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

This will be our last MeetUP hike before we return to West Virginia.

RSVPS OPEN on Thursday, March 28 at 7:00 PM
Car Pool Depart time 9:00
HIKE start time 10:00

Total Length: 3.5/7.00 miles Out and Back
Total Elevation Gain 500'/1000'
Rated "D/C"- Beginner/Intermediate (https://goo.gl/ZzDBGG)
RESTRICTIONS: No guests, dogs, firearms or tobacco
Duration: 3-5 hours
Cell Phones: Silent During Hike

Madera Canyon is a fee area - $5.00 per car

Madera Canyon Trail Map (PDF): https://goo.gl/RyMSdo

****** READ THIS ******
This hike will accommodate both Beginner and Intermediate hikers.

Beginner hikers will hike the 1.75 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 3.5 miles to the Mount Wrightson picnic area and then after a break we all return together.

Click here (https://goo.gl/EMFU1L) for the car pooling at the Home Depot.
I will meet you at the Home Depot. Look for a white car with the trunk lid up at the NW corner of the parking lot near the Shell Gas Station.

****** DEPART Home Depot at 09:00 ******

If you choose not to carpool, you can meet us at the Proctor trail head (https://goo.gl/pr9Q6x) for an 10:00ish hike start.

PLEASE let me know if you will be meeting us at the trail head.

The Proctor parking lot is the very first one (https://goo.gl/mhCN1C) 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 45-60 minutes/40 miles south of Tucson.

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.

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

As always - Hike at Your Own Risk

If you are new to the group please read these:

If you have questions or need to reach me:
Cell: 304.290.8066 - No cell service in Madera Canyon
Email WV-Mike: http://EpicRoadTrips.us/contact.php