Point 4981 Above Hairpin Turn

Point 4981 in the distance. June 2012.

Overview

This trail was a surprise to me! I had never read about it, heard about it, or seen it mentioned – I followed it because I thought it was going to take me to the top of Gibbon Mountain – so I was completely surprised and delighted that it took me to a completely new destination.

It is possible Point 4981 (or the trail) has a name that I am not aware of – or possible that this trail has another final destination… It would be interesting to know more about this trail/area, if you have information please email me!

Hike Stats

Out and Back
5.2 miles
1,500' Elevation Gain
1,500' Elevation Loss
Highest Elevation: 5,400'
Lowest Elevation: 4,800'

Location

This hike is located in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona. Much of this hike is in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness
Start/End: Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site (Lower Highway Hikes)

Details

Fee: No
Dogs: Yes
Bikes: No (Pusch Ridge Wilderness)
[OffTrailWarning/]

Drive

21.3 miles from Speedway and Campbell
45 Minutes from Speedway and Campbell
Vehicle Access: Most of the drive is Paved Roads/Passenger Car (Mountain Road - be careful of weather conditions!) - the drive to the end of the road parking area is on a dirt road that is generally in good condition and passenger car friendly.

Point 4981 Above Hairpin Turn Elevation Profile

Driving Directions

Suggested driving directions from the Speedway and Campbell intersection in Tucson to the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site:

Drive East on Speedway (5.0 miles)
Left on Wilmot and continue on Tanque Verde (4.3 miles)
Left on Catalina Highway (11.8 miles)
Signs mark the turn into the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site on the down-mountain side of the Highway.
If the gate is closed: park in the paved upper parking or one of the dirt pullouts and walk to the parking area at the end of the dirt road (this will add to the total mileage of your hike). If the gate is open: drive the 0.3 miles to the parking area at the end of the dirt road. Restrooms are located just before the parking circle at the end of the road (the restrooms may be closed seasonally) – no water is available.

Google Maps Directions from the Speedway and Campbell intersection in Tucson to Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site.

Looking down into the Hairpin Turn Area from Point 4981. June 2012.

Trail Notes

[CueListWarning]

0.0 miles, 4850′: Park at the lower parking area in the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site. [Waypoint THGHC]
Take the Molino Basin Trail west (towards Sycamore Reservoir)
0.5 miles, 4800′: Look for several old pipes on the left side of the trail, just after the pipes there is a small, but obvious, drainage coming in from the left – the trail to Point 4981 is just beyond the drainage (this picture shows the pipes and (just barely) the drainage coming in). The trail is well worn at this point. [Waypoint J MB P4981]
You are no longer on an official trail – while sections of the trail are reasonable possible to follow many sections are vague/non-existent – this is best considered an off-trail hike, certainly don’t attempt this unless you are comfortable navigating off-trail! There are decent stretches of good trail – if you are not seeing any sign of a trail it may be worth your time to backtrack/look for the trail – it is sometimes faster than traveling cross country.
1.3 miles, 5400′: After climbing the trail tops out on a ridge with views of Tucson – a lovely spot! This spot is the junction for one possible route to Gibbon Mountain. [Waypoint J Gib]
Continue along/near the ridge out to Point 4981. The last down and up to Point 4981 are steeper/looser than previous sections of the trail – use caution and take your time finding the best path.
2.6 miles, 4981′: Point 4981! Enjoy the views! [Waypoint P4981]

Trail to Point 4981. December 2013.

Tucson lights - enjoying warm May temps on Point 4981. May 2013.

Maps

[MapGreenTrailsCatalina]
It may be useful to have the more detailed USGS 7.5′ maps for this hike – the [Usgs75AguaCaliente/] covers all of this hike but the hike is on the western edge of the map so it is nice to also the adjoining [Usgs75SabinoCanyon].

Download GPX

Headlamp trail along the final descent before climbing up to Point 4981. May 2013.

Camera incantations on Point 4981. May 2013.

Pictures

2013 May Night Hike to Point 4981

1305 CM Heart AT
Headlamp in the Prison Camp parking lot (closer to the road - gates were closed to the campground area, we had not seen that before...).

1305 Balloon on the way to Point 4981
A balloon on the trail...

1305 Coral Snake
I took a quick look, thought King Snake and kept moving - but lucky for us Axhel was with us and quickly identified this as a Coral Snake! First one I have seen - beautiful snake and we were lucky to see it.

1305 Axhel hiking down the final hillside before Point 4981
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1305 Tucson Lights from Point 4981 above Hairpin Turn
Axhel, Ken, Mike and Alison taking in the Tucson lights.

1305 Looking West from Point 4981
City lights, Pontatoc Ridge on the Skyline.

1305 Camera Incantations
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2012 June Prison Camp to Point 4981 above Hairpin Turn

1206 Mystery Item
Not sure exactly what this was or what era it is from...

1206 Agua Caliente Hill
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1206 Gibbon Mountain
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1206 Soldier Canyon and Agua Caliente Hill
This is a nice view of one of the steep/rocky/technical parts of Soldier Canyon - for some shots of the section check out these pictures from 2006 - www.flickr.com/photos/cmiles/sets/72157600259500563/with/... - and these from 2007 - www.flickr.com/photos/cmiles/sets/72157600259500563/with/... (many of the 2007 pictures are a bit further downcanyon).

1206 Looking down to the Hairpin Turn Area
Soldier Canyon is largely hidden from Hairpin turn (it turns to the NE fairly quickly) and your eye is drawn to the steep un-named canyon to the north - Point 4981 is basically right at the top of that un-named canyon - from Point 4981 you have an interesting view back down to Hairpin turn.

1206 View from Point 4981
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1206 View down into the canyon below Gibbon Mountain
This is not a stunning landscape shot - but this is a glimpse down into a canyon that I hiked down in 2009 the is located below Gibbon Mountain and bear Bear and Soldier Canyons - www.flickr.com/photos/cmiles/sets/72157617053318500/ - I would still list that 2009 hike as a favorite!

1206 Point 4981 in the distance
Point 4981 is the rocky hill near the center of the picture - the trail on or near the ridge. I enjoyed the views in this area - slightly different angles than I have seen before.