La Milagrosa Trail

Looking into Agua Caliente Canyon from just off the Milagrosa Trail. December 2014.
Looking into Agua Caliente Canyon from just off the Milagrosa Trail. December 2014.

Overview

Located on the south-east edge of the Santa Catalina Mountains the La Milagrosa Trail follows the ridge between two beautiful canyons to a junction with the Bellota Trail.

Hike Stats

  • Out and Back
  • 10.2 miles
  • 2,100' Elevation Gain
  • 2,100' Elevation Loss
  • Highest Elevation: 4,050'
  • Lowest Elevation: 2,800'

Location

Details

  • Fee: No
  • Dogs: Yes
  • Bikes: Yes

Drive

  • 14.6 miles from Speedway and Campbell
  • 35 Minutes from Speedway and Campbell
  • Vehicle Access: Paved Roads/Passenger Car

La Milagrosa Trail Elevation Profile

La Milagrosa Trail Elevation Profile

Driving Directions

Suggested driving directions from the Speedway and Campbell intersection in Tucson to the Avenida de Suzenu Trailhead:

  • East on Speedway (5.0 miles)
  • Left on Wilmot and continue on Tanque Verde (4.3 miles)
  • Left on Catalina Highway (3.7 miles)
  • Right on Snyder (1.3 miles)
  • Left on Avenida De Suzenu (0.3 miles)
  • The parking is the dirt shoulder on the side of Suzenu south of Horsehead Road.

Google Maps Directions from the Speedway and Campbell intersection in Tucson to Avenida de Suzenu Trailhead.

Sunburst Beetle in La Milagrosa Canyon. March 2015.
Sunburst Beetle in La Milagrosa Canyon. March 2015.
Left: Diving Beetles - Laccophilus pictus coccinelloides - in a pool in La Milagrosa Canyon. March 2015.
Right: Sunburst Beetle in La Milagrosa Canyon. March 2015.
Looking up La Milagrosa Trail - a few minutes from the junction with the Bellota Trail. February 2015.
Looking up La Milagrosa Trail - a few minutes from the junction with the Bellota Trail. February 2015.

Trail Notes

[CueListWarning]

  • 0.0 miles, 2780′: Start at the Avenida de Suzenu Trailhead [Waypoint thast]. Walk around the gate and east along Horsehead Road.
  • 0.6 miles, 2800′: Pass Wentworth Road and continue east around a gate [Waypoint hhr-lmg], across Molino Canyon and up a small hill.
  • 0.8 miles, 2810′: After the trail makes a short descent look for an unsigned junction and take a left (to the east) for the Milagrosa Trail [Waypoint lmg-acc-w]. (The Agua Caliente Canyon Trail continues to the right to the Agua Caliente Wash – see the La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon Trail Loop for more information.)
  • The trail climbs onto the north ridge of Milagrosa Canyon.
  • 1.2 miles, 3110′: The trail passes a gate and fence [Waypoint lmg01] – in early 2015 the gate had fallen over.
  • At about 1.3 miles – just before the trail turns north and descends to the bottom of La Milagrosa Canyon – an obvious side-trail takes you to an area that overlooks a deep section of canyon that often holds a large pool of water.
  • 1.5 miles, 3130′: Cross La Milagrosa Canyon at a lovely rocky spot – especially when there is water this is a great place for a break. [Waypoint lmg02]
  • After crossing La Milagrosa Canyon the trail climbs to the top of the ridge between Agua Caliente and La Milagrosa Canyons.
  • 2.4 miles, 3590′: At an unsigned junction the La Milagrosa Canyon Trail continues to the left along the ridge – to the right the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail descends steeply into Agua Caliente Canyon [Waypoint lmg-acc-e]. (See the  La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon Trail Loop for more information about the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail.)
  • 3.9 miles, 3990′: Cross a fence and continues along the ridgeline. [Waypoint lmg03]
  • 5.1 miles, 3980′: Unsigned junction of the La Milagrosa and Bellota Trail. [Waypoint bl-lmg]

Crossing La Milagrosa Canyon. February 2015.
Crossing La Milagrosa Canyon. February 2015.
Left: Gate at the end of Horsehead Road - from here the trail crosses Molino Canyon and goes up the small hill in the distance. December 2014.
Right: Crossing La Milagrosa Canyon. February 2015.

Approximately 1.6 miles from the Avenida de Suzenu Trailhead, not long after crossing La Milagrosa Canyon [Waypoint lmg-acc], several maps show a road (or trail) splitting off from the La Milagrosa Trail that goes to Whitetail Tank. While Whitetail Tank is not a difficult hike the trail/road is very obscure for most of it’s length and hiking to Whitetail Tank is best considered an off-trail adventure – read more in Whitetail Tank – 1/3/2015.

Butterfly near the La Milagrosa Trail. December 2014.
Butterfly near the La Milagrosa Trail. December 2014.

Maps

  • [MapGreenTrailsCatalina]
  • [MapSahcCatalina]

Sunset from the La Milagrosa Trail. December 2014.
Sunset from the La Milagrosa Trail. December 2014.
Enjoying the pools and the night on the La Milagrosa Trail at La Milagrosa Canyon crossing. March 2015.
Enjoying the pools and the night on the La Milagrosa Trail at La Milagrosa Canyon crossing. March 2015.

Pictures

2014 December La Milagrosa Trail

Update Notes

  • 2017/8/14 – HikeLemmon posts added to Resources
  • 2017/8/13 – Img Srcset update, added links for the loop with Agua Caliente Canyon, Bellota links
  • 2015/3/15 – Added pictures
  • 2015/2/11 – GPX updated with newer waypoint names
  • 2015/2/7 – Initial version