HikeLemmon

On the Landscape of the Santa Catalina Mountains

Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Area to the base of Thimble Peak - 11/23/2014

Created by Charles Miles on 11/26/2014.

If it wasn't for Finger Rock Thimble Peak would probably be the most recognizable peak in the Santa Catalina Mountains. While there is no official trail to Thimble Peak it is a well traveled destination.

We started at the end of the road in the [link slug="gordon-hirabayashi-recreation-site"/] - [link slug="molino-basin-trail"/] to Shreve Saddle - [link slug="sycamore-reservoir-trail"/] on fallen leaves - along Sycamore Canyon thru small patches of color.

2014 November Sycamore Reservoir Area
2014 November Sycamore Reservoir Area. Charles Miles. 11/23/2014.
2014 November Fall Colors near Sycamore Canyon
2014 November Fall Colors near Sycamore Canyon. Charles Miles. 11/23/2014.

The Bear Canyon Shortcut Trail takes us up to the Bear Canyon Trail and we follow it to the fantastic lookout where the unofficial trail to the Thimble breaks off into a sea of grass.

2014 November Not far from the Bear Canyon Trail on the way to the Thimble
2014 November Not far from the Bear Canyon Trail on the way to the Thimble: Not far from the Bear Canyon Trail on the way to the Thimble. Charles Miles. 11/23/2014.

The trail climbs, curves and climbs again - overgrown in places, but cairns and sections of trail keep appearing until we touch the base of the Thimble.

2014 November View from the base of Thimble Peak
2014 November View from the base of Thimble Peak. Charles Miles. 11/23/2014.

It's surprisingly chilly in the shade and we retreat along the ridge into the sun to take a break and enjoy the day before walking back over our footprints to the car... 11.1 Miles, 2580' of elevation gain/loss. Some good sources of information: Summit Hut Trail Talk - Thimble Peak - David Baker, Hike Arizona - Thimble Peak.

2014 November Thimble Sunset from above Sycamore Reservoir
2014 November Thimble Sunset from above Sycamore Reservoir. Charles Miles. 11/23/2014.

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