Hike the trails and enjoy the majestic views from "Old Baldy", a dune overlooking Lake Michigan. It is located in Madera Canyon, part of the Santa Rita mountains and the Coronado National Forest, and it's a popular excursion approximately 30-minutes south of Tucson. . Shortly after you pass the spring, it’s time for switchback city and arguably the most challenging portion of hike. So we decided to continue along the Old Baldy Trail. Stay left for the clockwise route around the peak. By Ricky Holzer. Note: At the base of the switchbacks we hit 5.1 miles which I thought would be the length it would take us to hit the summit based on the AllTrails app. . Keep your eyes out for birds as we encountered a lot of very pretty and interesting birds (Wrightson is known for its high concentration of birds). We arrived in Arizona on the evening of November 11, 2006 and climbed Rice Peak and found the Pinal County Highpoint on November 12th. The first set of switchbacks is going to be have about 30 of varying lengths over the stretch of about half of a mile, gaining about 540 feet. . It had been on my to do list for some time, and now that temperatures in Arizona were rising, it was time to start looking to the higher elevations to escape the heat. Though the Super Trail is longer, it's a more gradual ascent, which may be preferable to some people. The Mount Wrightson via Old Baldy Trail is a hard out and back hike approximately 11.3 miles and with an elevation gain of 4,012 feet. 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. St. Pierre Trail is a professionally designed, multi-use trail on the east side of M-22 and offers a unique experience for mountain biking, hiking and trail running. The mile following the Josephine Saddle is actually a pretty enjoyable segment of the hike and sort of the calm before the storm for some people. As you continue to ascend, the views just continue to open up more and more over the next half a mile. The trail head is located in Madera Canyon at the very end of the South Madera Canyon Road. After you move around the last curve then it’s simply a little incline right to the summit! 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. The steepness of the trail will increase, then you'll pass a sign informing you are now entering the Mt. . National Parks and Other Worthy Destinations in the USA. At 0.3 mile, Old Baldy curves sharply around to the left and crosses into the Mount Wrightson Wilderness. Wrightson SPer Dean and I needed a relief from the Fall rains in the Northwest so we headed to Arizona to find some County Highpoints and Prominence Peaks. The Forest Service also honors all Interagency Annual Passes. This was to honor the three Boy Scouts: David Greenberg (12 years old), Mike Early (16 years old), and Michael J. At over 9,400 feet, climbing Mt. With that said, depending on your fitness level this could be a pretty good challenge. You will have to deal with some large steps at times but it did not prove to be too difficult for me and it’s great that so much of the path is shaded, especially earlier in the morning. Overall, this was a terrific hike. The Old Baldy and Super Trail meet in the saddle and share the footpath for the next 0.2 mile. The best seasons for hiking are fall and spring when temperatures are mild at the base and the summit is clear of snow. The geology transitions to rhyolite volcanics in the Mount Wrightson Formation of the Middle Triassic age. Either way, you take the Crest Trail to the summit for breathtaking 360 degree views. Mt. There is a 0.8 mile spur trail that will take you to Old Baldy summit. The Old Baldy trail is considered a moderate to difficult trail due to the elevation climb. Both trails are accessible from the Mt Wrightson parking and picnic area. Although it’s a little rocky at times, it’s very shaded and there are some nice views that start to emerge. Turn right at White House Canyon Road. We tried to brush it off at first, but then they started to coat our clothes, faces, sunglasses, Gatorade bottles, etc. It’s the tallest peak in the Tucson area and a very rewarding hike with an incline grade that I believe is very manageable. Wide views on Mount Wrightson (noted as "Baldy 2" on topo) reveal mountain ranges few know exist. It doesn’t quite riva, Another shot of Pando — the largest organism in, If you’re ever in Telluride make sure you go for, The beautiful mountain town of Ouray just after su, Happy first birthday to this adventurous corgi, ou, Love a good set of cascades but these can be slipp, Back when I used to a wear ridiculously oversized, “One should not pursue goals that are easily ach, Not many places leave an impression on you quite l, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, « Signal Hill Trail and Petroglyph Review | Saguaro National Park Tucson, AZ, How Much Water Should You Drink on a Hike? My first trip to Madera Canyon was a fun and enjoyable day. Unlike its massive northern neighbor Mount Lemmon, Wrightson has a distinct rocky peak (as a matter of fact, it was named Mount Baldy at one time for this very reason) that offers arguably the best panorama in the region. Dogs are permitted on leash. Coronado National Forest Weekly ($10) and Annual Passes ($20) are available for purchase at the Santa Rita Lodge, which you'll pass in Madera Canyon on the drive to the trailhead, or at any district office (found in various places in southeastern Arizona). 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. Initially, I did not think we would move past the saddle but we ended up deciding to try to push forward and I am extremely thankful that we did. Both trails are accessed from the Madera Canyon trailhead. Wrightson may cause some people to experience altitude sickness, which typically occurs above 8,000 feet. Views on the saddle open up. Enjoy & research Mount Wrightson Wilderness Area, Arizona with trail guides, topo maps, photos, reviews & GPS routes on Trails.com. Trip Date: Saturday, December 22nd, 2018 Finish up those switch backs and then you are so close to the finish line, you just need to head up a handful of more switchbacks. Hoping to get b, Back when we lived in Houston I did physical thera. Last Updated: Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 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. Even if there is no snow on top, ice is usually present at the higher elevations in the winter; I highly recommend bringing trekking poles and/or traction devices like Yaktrax to prevent you from slipping and falling. You will see fewer people the closer you get to the top, and there will probably be people resting at the summit. Exit the highway at Continental Road in Green Valley, then turn left. At 9,456 feet, Mount Wrightson is the tallest peak in the Santa Rita Mountains and Tucson, Arizona region. I had been dealing with rehabbing my neck and was having some issues with it locking up on me. The Old Baldy trail is much shorter at 5.4 miles but is a steady climb of 4000 feet to the summit of Mount Wrightson. From Baldy Sadde (8,780') to the summit (9,456') was about 0.9 miles. I thought the mix of vegetation during this portion of the trail was pretty interesting. . Parking currently costs $5 per vehicle, paid in cash or check at the self-service kiosk pictured below and displaying thes stub on your dashboard. (Notice all the crazy lady bugs in the photo! Some of the steps are pretty rocky so you need to be careful of where you place your feet — I found trekking poles to be very valuable on this portion of the hike and for the whole hike in general. Baldy Lake and the spur trail are located roughly half way through the loop trail. On the summit, there are a few rocky places to sit down and relax. This is a nice little rest area and we stopped here for a few minutes to rest up and contemplate our next move. Towering more than 7,000 feet over the surrounding savannas and deserts, Mt. And then finally looking south, you can look directly over Patagonia, Arizona and see directly into Mexico. The wide footpath is interspersed with bedrock and … And then I wasted no time in … Trailhead: Madera Canyon: Old Baldy Trail; pit toilets, trash, fee required Mount Wrightson is the largest mountain visible from Tucson, rising to over 9400’ from the desert floor. . The Old Baldy Trail described here is one of two primary routes to the top, the other being the Super Trail. You’re basically going to be faced with three main sets of switchbacks, with the first set being the longest. It's 2.2 miles from the Old Baldy trailhead to Josephine Saddle. More information is available at the Coronado National Forest Passes and Permits Page. Its a bit longer by about a mile but starts the hike with a gentler phase. Bears, rattlesnakes, and mountain lions may be encountered, so know what to do around dangerous wildlife. . Located about 40 miles south of the city in the lush Coronado National Forest of the Santa Rita Mountains, Mount Wrightson and lesser known neighbor Mount Ian comprise the backdrop of any pictures taken in Tucson. (Shown as #5 on the map above.) Mountain bikers are allowed on portions of Baldy Trails but the open dunes and short segments make this system best suited for hikers and trail runners. Many people use the Super Trail as a way to come back down and appreciate the views a bit more but from what I have seen, it is less maintained and better to do with pants which we did not have. I don’t know if this is a year-round spring that flows but it had a slight but steady flow in early May when we hiked. This trail goes by Josephine Saddle, Bellows Spring, Old Baldy, Baldy Saddle, and Baldy Spring. It is kept in good condition but at times it can be very rocky and Forcing you to step up and down large rocky steps or tree trunks. Also, Old Baldy is shadier. After reaching the Boy Scout Memorial at the saddle, we returned to the Mount Wrightson Trailhead on the Old Baldy #372 Trail. . This view looks directly out over the city of Tucson and Santa Catalina Mountains with Mount Lemmon the highest peak. It is recommended to filter this water if you choose to drink it and honestly this was a perfect opportunity for me to use my Lifestraw for the first time. On the right are the Rincon Mountains. Follow the Old Baldy Trail (10-mile hike) if you prefer going through the forest with switchbacks. Looking out over the F. L. Whipple Observatory and Tubac/I-19. The Old Baldy Trail described here is one of two primary routes to the top, the other being the Super Trail. The ascent of Jack Mountain was forested but wasn’t totally garbage as I did get a good view looking back at Mt. The next morning we explored Mt. I did this hike with two liters of water in my Camelback and a Gatorade but hitting up the spring on the way up and down allowed me to finish up the hike with just enough water. There also are a couple of points when you get to the higher elevations were you feel a bit exposed dealing with loose rocks on relatively steep switchbacks. Wrightson, the highest peak in the Santa Ritas. Wrightson to the right I have been doing a … Google Maps Directions. It is a nice challenge but it’s great to be able to hike up in the mountains with lots of shade throughout the journey. . These views along this portion of the trail are pretty cool and you look down upon a lot of trees that were destroyed in a fire. Old Baldy Trail is not the only path to Wrightson, but it’s one of the shorter starting points. This is also the junction of the Super Trail meaning that even if you took the Super Trail on the way up, you will have to hike up to the summit the same way you would if you took the old Baldy Trail. It was absolutely stunning all the way through; I can confidently say it’s a new favorite hike in the Tucson area. Personally, I never found the incline on the switchbacks to be that bad. This view looks down into Madera Canyon with Kitt Peak in the background on the left. #onlyina, Entering one of the many grottoes at Chiricahua NM, Climbing Picacho Peak is an epic hike. But if you want an easier trail, you should just take the Super or Loop Trail (13.1-mile hike), which is … But we actually had another half a mile in front of us so if you are relying on those measurements, just prepare yourself for more work ahead. The way back down is obviously much easier but due to the loose rocks and large drop downs at times, it is a little bit more time-consuming than I initially thought it would be. I also felt like while challenging, the incline you have to deal with is not terrible so this hike could have been much worse. This was where I truly fell in love with the views. After dealing with a handful of switchbacks and right at four miles into the hike, you will encounter Bellows Spring. This final section was short but strenuous given the altitude. Soon followed by nearly a dozen tight switchbacks up to the saddle. Mount Wrightson | Via Old Baldy Trail | A Montage - YouTube A few stats: Old Baldy Trail and the Super Trail form a figure eight, with the upper loop wrapping around the dome of Mount Wrightson. It was just crazy so after hanging around for only a couple of minutes, we were on our way back down. Even if you're not a bird-watcher, you have to appreciate the unique nature of this place. 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