Beginner's Hike - Tucson Mountain Park

Lets take a leisurely open desert ramble through a gorgeous Saguaro and Cholla forest.

Out and back distance is 4.8 Miles with approx. 300ft elevation gain.

No rest rooms or water. Please come prepared.

Much of the trail surface is loose rock. If you use poles regularly, bring them along for the few short uphill sections.

No dogs please

This open desert ramble starts at pull-out G-6 on the Gates Pass Road.

The hike starts with the Prickly Pear Trail, a short connector which heads southeast towards the base of Golden Gate Mountain. The PPT crosses a wash then connects to the Golden Gate Trail. There are two large breakdown blocks near the intersection which make good land marks.

The Golden Gate trail then heads due south. The trail is winding and wanders up and down through several washes eventually intersecting Kinney Road.

After carefully crossing Kinney Road we will continue south along the Prospector trail which climbs a small hill. Here we will see many fine specimens of Cholla and Saguaro as we crest the top and then meander down to an old exploratory digging from past silver ore prospecting.

From here it is a short stroll down to the pic-nic area where we can "ooh" and "aah" at an ancient Ironwood tree which nicely shades one of the pic-nic tables.

After lunch we will do an about face and return to the TH via the same route. On the return the sun will be to our backs and the Tucson Mountains will be nicely lit up by the afternoon sun.

Route to TH Location (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=211151916971589136864.0004b748284acc16ad70a&msa=0&ll=32.215996,-111.085854&spn=0.076393,0.154324)

Trail Maps:

Detail map (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Tuc_Mt_Prk_GG-trail_Pros_trail_pic-nic.jpg) for Golden Gate/Prospector Trail and Ironwood pic-nic area
Tucson Mountain Parking Hiking Trails Map (http://files.meetup.com/372195/TucMtPark_Hike-Map_11x17.pdf)

If the hike is full, please sign up for the waiting list and hike at your own risk.

If you need to contact me my cell# is 304.290.8066

WV-Mike