Agua Caliente Canyon Trail – 2/10/2019

General Hitchcock Highway, Weathertop and The Ruins from the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail. February 2019.
General Hitchcock Highway, Weathertop and The Ruins from the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail. February 2019.

Agua Caliente Canyon Trail – headed out to do the full La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon Trail Loop, but didn’t make it… Too many flowers and too much water!

Tuber Anemone. February 2019.
Tuber Anemone. February 2019.
Blue Dick's off the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail. February 2019.
Blue Dick’s off the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail. February 2019.
A gall on a Cat's Claw Acacia. February 2019.
A gall on a Cat’s Claw Acacia. February 2019.
Flowing water in Agua Caliente Canyon. February 2019.
Flowing water in Agua Caliente Canyon. February 2019.
Sunset on the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail - below the junction of La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyons. February 2019.
Sunset on the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail – below the junction of La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyons. February 2019.

La Milagrosa, Agua Caliente Canyon Loop – 1/27/2019

Goldeneyes on the La Milagrosa Trail. January 2019.
Goldeneyes on the La Milagrosa Trail. January 2019.

Water, mild temperatures, flowers emerging… It is a beautiful time of year to hike the La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon Trail Loop!

Sun on the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail. January 2019.
Sun on the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail. January 2019.
Snail shell near Agua Caliente Canyon. January 2019.
Snail shell near Agua Caliente Canyon. January 2019.
Sunset from the edge of Agua Caliente Canyon. January 2019.
Sunset from the edge of Agua Caliente Canyon. January 2019.
Saguaros in the sun. January 2019.
Saguaros in the sun. January 2019.

Agua Caliente Canyon, La Milagrosa Loop, Colors – 11/21/2015

Gnat Tank - covered in color. November 2015.
Gnat Tank – covered in color. November 2015.
Flowers covering the ground alongside the Agua Calinte Canyon Trail near Gnat Tank. November 2015.
Flowers covering the ground alongside the Agua Calinte Canyon Trail near Gnat Tank. November 2015.

The colors were the highlight on this Agua Caliente Canyon and La Milagrosa Trail loop – the yellowish green covering Gnat Tank with patches of purple and yellow flowers nearby, subtle hints of fall color in the bottom of Agua Caliente Canyon and fallen fall color in the cool clear water. 

A hint of fall color in the bottom of Agua Caliente Canyon - from the Agua Caliente Hill Trail. November 2015.
A hint of fall color in the bottom of Agua Caliente Canyon – from the Agua Caliente Hill Trail. November 2015.
A fallen fall leaf floating in clear water in Agua Caliente Canyon. November 2015.
A fallen fall leaf floating in clear water in Agua Caliente Canyon. November 2015.

Flowers, Sunset, Night – 3/14/2015

1503 Vervain in Agua Caliente Canyon
Vervain in Agua Caliente Canyon. March 2015.

The plan was take pictures of the flowers, I knew Mariposa Lilies were scattered along the ridge… But the wind, blowing relentlessly, didn’t cooperate with our plan… We could have turned around but it was just too beautiful.

1503 Gazing into Gnat Tank
Gazing into Gnat Tank. March 2015.

With the wind keeping us from endlessly taking flower pictures we reached Gnat Tank more quickly than expected – beautiful reflections, and plenty of time to do the full La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon Trail Loop.

1503 Last light on the climb out of Agua Caliente Canyon
Last light on the climb out of Agua Caliente Canyon. March 2015.

The sun set while we were in Agua Caliente Canyon and on the climb up the colors in the sky were extrodinary – lights came on in the city while we descended the La Milagrosa Trail.

1503 Conjuring Light from the Pools in La Milagrosa Canyon
Conjuring Light from the Pools in La Milagrosa Canyon. March 2015.

Our headlamps were on before we reached the La Milagrosa Canyon crossing – we stopped and watched beetles in the pools and a spider hunting over the water before hiking back into the night.

6.3 miles, +/- 1450′ elevation gain/loss.

Sunset, City Lights, Stars – 3/13/2015

1503 Sunset from the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail
Sunset from the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail. March 2015.
1503 Last light just before descending into Agua Caliente Canyon
City lights – starting the descent into Agua Caliente Canyon. March 2015.
1503 Enjoying the Night in La Milagrosa Canyon
Stars – night in La Milagrosa Canyon. March 2015.

 

Sunset, City Lights, Stars – La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon Trail Loop.