Bridal Wreath Falls in the Rincon Mountains

After a week off due to our unexpected snowfall last Wednesday, we were back on the trail this week.  Our adventure this week took us the Saguaro National Park in the Rincon Mountains east of Tucson.   

Our motley crew sans myself

We started out the hike to cool temps and partial sun – perfect day for hiking.I have to admit that I really felt like a “novice hiker” again on this particular hike.  These trails were very well traveled and well marked, but because in the 5+ miles we hiked I was pretty worn out by the time we reached the top.

We followed the Douglas Spring Trail, which depending upon which website you visit or which guidebook you read or which hiker you encounter, this is either an easy, moderate or strenuous hike.  I will agree with our leader, JoAnn, who labels this hike as moderate.  This trail is located in the Saguaro National Park and is very well marked and travelled.  It’s open to hiking, biking and horseback riding.  We didn’t see any horses on this hike, but plenty of evidence (if you know what I mean) that they had traveled the trail in front of us.  Ewwwww! 

There is a large lodge – The Tanque Verde Ranch - which I’ve talked about in earlier blogs, that is located right in the foothills of the mountain.  This ranch offers a wide range of activities to families that stay there, one of which is horseback riding and hiking tours on this trail.  We came upon a group of about 25 hikers who stepped aside to let our group of 8 pass them.  They even gave us what I called a hiker’s salute – with raised hiking poles – for us to pass through.  Very cool!  

Hikers saluting George

The views of all the surrounding mountain ranges and valleys were absolutely breathtaking.  I have to apologize for not including more photos, but as I mentioned earlier, I was feeling quite the novice hiker on this hike.  I didn’t want to hold up the group by lagging behind to take pictures, but after tripping once or twice over stones on the trail I found it unsafe to try to snap and climb….

Beautiful Mountain and valley views

I am definitely coming back to this particular trail in the coming weeks, because I am told that when the brittlebush and other wildflowers are in bloom it is beautiful.  Even now the hike is very interesting with the miles and miles of saguaro, ocotillos, jumping cholla, beavertails, pincushions, and Teddy Bear Cholla. We also saw millions of prickly pear cacti. 

The history lesson for this week…I learned that when Hernán Cortés the Spanish conquistador and explorer, who was responsible for the conquest of the Aztec Empire in Central Mexico in 1519, entered Mexico, he met Aztec men and women in dazzling red garments.  The dye was actually created from the cochineal insect which lives on the prickly pear.  Cortés arranged to have prickly pear to be taken back to Spain and cultivated there for the dye, which became known in Spain as the color of kings.

We trudged ahead, getting closer and closer to the falls and most of us feeling a pretty good burn in our muscles from the climbing.  We passed a sign on one of the forks in the trail which noted we were in a mountain lion habitat.  It went on to state that lions had been sighted recently in the area. The sign gave us instructions on how to behave if we came across a lion.  We were to look them in the eye, not run, wave our arms in a confrontational manner, and make loud noises.  I decided that I would let everyone else follow the signs if we ran into any large cats, and I would make a b-line to the parking lot.  Well, after that point on, we all kept a pretty sharp eye out on all the trees and higher ledges.  They guys got a kick out of calling “here kitty, kitty, kitty” for a while.   

I will have to add here that we almost lost sight of Jim, Gordy and Gina every time we stopped for a drink.  They were running ahead on the trail to keep ahead of the large group that we had passed.  We wanted to have the pick of the area when we got to the falls and stopped for our lunch.   I know at least two of us – Ernie and myself – were ready for lunch.   

 When we arrived at the falls, we were welcomed with the sound of the waterfall and the sound of water trickling through the streams below it.  It was such a wonderful refreshing sound. 

Headed back down the trail after lunch seemed a lot easier.  Amazingly, it seemed like it took longer than going up……

Another wonderful hike under our backpacks.

See you on the trails!

Tanque Verde Falls and Aqua Caliente Park

We were a small group this week.  There were only 6 of us: JoAnn, Ernie, LaNeta, Gordy, Bonnie, and myself.  The weather was perfect for hiking – sunny, cool starting out, but with temps expected to climb to about 70 – we couldn't ask for better.  We had a bonus hiking day this week.  We were actually able to visit two beautiful areas and accomplish two short hikes totally about 5.5 miles.

Ernie laughing at Clothing Optional handwritten note

We first traveled to Redington Pass to visit Tanque Verde Falls.  Redington Pass is located between the Catalina Mountains and the Rincon Mountains.  This was my first trip to the area but I had heard quite a bit about it from other hikers.  It is known for camping, target shooting, biking, hiking, swimming (when water levels allow) and nude sun bathing.  Yes, nudists frequent the area.  I think the cool temps saved us on our hike.  We only saw a few hikers – fully clothed.  

Starting out on the first of 2 trailheads 

We hiked two short trails in the upper Tanque Verde Falls.  The first o ne we chose was pretty easy to climb, but we reached a spot that had a pretty steep drop.  It was determined that without ropes we probably wouldn't be able to climb back out, so we turned around and backtracked to the 
trailhead.  

Ernie kind of scouted ahead and found a second trail not too far down the dirt road so we decided to try that one.  It was a lot more manageable as far as trails go...no steep drop offs, and no terribly difficult stretches of high climbs.  Very moderate hiking. There were some challenging areas which is exactly what we want on a hike – a little something to get the heart rate going, and we made very good time getting to the falls.  

I have to admit I was impressed with the views and the hike in general, but I'm sure I was unable to hide my disappointment at the fact that there was hardly any water visible at the falls.  I had heard so many wonderful things about the waterfalls and scenic views, and we figured since we had had an abundance of rain just two weeks before, the falls would be in full glory.  Not so.  To our dismay there wasn't any water spilling over the top of the falls.  We hiked down to the nude beach area (where thankfully there weren't any nudists present ) and decided to have our lunch here. 

Exploring

JoAnn and LaNeta 

Gordy

 Even though the falls didn't cooperate, the streams below were beautiful!  The water was running clear and cold.  We of course saw the ever-present tracks of many small animals – raccoon, bobcats, maybe a few coyote, that had walked along the edge of the streams for a drink.  It was so peaceful and beautiful while we enjoyed our lunches, I for one found it difficult to think of leaving.  I could have sat in that little canyon and read an entire book without moving.  Breathtaking!  

We started back to the trailhead after lunch and this is when Ernie had the idea of a second hike piggybacked onto this one.  We usually try to hike a minimum of 5 miles each week, and were quite sure this was only about 4.  Since we were going to go back right past Roy P. Drachman Aqua Caliente Park, we decided to stop there and get in a little more mileage.  This park had been on Bonnie’s bucket list so she was extremely happy.

It took us about 15 minutes from Tanque Verde Falls to Aqua Caliente Park.  It had warmed up and was beautiful at park.  There were families having lunches under the large trees.  Children chased ducks around the pond and it definitely lived up to its reputation of an oasis in the desert.   We decided we would walk around the large pond in front, but as strange as it seems…almost the same thing that happened at Tanque Verde Falls happened again!  

We got just so far on the trail and could go no further.  This time they had chained off the area going around the pond in one direction.  Oh well, backtracking is what we do best.  We headed back to the picnic area and saw that the building housing the gift shop and information was open so we went in.  We were pleasantly surprised to find a woman who gave us a short history the park and then invited us to view the art exhibit in the main room of the house. 

This roadrunner was determined not to have his picture taken. 

Add caption

We played peek-a-boo around and around back and forth...but you can see who won the battle.  Ha!  

The park has a fascinating history.  Beginning with the Hohokam people thousands of years ago; then its use as an army encampment in the mid 1800’s; then it’s being claimed to be used as a ranch and orchard; then it being operated as a resort because of the hot springs.  It changed hands several times (Bonnie actually knew one of the last families – the Filiatraults to own the property and rode horses with a member of the family).  Finally, in 1984 Roy Drachman, Tucson native who did much to help develop Tucson through his real estate ventures, donated over $200,000 dollars toward the purchase of Aqua Caliente.  It was then that Pima County acquired the property an opened Aqua Caliente Park in 1985.  It has gone through a lot of renovations over the years and the landscape and ponds are beautiful, even now when the trees along the paths are mostly bear.  Truly an oasis in the middle of the desert, with towering palm trees heralding its location.  The mountain views were breathtaking on all sides.

As we were completing our trek around the grounds and were about to head back to the parking lot we were surprised by a group of red-eared sliders sunning themselves in the pond.  There were so many we couldn't get an accurate count, but it had to be at least 15.  Fun.  

See you on the trails!