Summer temps are making top of the mountain loops very appealing lately – one of my favorite variations: Aspen Draw (best trail on the top of the mountain for getting a taste of how the area looked before the Aspen Fire), a short trip thru Summerhaven, onto the Mint Spring Trail (admire the small stands of Aspen, take in views cleared by the Aspen Fire and enjoy a stop at the spring – the Mint Spring Trail has been in rough condition in previous years but is looking quite good right now!) and up the Aspen Trail (wander up thru the pines and admire the great views from the final climb to the top – on this trip I took note of the view over Summerhaven, along Alder Canyon and Black Hills Mine Road to the San Pedro River with the Galiuro Mountains and Mount Graham in the background!).
Aficionados of upper mountain loops will probably be well aware of the situation that using the Aspen Draw Trail as your ‘down’ trail presents -> connecting to the Mint Spring Trail or any of the trails that leave from the Marshall Gulch Trailhead will force you to pass the Sawmill Run Restaurant, Stompin Grounds Coffee and Kettle Korn, The Mt. Lemmon General Store & Gift shop and the Mt Lemmon Cookie Cabin… Perilous temptation if you goal is a hardcore fitness outing – wondrous distraction on a leisurely day!
