022

TboneKathy

Photos 79
Triplogs 14

female

Joined Apr 28 2018

Tortolita Figure-Eight, AZ

Hiking		Jan 08 2022
		TboneKathy • Triplogs 14

Hiking	16.00 Miles	2,428 AEG

Hiking	16.00 Miles	9 Hrs 8 Mns	2.11 mph
	2,428 ft AEG	1 Hour 32 Mns Break

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6 linked trail guides

Alamo Spring Trail - Tortolita Mountains

Tortolita Lasso Loop

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John10s

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

Our Tortolita Figure Eight, a takeoff from @Jim_H’s Tortolita Lasso Loop proved to be a good and quite manageable workout with plenty of vistas and nice highlights.

We entered via a guard building for the Ritz-Carlton. The cactus gardens and maze of trails offered a flat warmup to an intersection with plenty of signs and even a box with colored trail maps. From there, we climbed up from the Wild Burro streambed. (I won’t repeat all our trail names as @John10s’s triplog includes these.)

We had great vistas throughout this hike and a wide variety of cacti and other flora, including two crested saguaros. The trail system is quite well signed, though we would have appreciated at least one more; we enjoyed some unexpected bouldering to return to our downloaded route in one area.

The Rail X Ranch corral ruins are quite large. We wondered how high the walls were when the corral was in use. Alamo Spring had a number of cultural features and was well signed. The large, colored sign showed exactly where to find a number of features, but you have to find the grinding holes on your own.

Large interpretive signs surprised us at several different places along the route highlighting birds, geology, and more. There were a couple of memorials along the route as well.

Nice area, with lots of interconnected trails for new views another day!

Nov 05 2021

WaitingForRain

Photos 5
Triplogs 696

34 female

Joined Oct 04 2012
Phoenix, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Nov 05 2021
		WaitingForRain • Triplogs 696

Hiking	4.10 Miles	1,244 AEG

Hiking	4.10 Miles	1 Hour 36 Mns	2.56 mph
	1,244 ft AEG

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Dec 12 2020

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Dec 12 2020
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	8.84 Miles	1,575 AEG

Run/Jog	8.84 Miles	1 Hour 57 Mns	4.53 mph
	1,575 ft AEG

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Just about as perfect as a day one could have out here. 59 degrees, sunny and no wind. Not a whole lot of people out, so didn't have to slow down much at all. This loop has it all, flats to warm up and cool down, runnable climbs, power hiking sections, sketchy descents and downhills where you can open it up and let it rip. With the rain the other day, the trail had just the right amount of traction to feel a little more confident on the descents.

For lack of a better term, this loop is like a dirt roller coaster if you are running it. Fun day today.

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Aug 08 2020

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Aug 08 2020
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	8.83 Miles	1,600 AEG

Run/Jog	8.83 Miles	2 Hrs 12 Mns	4.01 mph
	1,600 ft AEG

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Felt almost early fall-like this morning. Cool in the washes and shade, which made this spin around the loop much more tolerable. Had plans to do the Ridgeline Loop, but when I woke up it was already 80 degrees and the sun hadn't come out yet. So remembered a phrase I heard earlier this week "Don't do winter runs in summer heat" and decided I will go back to my 3-4 hour desert runs in a couple of months.

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1 archive

May 16 2020

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		May 16 2020
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	9.90 Miles	2,150 AEG

Run/Jog	9.90 Miles	2 Hrs 45 Mns	3.60 mph
	2,150 ft AEG

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Back in my bike racing days I had the opportunity to train with a guy that finished in the top 20 of the Tour de France one year. Asked him his training secrets and he told me that on your slow days, go very slow. On your fast days go very fast. But never, ever train at a medium pace. Today was the day I trained super slow. Walked up all the climbs, skeleton jogged the runnable portions of the trail and took it easy on the descents. Never got to a point where I was out of breath.

Got there early and had the place to myself for the most part. Ran into one other person on Wild Mustang running the opposite direction, then nobody else until I got back to the main intersection of trails. Seems the allure of trails as a way to keep busy during the plague has passed, the parking lot was half empty at 8:30 AM whereas a month ago the place was packed at the same time.

Always forget how rocky these trails are. Even the downhills require walking down carefully to avoid tripping or rolling your ankle.

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See my pics on Instagram @tucsonexplorer

Feb 08 2020

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Feb 08 2020
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	8.80 Miles	1,750 AEG

Run/Jog	8.80 Miles	2 Hrs 9 Mns	4.09 mph
	1,750 ft AEG

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Up Wild Burro to Lower Javelina then up Wild Mustang to start. Made decent time over to Alamo Springs and kept going up the Alamo Springs Trail to the spur trail back down to the valley floor and zipped back to my car via Wild Burro Wash. Perfect weather for a run, 50's to start and 60's to finish.

Only issue was having to yell at a dad and his two young boys who had scrambled to a ledge overlooking the Javelina Trail. They were all tossing huge rocks over the ledge without paying attention that the rocks were landing on or near the trail.

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See my pics on Instagram @tucsonexplorer

Jan 25 2020

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Jan 25 2020
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	3.50 Miles	671 AEG

Run/Jog	3.50 Miles	1 Hour	3.50 mph
	671 ft AEG

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Very, very slow trail run to get my feet dusty for the first time this year. Hired a coach that specializes in working with older endurance athletes to get them healthy again. Despite perfect trail conditions, temps and time to waste this morning, I held back and only did the prescribed workout. Simple out and back for 30 minutes each way and did a slow run/walk combo at a pace to keep my heart rate very low. Had a hard time holding back and was extremely tempted to hit the trail like I normally do.

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See my pics on Instagram @tucsonexplorer

Feb 22 2019

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Feb 22 2019
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Hiking	2.00 Miles	50 AEG

Hiking	2.00 Miles	30 Mns	4.00 mph
	50 ft AEG

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Livi-Divvi

Peered outside my office window and glanced at the weather report. Told my wife we have roughly a 45-60 minute window to enjoy the snow before the rain starts and I'm heading out now. Hopped in the car and actually had to drive through ruts in the road created by slush/snow up Thornydale Road. Snow got thicker the closer we got to the Ritz. Parked the car and ambled along the wash taking pictures and taking it all in until the rain/sleet started falling.

Looking forward to tomorrow, the clouds are still obscuring the Catalina's today and can't wait to see them totally blanketed in snow.

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Dec 19 2018

markthurman53

Guides 187
Routes 845
Photos 10,032
Triplogs 680

69 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Tortolita Mountains Inner Loop, AZ

Hiking		Dec 19 2018
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 680

Hiking	15.45 Miles	3,375 AEG

Hiking	15.45 Miles	8 Hrs 49 Mns		2.31 mph
	3,375 ft AEG	2 Hrs 8 Mns Break	20 LBS Pack

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I went back to the Tortolita Mountains to finish up some trails I didn’t get to do two days ago. This hike was along the lower Alamo Springs Trail then to the Wild Burro Trail to Alamo Springs. Returned on the Wild Mustang with a side trip down the Upper Javalina Trail, Finished up by doing the Lower Javelina and the Wild Burro Trail. You could get dizzy doing this route, luckily I wasn’t going that fast for that to happen.

The Alamo Springs Trail starts out with a climb to the ridge. Normally I would say this shouldn’t be difficult with the good trail conditions and only 1000 feet in 2 miles but my rear was dragging on this stretch. Don’t know what was wrong but it wasn’t until I ate later in the morning that I felt like I had the energy. I will just chalk it up as an off day. While I was struggling with the uphill climb I did stop often enough to snap some pictures. The views along this trail are amazing, especially in the morning (Taking pictures isn’t as easy as it was before because I was told I can’t carry my camera around my neck or I will continue to have neck issues.). The skies over Tucson and Santa Cruz valleys were a bit hazy, normally the polarizer on the camera will cut through this haze but this time the polarizer emphasized the haze so much so that it looked like fog. I’m assuming this was smoke or smog from an inversion layer. I left the Alamo Springs Trail and headed down the Alamo Spring Spur Trail to catch the Wild Burro Trail to Alamo Springs. I stopped briefly to check out the old line shack at the junction of these two trails. The Wild Burro Trail does some climbing here to get around the narrows of Wild Burro Canyon. Once above the narrows the trail follows the wash for a bit then climbs the east bank to Alamo Springs. Before heading up stream I checked out the overlook spur trail. Nice views down canyon from above the narrows. For you geology buffs there is some really nice gneiss rock here and the water has done a good job polishing it. There is also a good example of a glide fault in this canyon. (As the granite rock was rising the outer layers slide down the side.)

I took a short break at Alamo Springs and ate something trying to get my rear motivated. Chose a nice rock just to the east of the spring because it looked comfortable and it was comforting to know that the original inhabitants thought it was a good spot too because there were a couple of grinding holes where they also sat and prepared their food. There is a large dead cottonwood laying in the creek above the spring, probably where the spring got its name, Ironically I did not see any other cottonwoods with the exception of a very small plant near the spring that may be a cottonwood. At one time there may have been more water in this area.

The Wild Mustang trail starts out with a slow steady climb of about 500 feet in 1 mile and I seemed to handle this one just fine, maybe I just needed something to eat, I hear the body does better if you give it some fuel. This trail follows on the southeast slopes of the ridge that separates it from Cochie Canyon and is a fairly exposed trail, I can imagine it could get pretty hot. The temperatures were in the 60’s and when I took a break I was looking for a little shade. Great views of the Catalina Mountains. The views further out toward Tucson and Tucson Mountains were limited by the haze and only the tops of the peaks could be seen clearly. I ran into one hiker on this trail and he was doing sort of the same loop I was doing.

Before heading back to the trail head I took a short excursion down the Upper Javelina Trail. About 700 feet of elevation drop along this trail with great views of the golf course and Dove Canyon residential area if you are into that. I was thinking you could hit a golf ball from up here and what are the chances of getting a hole in one. I know it is probably all recycled water but it just doesn’t fit in to see all that green in a desert location. I headed back up the way I came and down to the Wild Burro Trail to finish up one last trail, the western portion of the Lower Javelina Trail. While hiking this trail it seemed kind of a useless trail since the Wild Burro Trail follows alongside it just 150 feet below. I guess if someone wants to do a short hike, the Lower Javelina is a good option. This 1.7 mile hike would give you a little bit of climbing and a little bit of downhill and still allow you to get to the Ritz Carlton for a beer when you are done or a few holes of golf. I took the Wild Burro back to the trail head but I stayed on the trail all the way back. This trail meanders from one side of the wash to the other. Some prefer to just walk up the wash; it makes it a bit shorter.

Don’t know why it took me so long to hike in these mountains but I’m glad I finally got here. Perfect time of year, early spring might be even better. I would still like to hike up the highest peak which I believe is Tortolita Peak at about 4600 feet. I don’t see any trails to it and would have to do a little research to find the best way to access it. Someday maybe the Ridgeline Trail will do just that.

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Dec 17 2018

markthurman53

Guides 187
Routes 845
Photos 10,032
Triplogs 680

69 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Tortolita Mountains Super Loop, AZ

Hiking		Dec 17 2018
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 680

Hiking	18.88 Miles	3,366 AEG

Hiking	18.88 Miles	9 Hrs 33 Mns		2.46 mph
	3,366 ft AEG	1 Hour 53 Mns Break	20 LBS Pack

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Tortolitas Super Loop

Wild Burro to Cochie Spring

Cochie Canyon to Wild Burro Traverse

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I have lived in Tucson 60 years and have never been to the Tortolita Mountains. I decided it was time to fix that. The Tortolita Mountains are the northern most of the three metamorphic core complexes in the Tucson area. These Mountains were formed as the west coast was spreading and granitic plutons floated up against the existing Granitic and sedimentary rocks. At the same time the valleys were sinking. (Tucson sain sank 17000 feet in some places). Like describing a chocolate candy they have a Granite core with a layer of Gneiss and a top layer of metamorphosed sedimentary rock. As the pluton rose it created the Gneiss and metamorphosed the sedimentary rock above that. On the taller mountains the granite sticks out on top and the Gneiss and sedimentary rocks slid down the sides of the pluton. Enough of the Geology lecture and on with the hike.

For the first hike in these mountains I decided to do the Tortolita Super Loop as described in HAZ. This hike not only touches a potion of all the trails in the Tortolitas it also has a good section of off trail route finding. These trails are some of the best maintained trails I have seen in a remote area, they have done a nice job. These mountains are a low lying desert mountain with an elevation from 3000 to 4500 feet. But with this hike you will still get an AEG of 3700 feet.(HAZ Route shows only 3366, Don't know where the other 350 went)

I started at the Wild Burro trail head where almost any hike you do in these mountains start. There are multiple options in this section for doing this loop but the one I chose was the Wild Burro to the Alamo Spring then the Lower Javelina to the Alamo Spring Spur back to the Alamo Spring Trail. After this the route is determined by the trails available, Ridgeline Wild Burro and then the Cochie Trail. There are great views along the Ridgeline Trail of the Catalinas to the southeast and the Tucson and Quinlin Mountains to the Southwest and Picacho and Newman Peak to the northwest. The Ridgeline Trail heads east along the ridge that separates Wild Burro Canyon and Rueles Canyon. At any point along this ridge short side trips can be taken up to ridge to look down into Rueles Canyon (most of which is private property). The Ridgeline Trail ends where the ridge takes on a northern direction toward Wild Burro Canyon. From here to Wild Burro Canyon you are on the Wild Burro Loop Trail, Odd name for this trail. I think it should be called the Wild Burro Ridgeline Connector or just make it a continuation of the Ridgeline Trail. Oh well what’s in a name.

I took a lunch break at the Windmill and tank at where the Wild Burro Loop Trail ends and the Wild Burro Canyon Trail begins. The wind mill is now solar powered and the water tank was full of water and wasps. There is also an old cement dam that is doing a great job of holding back sand, also a stone corral just east of that (I believe this is Goat Corral). The Wild Burro trail to the Wild Mustang Trail is in great condition and goes pretty fast. Took the Wild Mustang trail for a couple hundred yards where it crosses a creek and the cross country portion of the hike begins.

There is no trail along the cross country portion, Cochie Wild Burro Connector. I followed the route I downloaded to my GPS and it was easier than I thought. Ran into a couple of people maintaining the upper Wild Burro Trail and they told me to watch for rock cairns and a slight trail, if you don’t see either you are off trail. They were right you could see a slight trail there (better than some of the other so called designated trails I have seen). The “trail” is faint but it is visible and it doesn’t take good drugs to visualize it. When the trail disappeared you look for the rock cairns. The two times I got off trail I knew it because I didn’t see the “trail” or rock Cairns. Once you hit the high point on the ridge overlooking Cochie Canyon there is a quarter mile section down to the saddle below that is an exception, you are on your own to find a good route. Be prepared to get poked, stuck and pricked by every stickery thing in the desert. Shed a lot of blood on this stretch. Once down to the small saddle the route is along a ridge all the Way to Cochie Creek and Cochie Spring. Once again the faint trail can be seen. Cochie Spring was dry although I did not look in the cement water tank to see if there was water in it. The Aermotor wind mill still turns when the wind is blowing but makes a terrible squeaking noise like it is in need of oil. I took a break here to the sound of birds and the squeaky windmill.

It was now 3:00 and I still had 5 miles to go. I should have no issue getting back by 5:00 and sunset. Fairly easy going along the Cochie, Wild Mustang and Upper Javelina Trail back to the trail head. The Cochie Trail gets a little old as it travels up then down ravines coming off of the ridge between Cochie and Wild Mustang Canyon. Then again it might not be all that bad it could just be that I was tired and ready to be done. Either way this was a great hike and I will be back this week to finish up the trails I didn’t get to do today.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Windmill

Cochie Canyon

Dry

Cochie Spring Box

Dry

Wild Burro Canyon

Dry

	Wild Burro Tank	Dripping	Dripping
	Water tank was full, assume windmill was pumping water to it.

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Oct 11 2018

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Oct 11 2018
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	8.20 Miles	1,543 AEG

Run/Jog	8.20 Miles	1 Hour 45 Mns	4.69 mph
	1,543 ft AEG

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What a difference in a 50% drop in humidity along with a cool fall breeze blowing this morning in comparison to the last time I did this loop four weeks ago. Shaved almost 10 minutes off of my time (though I did go straight up the wash instead of taking the official trail, shaving a third of a mile off). Ran into the trail crew as they were prepping the loop for a trail running race this weekend. Told me that today through Sunday will be the cleanest the trail will be all year. Every loose rock has been moved off the center of the trail, all overgrown plants have been trimmed back and fresh rake marks can be seen on the entirety of the trail.

Really enjoy the Tortolitas, trails like this are what makes trail running fun. Nice and groomed with just enough sketchy stuff here and there to keep you on your toes. Only downside it the 1.5 mile slog down the wash along Wild Burro to the trailhead.

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Sep 22 2018

fricknaley

Guides 93
Routes 396
Photos 4,188
Triplogs 3,485

47 male

Joined Jun 20 2003
Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Sep 22 2018
		fricknaley • Triplogs 3,485

Hiking	8.60 Miles	1,740 AEG

Hiking	8.60 Miles	2 Hrs 4 Mns		4.34 mph
	1,740 ft AEG	5 Mns Break	2 LBS Pack

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started later than i wanted and suffered a bit in the heat and just not feeling that great. still good to get out

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hi

Sep 20 2018

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Sep 20 2018
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	8.50 Miles	1,539 AEG

Run/Jog	8.50 Miles	1 Hour 55 Mns	4.43 mph
	1,539 ft AEG

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Cool and super thick humidity this morning, it was only 65 degrees at the trailhead this morning. Started off slow because I did the first two miles in the dark with a headlamp and I was hitting some new trails. Up the standard Wild Burro over to Upper Javelina then caught Wild Mustang in a clockwise loop to be different this morning. Took Wild Mustang to Wild Burro/Alamo Springs intersection and looked at my watch. The combo of wet trails and new trails put me a little behind schedule, so at the intersection decided to bail on Alamo Springs and just shoot back on Wild Burro to my car.

The Tortolitas have quickly gained favor with me for the best runnable trails around. None of the climbs take more than ten minutes to get up and the descents are not that technical and you can actually run them without fear of tripping.

When I was out in this area two weeks ago I got sidetracked and a bit turned around. Sent an email to Marana Parks & Rec asking them to potentially fix some signage because one section of Wild Burro is not signed well. To my surprise I got an email yesterday where the trail crew went to investigate my claim, agreed that the trail could use some extra signs and installed them.

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Sep 13 2018

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Sep 13 2018
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	5.80 Miles	1,190 AEG

Run/Jog	5.80 Miles	1 Hour 18 Mns	4.46 mph
	1,190 ft AEG

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Did this as a counterclockwise loop from Wild Burro. Went up Alamo Springs from the trail sign in box about a half mile up the wash from the trailhead. Then up Alamo Springs over to the spur and back down to where it intersects with Wild Burro again. I've never been on this section of Alamo Springs and found it to be more scenic than the northern portion, especially the Machu Picchu section.

Temps were just a hair to warm to be perfect, but I think in a few weeks it should be in the 60's when I get out here. Really love the stair step climbs around here, you can push it pretty hard, relax and catch your breath and attack the next section. About as perfect a place to get in a mid-week run as there is.

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Sep 08 2018

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Sep 08 2018
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	14.60 Miles	2,075 AEG

Run/Jog	14.60 Miles	3 Hrs 25 Mns	4.27 mph
	2,075 ft AEG

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This range is quickly turning into one of my favorites for running. The trails are generally well marked, nice and wide and made for hiking, running and mountain biking. Plus the climbs are just long enough to be a work out, but not so long it turns into a slog. So even with over 2000 feet of climbing I could still run 90% of this loop.

Did a lollipop loop up Wild Burro and turned off on Alamo Springs. Stayed on Alamo Springs for a quarter mile until the turn off to the Ridgeline Trail. No other words do it justice, other than a fun trail to run and reminded me why I like to trail run. Remained on the Ridgeline and continued on the loop connector trail back to Wild Burro. Plus another upshot to this trail is that it is almost entirely in the shade first thing in the morning.

Here is where the fun began. For the most part the trails in this park are well laid out and signed well. I followed what appeared to be the most obvious trail with lots of footprints and tire tracks. After about a mile I noticed that the Catalina's were getting closer, not farther like they should. Turned around and went back up to the top of the hill to catch a signal on my phone. Quickly opened up Route Scout and downloaded a map that showed how far off course I was. Even when I got within 20 yards of the trail I had to search for the right trail. Be aware around the windmill & water tank at the end of Wild Burro to avoid going off on what appears to be a well used unofficial trail. On my map it was called simply a 4WD road.

What started out as a 12 mile run turned into an almost 15 mile run. Had it been a few degrees cooler, not a big deal. But in 90 degrees and very sunny, it wore me out. My beers this afternoon will be well earned.

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Aug 23 2018

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Aug 23 2018
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	6.40 Miles	920 AEG

Run/Jog	6.40 Miles	1 Hour 11 Mns	5.41 mph
	920 ft AEG

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This just might turn into my favorite desert trail system. Got to the trailhead at the Ritz bright and early and bumped into the main trail steward for the Tortolita Trail System. Was quite interested in my opinion of the trails I've seen so far, how they compare to stuff in Phoenix, etc... Then he made the claim that these trails are probably the lushest, most pristine Sonoran Desert trails in the southwest. Plus one of the few places that saguaros will grow at over 4000 feet. After two times on these trails, he might have a valid point.

Did a quick spin up Wild Burro then turned off on Alamo Spring to return. Alamo Spring is very runnable and a fast descent from the higher reaches of Wild Burro. I can see this being on my short list of local trails.

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Aug 18 2018

Guides 2
Routes 10
Photos 42
Triplogs 792

56 male

Joined Jul 12 2012
Oro Valley, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Run/Jog		Aug 18 2018
		SpiderLegs • Triplogs 792

Run/Jog	8.60 Miles	1,529 AEG

Run/Jog	8.60 Miles	2 Hrs 55 Mns	2.95 mph
	1,529 ft AEG

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Probably the plushest trailhead facilities await you at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain. Flush toilets, running water in the sinks, hand soap and a water faucet outside.

Still hot and humid when we started at 6 AM this morning, already 80 degrees at the start and well into the 90's when we returned 3 hours later. Went into this with low expectations, compared to the other mountain ranges close by, the Tortolitas don't really jump out at you from a distance. Headed up into the range via Wild Burro and noticed immediately the similarities to the White Tanks outside of Phoenix. All the trails zig zag along a canyon wall and you loop back by heading down into another canyon. Plus we found some granite outcroppings that were very similar to the granite tanks in the White Tanks. This started off as a run, but a combination of the heat, the previous day's diet and lack of staying on the trail turned this into more of a power hike.

Started off heading up into Wild Burro and at one point the conversation got so enthralling that we somehow got off trail and ended up in a canyon with a rock outcropping that probably turns into a waterfall in the winter. Spent a mile bushwhacking through pretty thick and rough desert and found our way to the Wild Mustang trail. Took that back down, then hopped on the Upper Javalina Trails to loop back to Wild Burro and back to the trailhead.

I can seen adding this to my short list of training trails. The trails are all pretty runnable and you can still get some pretty decent AEG.

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See my pics on Instagram @tucsonexplorer

Mar 28 2017

The_Dude

Guides 1
Routes 131
Photos 1,367
Triplogs 359

44 male

Joined Jun 10 2011
Phoenix, AZ

Wild Burro/ Upper Javelina/ Wild Mustang loop, AZ

Hiking		Mar 28 2017
		The_Dude • Triplogs 359

Hiking	8.75 Miles	1,629 AEG

Hiking	8.75 Miles	3 Hrs 5 Mns		3.09 mph
	1,629 ft AEG	15 Mns Break	11 LBS Pack

Linked

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[ checklist ] Banana Yucca Chuparosa Desert Globemallow Gooding's Verbena Hopbush Parry's Penstemon

Partners

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no partners

Impending job change means that I won't be coming down to Tucson every week like I have for the last 15 years, so this might be my last hike in Tucson for a while. Revisited a good loop that I had done a few years back with hopes of seeing some good wildflowers, and getting in a good bit of mileage. For better or for worse, this hike accounted for about 20 percent of my yearly total so far...just haven't had the time to hike like I have come accustomed to. The Chuparosa were blooming nicely in the wash, but the brittlebush were on the tail end of their show. I started up the Upper Javelina trail, never saw any, but I definitely smelled a few on the way. Once I got up onto the Wild Mustang trail, there was a sheer proliferation of color. Brittlebush, Ocotillo, Globemallow, Parry's Penstemon, Desert Marigold, Fleabane Daisy, Gooding's Verbena, Fairy Duster, a few Cholla and Prickly Pears, and some fantastic Banana Yuccas. I managed to keep a good pace despite stopping to take pictures periodically. Great loop with decent elevation gain, did not see anyone else the whole time so that was a real plus.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

Wildflowers Observation Substantial

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Dec 18 2016

fricknaley

Guides 93
Routes 396
Photos 4,188
Triplogs 3,485

47 male

Joined Jun 20 2003
Tucson, AZ

Tortolitas Super Loop

Tortolitas Super Loop

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Dec 18 2016
		fricknaley • Triplogs 3,485

Hiking	15.59 Miles	3,005 AEG

Hiking	15.59 Miles	5 Hrs 12 Mns		3.00 mph
	3,005 ft AEG		6 LBS Pack

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