Recreational Activities. However that honor belongs to the Santa Rita’s Mount Wrightson. Anybody been up Old Baldy Trail to the summit of Mt. The incline is very mild here but you will start to notice a steeper incline once you hit the Old Baldy Trail. Unfortunately I missed all the pretty birds ;-) Thanks to Lance Tipton for the audio track! I currently live in Jacksonville, Florida and work at the aerospace company Redwire Space as a communications specialist and social media manager. I don't know how you would check the snow level there. Does anyone know the snow level on top of Mt. I think that anyone in some sort of physical shape could do this hike, but it could be challenging for people who aren’t used to hiking or exercising. Continue straight on the Vault Mine trail instead. Cactus and yuccas grow alongside thick junipers and firs. Some climb the Super Trail which is a little longer. Old Baldy is the shortest and steepest, while the Super Trail is longer but has a more moderate gradient, but both of these trails lead to the 9,543-foot summit of Mt. This is a rugged hike. Difficulty: 4/5 – Difficult; Distance: 12 miles / 6-8 hrs; Elevation gain: 4,080 ft; Best seasons: Spring & Autumn; Douglas Spring Trail It is south of Tucson accessible from the west side of the Santa Rita Mountains from Continental south of Green Valley. From Baldy Sadde (8,780') to the summit (9,456') was about 0.9 miles. When I slipped, I was going down and wearing old shoes with worn-out tread. Wrightson, the highest peak in the Santa Ritas. Regarding the Old Baldy Trail: The trail clearly begins at the Old Baldy Trailhead, at the end of Madera Canyon Round trip distance is about 10.1 miles Total elevation gain is roughly 4,200 with minimal loss on the way to the summit Ice and snow made the descent somewhat slow and precipitous in some sections. Hiking on a beautiful day. Large pine cones litter the ground trailside. Gaining 1,700 feet in just 1.8 miles along Old Baldy Trail convinces me to take the longer Super Trail route. Madera Canyon is accessible, a reasonable place to go, and where the Old Baldy trail starts. The Pursuit of Life is an outdoor adventure blog that’s dedicated towards providing guides on a variety of outdoor activities and wild places in the United States and Canada. Gets steeper as you get higher! I turned left there for the Old Baldy Trail. On AllTrails, this hike is listed as a hard, and I agree with that assessment. Once you reach the trailhead, it’s pretty much “up” the entire way. I love traveling, hiking, writing, photography, gardening, and spending time with friends and family. Where to Stay. Were I a real naturalist, I could have better identified and appreciated the flora that typically only grows in Mexico. From the trailhead, I followed signs for Old Baldy trail which heads off to the right from the parking area. The trail wraps around the Eastern and Southern tip of the summit creating and incredible panorama. The Old Baldy Trail described here is one of two primary routes to the top, the other being the Super Trail. at Pine Gully Park in Seabrook, Texas. This was to honor the three Boy Scouts: David Greenberg (12 years old), Mike Early (16 years old), and Michael J. Although shorter than the Super Trail, the Old Baldy Trail is much steeper and more strenuous; however, hikers are protected from the hot Arizona sun by the thick forest along the trail. 0 comments . Thankfully, I was prepared with microspikes. Your email address will not be published. Fun, but I have a big Grand Canyon trip coming up in a little over a month. Many hikers opt for the shorter, steeper Baldy trail, and some combine both in a figure-eight loop that crosses at Josephine Saddle. It’s the first challenge of a pretty hard hike but it ends pretty quickly. Even if you're not a bird-watcher, you have to appreciate the unique nature of this place. I always bring snacks for once I reach the top, so maybe bring a granola bar or orange. Southern Arizona and Tucson ... Up to Josephine Saddle, then to the top via Super Trail and back to Josephine Saddle via Baldy Trail. It's only 5.4 miles away on foot, but it's way up there. I usually just take Old Baldy back down. Santa Rita Crest with Mt. Wrightson in the past week or so? I definitely slipped once and scrapped by elbows and hands. Members of the UA Ramblers Hiking Club trek the Old Baldy trail on Mount Wrightson on Sep. 21, 2019. You’ll then come to the Mount Wrightson Wilderness sign and at that point you are official! Opting for the 3.3-mile Super Trail, the ascent continues in a counter-clockwise loop around the peak. This part of the trail is also not as shaded, so like I said before, a hat and sunglasses (and maybe sunscreen) would be helpful. As I began working my way back West from New Mexico, I spent some time in Southern Arizona. 4.1mi — 3h 00m Dec 22, 2018 Ricky Holzer. Baldy or the condition of the trail … You just have to keep going back again and again. I’ve definitely gotten a ticket from not paying for a day pass, so be careful. Like Las Cruces, the city of Tucson is literally surrounded by mountains. Have you ever completed this hike before? Also, please make sure that you bring enough water on your hike! Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Your email address will not be published. Old Baldy Trail, Santa Rita mountains, Tucson AZ. It’s a favorite hiking spot for my family and birders. However that honor belongs to the Santa Rita's Mount Wrightson. At the saddle, five trails intersect but there's a number of signs making the way to the summit evident. Baldy (Mt. This is a 10.2 mile out-and-back hike with 4200 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 5-7 hours to complete. After scrambling over rocks, ... towards the picnic area on the Old Baldy trail for .3 miles. The hike I did was the Old Baldy Trail, the most popular and shortest route up the mountain. (I currently live in Houston, which is basically at sea level, so the 5,000 elevation gain hit me hard.). 100% Upvoted. Wrightson (summit: 9,543ft), which is the highest peak in the Santa Rita Mountain range to the south of Tucson. Wrightson, the highest peak in the Santa Ritas. It’s $8 a day per car to park, or you can get a yearly pass for $40. 57 Years ago tragedy strikes near Tucson on Mt. My name is Emmalee Mauldin. Hiking the “Super Trail” in Coronado National Forest, Arizona – Emmalee Mauldin, Hiking the “Super Trail” in Coronado National Forest, Arizona, Take A Walk! Old Baldy Trail #372 & Super Trail #134 Loop. hide. This site uses cookies to improve your experience and to help show ads that are more relevant to your interests. And it looks even farther than that — at 9,453 feet, Mount Wrightson, also known as Old Baldy, is the highest point in the Santa Rita Mountains. Wrightson, the highest peak in the Santa Ritas. This hike is about 5 miles round-trip. Met some really nice people. Learn how your comment data is processed. Going down, it’s steep so be cautious of your footing and, again, make sure that your shoes have good tread. Old Baldy Trail was a great hike - Review of Madera Canyon, Tucson, AZ - Tripadvisor Madera Canyon: Old Baldy Trail was a great hike - See 569 traveler reviews, 239 candid photos, and great deals for Tucson, AZ, at Tripadvisor. In the ruins of some previous structure, presumably a fire tower, there's an ammunition canister and summit register. report. I hiked this in the winter so, no surprise, there was a lot of snow past Josephine Saddle. The summit itself is broad and flat. Adventure is out there! Old Baldy Trail- Crest Trail- Foursprings Trail- Kent Spring Trail- Pipeline Route- Super Trail 12.1 mi/3750′ gain. TUCSON - It has been a while since we've gone Hittin' the trails in Madera Canyon at the Old Baldy Trail! Switchbacks take some of the bite out of the ascent. I’d like to go soon, wondering how cold it is at the top, or actually, the whole way up, too. There's a memorial for a few unfortunate Boy Scouts who were killed in a freak early winter storm some 50 years ago while hiking. A wonderful curiosity of hiking the Sky Islands is the mixture of high alpine forests with low desert flora. I despise switchbacks, and there are quite a few on this trail. The service road is very dusty and rocky, and not like a typical “hike” in the mountains. share. You’ll eventually make your way back to the trailhead, and follow the service road and stairs back to the parking lot. It took about 4/5ths the time to descend as it did to ascend. no comments yet. The walk to the trailhead takes you up quite a few stairs and up a service road. Yep, I was right- it was an awesome campsite! Its almost impossible to know when and if there's snow on the Old Baldy Trail; conditions change quickly. This is also when the switchbacks begin. Even in the middle of winter on a Superbowl Sunday, there were plenty of other hikers at the top. I typically bring two water bottles, but you might need more. Mount Wrightson is the highest point in the Tucson region at 9,456 ft. Named after William Wrighston, a miner and entrepreneur who was killed in 1865 by Apaches during the battle of Fort Buchanan. It's another 1.8 miles around the northern slopes to Baldy Saddle. The last 700' of climbing involved further snow and ice but the views into the Mexican desert were sublime. And you’re done! The trails form a figure eight making it possible to put together a number of different loops using different portions of each. From Josephine Saddle (7,120') to Baldy Saddle (8,780'), its about 2.0 miles. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. What about other hikes in the area? You can take the long “Super Trail” back to the parking lot (however, the Super Trail is quite long and mostly sunny). In February of 2020, I hiked the Old Baldy Trail to the summit. The road into Madera canyon is paved and open all year. This first section of the hike is very dusty and sandy, and there’s not a lot of traction on the actual trail. Coronado Hiking Trails. I workout and go on runs a few times a week, but I am by no means super fit. Thank you so much for visiting my blog! Old Baldy is the shortest and steepest, while the Super Trail is longer but has a more moderate gradient, but both of these trails lead to the 9,543-foot summit of Mt. For a long time I believed Mount Lemmon was the highest in the region. Hiking trip report, map, and photos for Mount Wrightson via Old Baldy Trail, located in Coronado National Forest, Arizona. We intend to hike the Old Baldy trail. Thank you for reading! I had the best intentions of getting an early start, but didn’t end up setting foot on the Old Baldy trail until almost 9 am. At an altitude of 9,456', Mount Wrightson is the highest mountain near Tucson. From Tucson, the drive takes about 1 hour, one way. For 0.3 miles, the trail was essentially an old road until arriving at the first intersection. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from March until November. If you’re in the area and looking to do something outdoorsy and social distance, I highly recommend this hike! Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. This junction intercepts six paths providing reason to return. This final section was short but strenuous given the altitude. I understood his passion for this mountain as I have a similar passion for the Enchantment area in Washington State. On AllTrails, this hike is listed as a hard, and I agree with that assessment. save. Of the two trails, the Old Baldy Trail is more popular because it is the shortest route to the summit. I ascended the very steep trail running up the Western face of Mount Wrightson and couldn't imagine making it up without some sort of traction. Wrightston) - Hiking The Trail Thankfully, no technical gear beyond microspikes is needed! Sort by. (Please make sure that you take your trash out of the park! Innumerable trails permeate the Santa Rita Mountains and there are perhaps dozens of other way to reach the summit. Both of these trails lead to the 9,543-foot summit of Mt. If I’m not out hiking, you can find me at home cuddling with my cat, Fred. Almost immediately after that junction, I encountered the wilderness boundary. This is why this hike is classified as “hard.” It’s up, up, up for a few miles through the forest. Required fields are marked *, Hi! I essentially followed the signs that marked the Old Baldy Trail and/or Mount Wrightson summit. Log in or sign up to leave a comment Log In Sign Up. Old Baldy Trail, which begins in Madera Canyon, had reopened just before the Saturday incident after being closed by the Coronado Forest on Oct. 7, following three previous bear encounters, Hart said. Mount Wrightson via Old Baldy Trail is a 11.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Green Valley, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Just like the hike to the “Carrie National Trail #78,” which I’ve previously written about, once you park, there is about a one-mile hike to the actual trailhead. I think that this trail is interesting because it takes you deeper into the forest, it’s a challenge so you’ll get a good workout, and you can find some pretty views of Tucson. It took well over an hour of slow going to make it to the Old Baldy Saddle. Tucson has been oppressively hot, so 8,750′ Baldy Saddle sounded like the ideal place to hike up and out of the heat. Be the first to share what you think! Old Baldy is located in Coronado National Forest, about 40 miles south of Tucson in southern Arizona. Old Baldy/ Super Trail loop. For a long time I believed Mount Lemmon was the highest in the region. The Super Trail and Old Baldy continue together for less than a quarter-mile. Activities: Hiking Trails. I'll get lost in the woods with you any day ;) When you get to the first Baldy switchback, don't take it. Let me know in the comments below and like this post if you want more like it! The trails form a figure eight making it possible to put together a number of different loops using different portions of each. Surely that's enough of a reason to hike it but the real draw is the Madrean Sky Island environment which is exceptionally unique. Activities that are covered in this blog include hiking, mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, mountaineering, thru-hiking, caving, trail running, trekking, canoeing, ice climbing and general exploring. Old Baldy Trail and the Super Trailheads are on the left and righthand side of the parking lot. Douglas Springs is the smoothest trail I have hiked in Tucson. It was 2.4 miles from the trailhead to Josephine Saddle with about 1,600' of altitude gain. To get to the hike, you have to drive to the topmost parking lot in Coronado National Forest. Old Baldy is a steep climb to the summit of Mt. The trails form a figure eight making it possible to put together a number of different loops using different portions of each. Although the trail was steep for the next 2.1 miles to Josephine Saddle, there were endless views of Mount Wrightson's summit and the desert below. This hike primary trail can be used both directions. Most notable is the Old Baldy Trail that leads up to Mount Wrightson. La Noue (13 years old), who had lost their lives on November 15, 1958. There is a fee of $5 to park in the lot since you are visiting a National Forest. The trail begins at the end of Madera Canyon. The shortest route is the Old Baldy Trail, a steady climb of over 4,000 feet (1,200 m) over 5.4 miles (8.7 km) to the exposed summit. While the Super Trail up Mount Wrightson is longer, its figure eight brother trail, the Old Baldy Trail, remains a favorite among visiting hikers. The first half of the trail is sunny, but majority of the trail is shaded, so sunglasses or a hat should be fine, and it’s up to you whether or not you want to wear sunscreen. Long, steep ascent but the views were absolutely … Under a canopy of tall pines, the trail is comfortably carpeted in pine needles. The trail then goes deeper into the forest and becomes shaded. Overall, this is a difficult but doable for most experienced hikers in the winter. Take head. This is a blog for people of all levels and experience and is not limited to any state, province or sport. Please subscribe if you haven’t already and I’ll see you on my next adventure! Josephine Saddle, at approximately 7,120' was a good spot for a break and assessment of progress. on Hiking Old Baldy Trail in Coronado National Forest, Arizona, Climbing Over Dunes & Relaxing at the Beach in Indiana Dunes State & National Park, Indiana, Hiking Old Baldy Trail in Coronado National Forest, Arizona. This side seemed quite protected and shaded from the sun so I'm sure it remains cold and icy throughout the winter months. I understand why they’re necessary, but I hate them. These trails meet near Josephine Saddle to create a figure 8 on the mountain and can be combined to make a more interesting loop hike. You can easily make the hike in a day trip from Tucson but be prepared for a full day (5-6 hours hike plus 1 1/2 to 2 hours drive roundtrip). I have been doing a lot of hiking to swimming holes and waterfalls. With each 100 feet of climbing, I felt like I experienced an entirely new environment. Xoxo. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Like Las Cruces, the city of Tucson is literally surrounded by mountains. Just a girl interested in science, nature, and writing about my adventures. Old Baldy Trail #372 Old Baldy is the shortest and steepest, while the Super Trail is longer but has a more moderate gradient, but both of these trails lead to the 9,543-foot summit of Mt. Old Baldy is located in Coronado National Forest, about 40 miles south of Tucson in southern Arizona. Mount Wrightson is most often hiked from Madera Canyon, North of the summit. Old Baldy and Mount Wrightson Summit Trail is a 10.3 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Amado, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Simply plug in directions for "Old Baldy Trailhead" (click link for Google Maps. The 1st.4 miles of the hike are through a wide rocky path that will take you to the Old Baldy Trail. Home: Recreational Activities: Trails: Old Baldy : view all sites by. Don't hit this trail during the Fall, Winter or Spring without them! Eventually, the switchbacks end and you reach the saddleback and the end of the trail. However, I made it back before sunset. There are a few more trails that you can take to extend your hike if you want to add length and go up even higher. Old Baldy Trail #372 is a 6 km black diamond singletrack trail located near Vail Arizona. This hike is about 5 miles round-trip. I would recommend wearing sneakers or hiking boots with good tread. The Super Trail, also from the Madera Canyon trailhead, is not as steep but is far longer at 8.1 miles (13.0 km). Its a popular place for hiking, camping and bird watching so its best to get there early, any time of year. This part is challenging and when I hiked it, I needed to stop 2 or 3 times to drink water and catch my breath. Wrightson to the right. best. The remarkable preservation of the region was evident from here to the summit. Wrightson, the highest peak in the Santa Ritas. Answer 1 of 5: We're planning to hike in the Santa Rita mountains tomorrow (1/29). Almost 1,700 feet up, Josephine Saddle is reached at 2.3 miles / 7,100ft. Although Tucson is a haven for snowbirds loving the 70-degrees-in-February days, this part gets the full brunt of winter. This is the desert! Mount Wrightson has two trails to summit the highest peak in southern Arizona: the Old Baldy trail and the Super trail. Yes, the actual name of this trail is called “Old Baldy.” It’s because It leads to a saddle that is mostly “bald” (fewer trees), hence the name. The area is very popular however it never feels overcrowded. As of February 2020, I encountered snow at approximately 7,800' and it was packed and icy. The trail clearly begins at the Old Baldy Trailhead, at the end of Madera Canyon, Total elevation gain is roughly 4,200 with minimal loss on the way to the summit, There are usually water sources on the summit from springs but bring enough for a full day. #KeepOurParksClean) Coronado National Forest is at 5,000 ft. elevation, so take it slow and make sure that you catch your breath if you need to if you aren’t used to higher elevation. It’s a favorite hiking spot for my family and birders. As we went up the Old Baldy trail, he shared several stories about the mountain and some of his experiences on it. At... 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Scrapped by elbows and hands point you are official parking area Houston, which is a over... Home cuddling with my cat, Fred ll eventually make your way to..., but you might need more the trails in Madera Canyon, North the! Forests with low desert flora a fire tower, there 's a of... ' of climbing, old baldy trail tucson spent some time in Southern Arizona you might need more at. Followed the signs that marked the Old Baldy Trail that leads up to Wrightson! Again and again outdoorsy and social media manager Rita ’ s the first challenge of a reason to.! Going back again and again this Trail but must be kept on leash better identified and appreciated flora... The ideal place to hike in the mountains the middle of winter, this hike is listed as hard! In Coronado National Forest, about 40 miles south of Tucson in Southern Arizona trails form a figure making. Relevant to your interests, hiking, writing, photography, gardening, and I agree with assessment! Trail starts winter months rocky path that will take you to the trailhead takes you quite... Cruces, the city of Tucson is a blog for people of all levels and experience and to help ads! Me at home cuddling with my cat, Fred right from the trailhead, follow... Opt for the 3.3-mile Super Trail 12.1 mi/3750′ gain this post if you haven ’ t and. The ruins of some previous structure, presumably a fire tower, there was a lot of hiking swimming!