Soldier Trail

From the lowest official trailhead on the mountain Soldier Trail #53 starts with a steep ascent thru Saguaros and Prickly Pear as it climbs up to better and better views into and across Soldier Canyon. After the steep ascent the trail flattens out, crosses Soldier Canyon and winds thru the Mesquites before making the final climb up to the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site on grassy hillsides.

[CueListWarning]

• 0.0 miles, 3250′: A sign marks the start of the trail at the Soldier Trail Trailhead. [Waypoint thso]
• 0.6 miles, 3890′: Cross a wash on a rocky slab. [Waypoint SO01]
• 1.5 miles, 4360′: Enter Soldier Canyon – as the trail crosses and follows the canyon you may have to look carefully to find it. [Waypoint SO02]
• 1.6 miles, 4390′: Leave Soldier Canyon – head east onto the grassy hillsides. [Waypoint SO03]
• 2.3 miles, 4870′: A well-worn side trail splits off to the left to a great highpoint/vista. [Waypoint SO04]
• 2.4 miles, 4810′: Continue to the right at a sign for the Soldier Trail – the trail to the left is an unofficial trail into the bottom of Soldier Canyon frequently used by climbers. [Waypoint SO05]
• 2.5 miles, 4810′: The Soldier Trail ends at a junction with the Molino Basin Trail at a sign under a large tree – right on the Molino Basin Trail takes you towards the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site, Shreve Saddle and the Sycamore Reservoir Trail are to the left. [Waypoint so-mb]
• To return to the Soldier Trail Trailhead hike back down Soldier Trail – longer hikes are possible by using the Molino Basin Trail.

This trail has a long history. In [LookToTheMountains/] Suzanne Hensel identifies the ‘Old Soldier Trail’ as a route believed to have been created by soldiers from Fort Lowell. In the early 1900s this trail became one of several paths that were used to travel from Tucson to areas high on the mountain. In [GuideYellowBook/] the authors give a few more historic details:

The lower portion was made into a dozer road by Trico Electric Cooperative … for the construction and maintenance of a powerline to the Federal Prison Camp near Milepost 8 … The camp was abandoned … The line and conductors were removed and the power poles were cut off above ground level and left where they lay.

• [MapGreenTrailsCatalina]
• [MapSahcCatalina]

• HikeArizona
• Coronado National Forest
• Soldier Trail Hiking Guide – Back 0′ Beyond
• Tucson Hikes – AZDean
• Tucson Trail Runners – Soldier/La Milagrosa Loop – an interesting loop if you are interested in a longer hike/run and don’t mind some miles on the highway.

2017 August Soldier Trail

2016 February Bug Spring and Soldier Trail

2014 March Soldier Trail

2013 August Soldier Trail

2007 March Soldier Canyon