Tucson Mts: Bowen House via Hidden Canyon/Bowen/Yetman Trails
Details
Welcome to Mike's Quiet Hikes
This hike will be in the 20,000-acre Tucson Mountain Park.
There is a route map here:
Google MyMaps
• Mileage: 4.50 miles total
• Total elevation gain 700'
• Rating: C - Intermediate
• Duration: 3+ hours
**RESTRICTIONS: No guests, dogs, firearms, vaping or tobacco
• Cell phones SILENT during hike
By RSVP-ing "Yes" to this event you are agreeing to hold the event host/organizer not liable for any personal injury, death or property damage that occurs during the event or in transit to and from the event.
The Hike:
This trail starts at the Starr Pass Resort & Spa Lorraine Lee Hidden Canyon trail head.
At 1.0 mile we reach the summit. At this point we have gained most of the 700' of Accumulated Elevation Gain on this hike.
From the summit we will get a good view of the north end of the Starr Valley. Big and Little Cat Mountains and Ringtail (Second) Ridge can be seen from here.
For the next .60 miles the Hidden Canyon Trail winds down to the Bowen Trail using a series of rocky, sometimes steep switchbacks. On this section we will lose most of the elevation gained on the hike to the summit.
Now we will take the Bowen Trail northwest to where it intersects with the Yetman Trail.
Once on the Yetman trail we will continue south through the Starr Valley about a half mile until we reach the Bowen House. This section takes us through open desert and in and out of Mesquite lined arroyos.
Once we reach the Bowen house, we will take time to enjoy and explore the wonderful ruin as well as a leisurely rest/snack break.
We will return by backtracking on the Yetman trail to the Bowen trail which will take us back to our starting point.
There is route maps here:
Google MyMaps
RSVP etiquette:
• Sign up only if you really intend to come
• If you need to cancel, do so BEFORE the RSVP deadline so someone can have your spot
• If you change your mind, take yourself off the Going or Wait list
• Please don't be a no-show
Be sure to bring adequate water, food, trekking poles, etc.
As always - Hike at Your Own Risk
Questions? Cell: 304.290.8066
WV-Mike
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More info:
The Hidden Canyon Trail
In 2009 The Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved naming this 1.5 trail after the late Chicana activist Lorraine Lee.
The Hidden Canyon Trail switchbacks up the north side of the canyon to the ridge for 1.0 mile. At .85 miles there is a nice vista point where we will be able to see the Tower Peak to the west and the Tortolita Range and Dove Mountain to the east. From this point we will also be able to see the Camino de Oeste trailhead, the eastern terminus of the Yetman Trail.
Yetman Trail
The Yetman Trail is named for Tucson's best known desert rat and naturalist David Yetman. Yetman was host of the Emmy Award winning TV documentary "The Desert Speaks" which ran for 10 years. He also served on the Pima County Board of Supervisors for 10 years. Additionally he is a research social scientist with the Univerity of Arizona's College of Social & Behavioral Sciences Southwest Center. Yetman has been at the Southwest Center since 1992.
Bowen Stone House
In the late 1920s Sherry Bowen brought his wife, Ruby, to Tucson from Rockford, Ill., in hopes that the climate would improve her health.
The Bowens homesteaded in the Tucson Mountains and built first a cabin and then what now remains of the current house which was built out of native stone.
Sherry and Ruby moved to New York City in 1944. By this time the Bowen homestead consisted of 200 acres. Their homestead became part of Tucson Mountain Park in 1983.