Suspended until further notice
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- Slow-paced, nature-based hikes open to the public on Fridays.
- These hikes take time to look at nature. We look at wildflowers, plants, trees, birds, and animals – anything that catches our eye and looks interesting. We do hike, but we stop to look. We will talk about the history of the area if it is important to where we are.
- Unless otherwise noted, we plan to be back at the trailhead by noon.
- Bring plenty of water.
- No pets. No smoking.
- Children under 18 years must be accompanied by a parent.
- Bad weather may change or cancel hike.
- For any questions, please call Edi at 520-751-4542.
Friday Slow Paced Hikes (2019-2020)
| Date | Destination | Meet | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 3 | Loma Verde loop in Saguaro National Park East | Meet at 8:00 am at Wal-Mart, Speedway and Kolb, northeast corner of the parking lot, for caravanning to the park. | Hike is 3.8 miles. See a copper mine and climb pink hill for spectacular views of saguaro cacti. |
| Jan 10 | Guindani loop. This is a field trip to Kartchner Caverns and will be an all day outing. | Meet at 8:00 am at Wal-Mart, Speedway and Kolb, northeast corner of the parking lot, for caravanning to the trail near Benson, AZ. | Hike is about 5 miles in length and is a loop going through riparian habitat, then climbing through oak woodland and ending on a mountain top with a fabulous view. There may be some McDougall cacti on the top. Bring a dish to share for a potluck picnic following the hike. |
| Jan 17 | Esperero to the wash | Meet at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center at 8:00 am. | Hike about 4 miles round-trip. This hike is a good workout, rocky with nice views. |
| Jan 24 | David Yetman trail. Shuttle from Camino d’Oeste to Tucson Mountain Park trailhead | Meet at 8:00 am at Wal-Mart, Speedway and Kolb, northeast corner of the parking lot, for caravanning to the trailhead. | Hike about 4 miles. We will see the old stone house in beautiful desert scenery. |
| Jan 31 | Hope Camp trail | Meet at 8:00 am at Wal-Mart, Speedway and Kolb, northeast corner of the parking lot, for caravanning to the trailhead. | A moderate hike down a jeep road past ranches and windmills. This is the back side of the Rincons. Length of hike is at the discretion of the leader. |
| Feb 7 | Esperero/Rattlesnake/Bluff Trails | Meet at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center at 8:00 am. | Hike is about 4 miles, with little elevation gain. Enjoy the beauty of Sabino Canyon with lovely desert views. Learn about desert plants and ecology. |
| Feb 14 | Dove Mountain - Upper Javelina Trail | Meet at 7:30 am at Swan and Sunrise on the northeast corner – near Ace Hardware and Bazils Restaurant. | Hike 3.8 miles with 450 feet of elevation gain. Experience hiking in the Tortolitas. This area has different vegetation and a special beauty all its own. |
| Feb 21 | Field trip to the DeAnza Trail in Tubac, AZ | Meet at 7:30 am at the Walmart at Speedway and Kolb in the northeast corner of the parking lot. We will park at the mission, and a shuttle driver will pick up the drivers in Tubac when we finish the hike. This is an all-day trip. | Hike 4 miles along the Santa Cruz River in a shady area, crossing the stream over boards several times. No elevation gain. Enjoy lunch at Wisdom’s Café following the hike. See the mission at Tumacacori and visit the Santa Cruz Spice Factory. |
| Feb 28 | Canyon Loop and Birding trail in Catalina State Park | Meet at Sunrise and Swan at 8:00 am on the northeast corner – near Ace Hardware and Bazils Restaurant. Bring State Park pass or money for the $7.00 daily fee. | Length of hike is 3.5 miles with some elevation gain. Enjoy this unique hike in beautiful Catalina State Park. |
| Mar 6 | Picacho Peak | Meet at 7:30 am at the Walmart located at Speedway and Kolb – northeast corner of the parking lot. We plan to drive the scenic back way into Picacho. | We will hike the nature trail on the front range—about 3 miles, with some elevation gain. We hope to be enjoying wildflowers—poppies, lupines, brittlebush, and many others. We will also explore some of the back trail with its wildflower treasures for as long as the leader desires. |
| Mar 13 | Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park | Meet at 8:00 am at Sunrise and Swan on the northeast corner—near Ace Hardware and Bazils Restaurant. Bring your State Park pass or the $7.00 entrance fee. | This 4.5-mile hike with some elevation gain is the prime trail for poppies and other wildflowers. We will take the cutoff through a canyon area that is spectacular in good years. |
| Mar 20 | Phoneline Trail | We will take the shuttle up to stop 9. Meet at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center at 8:45 am to catch the 9:00 am shuttle. We will hike down the Phoneline. Bring the $12.00 tram fee or pay the driver $7.00 for a one-way ticket. | Enjoy spring in spectacular Sabino Canyon with this 5-mile hike. Wildflowers abound on this trail. |
| Mar 27 | Sendero Esperanza Trail in Saguaro West | Meet at 8:00 am at Sunrise and Swan on the northeast corner —near Ace Hardware and Bazils Restaurant. | This 5-mile hike with a gentle elevation gain will feature some of the best wildflowers in this area. |
| Apr 3 | Box Camp Trail | Meet at 8:00 am at the McDonald’s parking lot located at Tanque Verde and Catalina Highway. | Enjoy the cool Catalina Mountains in early spring. This lovely hike goes through lush riparian habitat. Length of hike is at the discretion of the leader. Moderate elevation gain. |
| Apr 10 | Madera Canyon – Roger’s Rock | Meet at 7:30 am at the Walmart on Kolb and Speedway in the northeast corner of the parking lot. This is a potluck, so bring a dish to share afterwards at the covered ramada at Whitehouse. | Hike the Super trail to a cutoff leading to Roger’s Rock. Hike is about 5 miles round trip. See the wildflowers in this lovely area. Views are spectacular. |
| Apr 17 | Marshall Gulch and Aspen Loop Trail | Meet at 8:00 am at the McDonald’s parking lot located at Tanque Verde and Catalina Highway. | Travel up the mountain to Marshall Gulch and hike the Aspen Loop Trail to enjoy the lush mountain scenery. Length of hike is about 6 miles. Moderate elevation gain. |
| Apr 24 | Green Mountain Trail | Meet at 8:00 am at the McDonald’s parking lot located at Tanque Verde and Catalina Highway. | Enjoy cool Mount Lemmon. Length of hike is determined by the leader. |