Beautiful Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains

View of Mt. Wrightson from Madera Canyon

We traveled only about 60 miles south of Tucson this week to Madera Canyon.  Madera Canyon is located in the Santa Rita Mountains in the Coronado National Forest.  Our group of eight hikers agreed that this is one of the most enjoyable hikes in our repertoire.  The hike is pretty moderate.  It is about 5 miles round trip with an elevation gain of about 800 feet. 

Beautiful day in the canyon

Madera Canyon is one of the places where you can enjoy multiple activities.  There is something for everyone.  You can enjoy hiking, camping, picnicking, bird watching or simply staying at one of the rustic lodges and enjoying nature.  Madera Canyon is crisscrossed by many trails.  One guidebook states that there are over 200 trails.  JoAnn and I were standing and talking at one of our short breaks, and just looking across the expanse in front of us, we were able to make out quite a few trails.  Many of these trails are unmarked – another good reason for having a guide and seasoned hikers along. 

Lead us JoAnn!

Well, our hike was marvelous!  We started at the Whitehouse Picnic area and followed the trail to the nature trail.  This trail is absolutely wonderful because it has markers naming many of the trees and plants.  Since our resident “botanist” George did not join us, the signs were very helpful.  One of the most noticeable things once you start the hike is the difference in vegetation.  There were so many different types of pine trees, we lost count.  Arizona sycamores, Apache pines, Cypress, Ponderosa pines, and Alligator cypress.  Even though the saguaro cactus is usually present on most of our hikes, I don’t think I spotted even one on this trail.  

 The Pines....

Anyway, one of the other draws for Madera Canyon is the birds.  The brochure published by the Friends of the Madera Canyon states over 250 birds frequent the canyon and the large group of birdwatchers in attendance seemed to be enjoying a good day.  JoAnn and I shared a private joke when we came across one large group that were all staring up in one tree with their binoculars and when we asked what they saw, they answered “an Arizona woodpecker”.  We both have those pesky little critters in abundance in our backyards.  

 

Our trail followed a creek for a little while and we enjoyed the peaceful sound of the water.  The trails are beautifully maintained and there are foot bridges over the stream in some spots.  We only had one person come up with a wet foot in the spot that we actually had to climb over on stones.

Connie

Judy & Barbara

We also always enjoy running into fellow hikers on the trail.  They all have interesting stories or come from interesting places. This hike was no exception.

Barbara, Mike and Jim chatting with passing hiker

The views along the trail were breathtaking and we made many stops to enjoy the view of Mt. Wrightson.  Mt. Wrightson is the highest point in the Tucson area at an elevation of 9,453 feet.  It was named for William Wrightson who was a miner and business man in the area, who was killed by Apaches during the Battle of Fort Buchanan.  In 1958 three boy scouts who were hiking with a group died in a storm on Mt. Wrightson.  There is a memorial that was dedicated and is maintained in their honor.  Just as an aside – my husband and I spent Mother’s Day with a group of friends last year at the Crown C Ranch which is on the grounds of old Fort Buchanan.  

Mt. Wrightson

After lunch at the Mt. Wrightson Picnic Area we started our trek back to the trailhead.  We used the Madera Canyon Road on the return because on that route we were able to get a chance to stop along the way and take in the Santa Rita Lodge, the Madera Kubo B&B, and the Chuparosa Inn.  There was also a gift shop along the road. 

Poor Gina

How old do you think?

Another beautiful hike completed, we headed back to civilization with our heads high, and hearts light.  I love hiking!

Beautiful Views

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The stream

Santa Rita Mountains

Pretty wildflowers

View of the valley shrouded in haze below

Interesting rock formations

That's quartzite hiding under those trees

Now that's a happy hiker

See you on the trails......

Madera Canyon

This week our hike took us to beautiful Madera Canyon. Madera Canyon is located in the Coronado National Forest on the northwest side of the magnificent Santa Rita Mountains under the towering Mount Wrightson (elevation 9453 feet) the third tallest peak in Arizona and the tallest in the Santa Rita Range. We hiked the Madera Creek Trail which was only about six miles round trip, but filled with plenty of hiking challenges.  Our adventure began at the Whitehouse Picnic area and we followed along the creek on the Nature Trail.  I have probably said this every week so far (in my four weeks as a hiker) but I have to say it again.  This had to be one of the most stunning settings in the world for a hike to date. 

The trail head is at an elevation of about 4500 feet and we gained about 600 ft. elevation on the nature trail.  There were spots in the trail where you hardly caught your breath from one pretty steep little junction before another was upon you.  Experienced climbers probably call this hike easy, but you notice my blog is titled the “novice hiker”…thus my whining at some of the challenging spots.  I will admit I got pretty winded a couple of times before we stopped for our lunch break, but I am quick to add that I’m getting a little better every week.  At least I’m not reaching for Aleve or Advil as soon as I come in the door like I did after my first hike. 

   
The trail was clearly marked and actually had identifiers on trees and other native plants which made the hike so much more educational for those of us new to the Tucson area and still learning the plant life (other than cacti).  We have a fellow hiker that is very well informed on all the flora and fauna and helps fill us in on all the plants we have questions about, but he deserted us this time for some golfing event that was going on in town....the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship or some such nonsense. 

Maybe the draw of big names like Tiger Woods, Bobby Jones, Luke Donald, Rory Mcllroy, Bubba Watson and others was enough to spirit away our resident botanist George, and a few others, but we had a relatively large group of 13 on the trail not giving a thought to the hundreds of people on the links. We were in our element.  

After our lunch break at the halfway mark on the trail we followed the road down to the Santa Rita Lodge where they have a large enclosure where they feed the birds.  There were several large wild turkeys while we were there today and we were able to identify quite a few other birds feeding in the area – Mexican Jays, Red-breasted Nuthatches, sparrows, finches, and many more. 

We continued down the road on our way back down to the parking area and stopped in at several bed & breakfast establishments for information.  There were bed & breakfast, lodges, cabins, casitas…WHO KNEW!!??  Anyway, I picked up information brochures on accommodations at several of these hidden jewels for future possibilities…

  

Another perfect hike under our fanny packs!

 Many thanks to the Friends of Madera Canyon for the brochures on hiking in Madera Canyon and Birds of Madera Canyon.