Tucson Mts: Krein Summit on Bobcat Ridge in the Starr Valley

Welcome to Mike's Quiet Hikes.

• Mileage: 7.25 TOTAL
• Total elevation gain 800'
• Rating: C - Intermediate
**RESTRICTIONS: No guests, dogs, firearms, or tobacco/vaping
• Cell phones: SILENT during hike
We will take the time to enjoy the views and scenery and take photos.
There is an AllTrails route here.
A Google MyMaps route is here
There are route maps in the photos section.

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 get 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
----
The Hike
On the west side of the Tucson basin there is an area of over 20,000 acres of preserved land comprised of rugged mountains, hidden valleys and open desert. This land is Tucson Mountain Park (TMP) which was originally set aside in 1929 and is managed by Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation of Pima County.
Within the core of TMP is the Starr Valley and within that valley sits Bobcat Ridge, home to Krein Summit. This has been a much visited site over the decades, especially by the denizens of Tucson Estates who have the good fortune to have the Starr Valley as their back yard.
The summit was (unofficially) named for John Krein, a long time resident of Tucson Estates and an avid hiker. He explored extensively in the mountains and valleys behind Tucson Estates and took many a hiker on the trails. Charlie Lochowitz and Krein produced the first hiking map for the Starr Valley. It was hand drawn from memory on a sheet of 8.5x11 paper. Copies were made and were available at the Tucson Estates office.
Times have changed since then. Now there are signs at all the official trail intersections and an accurate, easy to use map of the Starr Valley area.
This route to Krein Summit will add greatly to the scenic enjoyment of the hike while by-passing a rather rough, rocky and arduous climb up the south flank of Bobcat Ridge.
We will start out on the Sarasota trail which switchbacks up the south facing flank of Little Cat Mountain and then follows the contour east to Starr Pass where we will squeeze through the pass, make a short climb to an open area which gives a commanding view of the Starr Valley and the Catalina Mountains.
From this juncture we will take the Explorer Trail west to the point where it intersects the Little Cat trail. This trail winds around the northern flank of Bobcat Ridge where it intersects with the Yetman Trail.
We will follow the Yetman trail westward until we come to the unofficial "Krein Trail" which will take us up the backside of Bobcat Ridge where we will have great views of the southern Tucson Mountains including Red Butte, Beehive Peak, and Black Mountain as well as Golden Gate and Bren mountain to the west and the Sierrita, Baboquivari, and Quinlan Ranges in the distance.
When we get to the summit, we will spend some time taking in the view and having a snack break.
When we are ready, we will head back down the same route to the Yetman trail and then hike west to our next stop - an abandoned 1958 Chevy which sits in a wash just off the trail.
After viewing this curiosity, we will continue west until we intersect the western terminus of the Sarasota Trail which will take us east along the south side of Bobcat Ridge back to our starting point.
• •
Hike related info:
Pima County:
The Natural Resource Division of NRPR manages over 250,000 acres of open space within Pima Cnty. The natural resource parks offer many exciting opportunities to hike, camp and explore our unique Sonoran Desert environment. Thanks to voters, conservation efforts have protected some of the best of Pima County's natural areas for everyone to enjoy.
• •
The Yetman Trail
David Yetman is a research social scientist and has been at the Southwest Center since 1992. He received his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Arizona in 1972. Yetman’s research has been primarily directed towards the state of Sonora, its indigenous people, their history, and how they have incorporated native resources into their lives.

Starr Pass and Valley
Starr Pass is named after Richard Starr who pioneered a stagecoach trail through the Tucson Mountains. Starr built the path in 1884, as a quick route to Quijotoa, a mining boomtown 70 miles to the southwest of Tucson.
The Starr name, the moniker of two resorts and what would be 22nd Street west of Interstate 10, came along in the early 1990s as a tribute to 19th-century stagecoach driver Richard Starr.

Questions?
Cell: 304.290.8066
WV-Mike
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 get 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