Santa Rita Mts: Madera Canyon Nature Trail - Beginner/Intermediate

Arrive at the carpooling site in time for an 8:00 DEPARTURE

RSVPs open on November 10, 2017 Friday 7:00am

Total Length: 4.00/8.00 mi Out and Back
El Gain 500/1000'

• Rated "D/C"- Beginner/Intermediate (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Hike%20Rating%20Scale.pdf)

Duration: 3-5 hours (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Hike%20Rating%20Scale.pdf)

RESTRICTIONS: No dogs, firearms or tobacco

****** READ THIS ******

This hike will accommodate both Beginner and Intermediate hikers

Beginner hikers will hike the 2 miles to the Amphitheater and then return ON THEIR OWN to the starting point. If you are going on the Beginner portion make sure you have a ride when you return to the Proctor trail head.

Intermediate Hikers will hike the 4 miles to the Mount Wrightson picnic area and then after a break we will all return together.

NOTE: Links are in BOLD

I will meet you at the Home Depot. Look for a white van with the hatch up at the NW corner of the parking lot (https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1cihvYoZxc4SaWZFKlAX8Ms4FtKw&ll=32.16210108488228%2C-110.98835259999998&z=18) near the Shell Gas Station.

****** DEPART Home Depot at 8:00 ******

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If you choose not to carpool, you can meet us at the Proctor trail headfor a 9:00ish hike start.
The Proctor parking lot is the very first one (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Proctor+Parking+and+Trailhead/@31.7356941,-110.8909552,14.83z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x8ea680981cd54b5f!8m2!3d31.7411204!4d-110.886887!5m1!1e4) on the right when you enter Madera Canyon. It is the first right past the fee/info station entrance. Rest rooms and maps are available here.

The trail head is approximately 1 hour/40 miles south of Tucson.
There is a Google location map here. (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=31.741357,+-110.886890&hl=en&ll=31.741015,-110.886394&spn=0.003043,0.005622&sll=32.15591,-110.883805&sspn=0.387736,0.719604&t=h&z=18)

A Madera Canyon Trail Map is here (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Madera%20Canyon%20Trail%20Map.pdf). It is a printable PDF

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Madera Canyon is a fee area - $5.00 per car or Federal pass
These fees for recreational use will hopefully allow
the Forest Service to continue to subsidize grazing
leases and timber sales at their present generous levels.

Click here for more about fees on our public lands (http://www.westernslopenofee.org/)

This hike starts at the mouth of world famous Madera Canyon. This is a north facing canyon so it is relatively shady and cool. Especially when compared to the open desert. This, coupled with the elevation make it a summer haven for those in the greater Tucson area.
The canyon is also home to many species of birds which brings people in from all over for Spring and Summer bird watching trips.

The beginning of the hike starts with the ADA trail which is a gentle grade and partially paved. It winds along the creek through a forest of 100+ year old Oak trees and ancient Alligator Junipers.

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Young hiker and old Alligator Juniper

Where the ADA trail ends the path turns to packed soil with some areas of both loose and embedded rock.

As the trail continues up the canyon and along the creek it now passes by giant boulders, big Arizona Sycamores and more old oaks and junipers until it reaches the Amphitheater.
We have now hiked 2 miles up the Canyon. We will take a short break at the Amphitheater

At this point the Beginners will do an about face back down the canyon to the Proctor Parking area.

The Intermediate group will continue on up the switch back trail to where the trail more or less follows the contour of the mountain and then takes us to the Mount Wrightson picnic area. This will add an additional 500' of elevation gain.

There area restrooms and picnic tables here but no water. We will take our snack/rest break here and the head back down to the Proctor trail head.

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Mt Wrightson in Winter

As always - Hike at Your Own Risk

If you are new to the group please read these:

About the Tucson Hiking Meetup Group (https://www.meetup.com/tucsonhiking/about/)
Tucson Hiking Meetup Group - No Show Policy (http://files.meetup.com/372195/No%20Show%20Policy.pdf)
Hike Rating Scale (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Hike%20Rating%20Scale.pdf)

If you have questions or need to reach me:
Cell: 304.290.8066 (No texting please)
WV-Mike (https://www.meetup.com/tucsonhiking/members/13110160/)