coronado national forest

FR4446 from Gnat Tank to the Private Land Boundary – 2/8/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1502 Old Road from Gnat Tank towards Roger Road
Following the ridge on FR4446 – on the ridge FR4446 is overgrown but easy to follow. February 2015.

I have been past Gnat Tank a number of times and hadn’t ever noticed any trails other than the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail in the area, but maps and aerial photography clearly show Forest Road 4446 breaking off from the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail at Gnat Tank…

This time, knowing the trail exists, I find it easily enough on the west side of the tank. Hardly a road at this point the faint trail works up the hill to a shallow saddle – recent horse tracks and cairns hidden in the grass help me find the way.

At the saddle I have to wander around and consult the GPS to get on the right track – after a few minutes the old road emerges from the grass, easy to follow as it rambles down the ridge.

Map of FR4446 from Gnat Tank to the private land boundary.
FR4446 in red from Gnat Tank to the Forest Land/Private Land boundary – there is no legal access to Roger Road from this point. The La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon Trail Loop is shown in black. FSTopo map.
1502 Looking towards Agua Caliente Hill
Looking towards the Agua Caliente Hill trail from FR 4446 – Cat Track Tank is above the prominent Saguaro in the foreground, False Hope Hill and Agua Caliente Hill in the background on the left. February 2015.

The views are great from the ridge – on one side La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyons, on the other side views of the Agua Caliente Hill Trail, False Hope Hill above and Tucson below.

1502 Old Boundary Line
FR4446 continues across the fence into private land – there is currently no legal access into this area from Roger Road. February 2015.

The trail descends towards the Roger Road – but at the moment there is no legal way to connect to Roger Road, private land blocks the way. The access issues in this area date back quite a few years – a quick search turns up this 1996 article – County takes first steps for access to trail, Tucson Citizen, Jennifer Katleman – and Roger Road access is listed in the project list of the 2012 Pima Regional Trail System Master Plan (p. 194). The Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department confirmed that while there is no current anticipated completion date they are looking for opportunities to complete this project. (This is a good opportunity to mention the Pima Trails Association, the current tag line on their website is “Protecting and preserving Pima County trails since 1987” – an important organization to support if you are concerned about trail access in Pima County!)

1502 Abandoned Wire
Barbed wire laying beside FR4446. February 2015.

Avenida de Suzenu Trailhead, Gnat Tank, Private Land Boundary – out and back – 8 miles, 2000′ of elevation gain and loss.

Gnat Tank – 2/7/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

From the Avenida de Suzenu Trailhead we walk along Horsehead Road and across Molino Canyon (flowing!), pass below the abandoned house, hop rocks crossing Agua Caliente Wash and continue on the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail up up up to Gnat Tank.

We find a nice spot below the tank and watch the sun move lower in the sky – too soon it is time to head back down into the city…

1502 Sun on FR4446
Taking a break below Gnat Tank. February 2015.
1502 Descending into Agua Caliente Wash
Tucson city lights from the Agua Caliente Canyon Trail. February 2015.
1502 Red Spotted Toad
Red Spotted Toad near Agua Caliente Wash. February 2015.

 

5.9 miles, 1200′ of elevation gain and loss.

Prison Camp to Avenida de Suzenu – Molino Basin, Bellota and La Milagrosa Trails – 2/4/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1502 Headed down into Tucson
On the ridge between the La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyons. February 2015.
1502 Crossing Milagrosa Canyon
Crossing La Milagrosa Canyon – we kept our feet dry here but they got wet in the crossing close to the road! February 2015.
1502 Gate Down on the Milagrosa Trail
The gate – recently fallen. February 2015.

10am at the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site and there was no need for a jacket – February and it feels like spring!

We descended to the Avenida de Suzenu Trailhead via the Molino Basin Trail, Bellota Trail and La Milagrosa Trail – sun, blue sky and water in all the canyons. 10.6 miles, +1100’/-3100′ of elevation gain/loss.

Knagge Trail to the Cabin, Snow – 1/31/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Lower on the highway everything was wet – Seven Cataracts is roaring and all the usual road-cut waterfalls flowing – but somewhere around Barnum Rock the rain turned to big wet snow flakes!

1501 Driving Snow
Snow! Driving up the General Hitchcock Highway. January 2015.

The snow seems like a surprise after the rain – but it has been snowing long enough to cover Incinerator Ridge Road and put snow on the Incinerator Ridge Trail – a frozen sign greets me at the start of the Knagge Trail.

1501 Junction of the Knagge and Kellogg Mountain Trails
The upper Knagge Trail sign covered in snow. January 2014.

Clouds cover the mountain and snow covers the trail – there aren’t any footsteps to follow today but finding the trail isn’t a problem. I start to wonder about snow collecting on the highway – but surely there is time to make it to the old cabin site…

1501 Old Fire New Snow
Snow along a fire-cleared section of the Knagge Trail. January 2015.
1501 Into the Storm
Disappearing into the storm. January 2015.

The snow has turned to rain by the time I finish the hike down to the cabin – out of time I head back up into the snow.

1501 Walking up the highway
Snow on the highway – walking back up to the parking pullout above Incinerator Ridge Road. January 2015.

2.5 Miles, +/- 1100′ of elevation gain and loss.

Bigelow Trailhead to the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site – 1/17/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

We started at the Bigelow Trailhead, walked past the gate that closes Organization Ridge Road to public motorized traffic in the winter and continued on to the Palisade Trailhead. The road was icy and there was just enough snow at the trailhead to give a pleasant hint of winter, but not enough to require anything other than a little caution.

1501 Snow at the Palisade Trailhead
Palisade Trailhead with snow – Organization Ridge Road is closed seasonally to motorized vehicles so we parked at the Bigelow Trailhead and walked the road. January 2015.

We could hear Palisade Canyon flowing below – it looked like quite a bit of water from the trail – walked snowy sections of Palisade Trail where the shade preserved the remains of the last storm, paused for birds and enjoyed the polished stone in Pine Canyon before reaching Mud Spring.

1501 Cairn and brown ferns near Mud Spring
A cairn marking the Mud Spring Tank is surrounded by dead ferns. January 2015.

The waterfall in Pine Canyon was roaring away – quite a sight – and we paused just before the trail begins to plunge downwards to enjoy the view – Thimble Peak to Brinkley Point!

1501 A View from the Palisade Trail
A impressive view of the mountains – from near the Palisade Trail looking into Tucson – landmarks include Thimble Peak (near the left), Cathedral Rock and Brinkley Point (on the right). January 2015.

Down to the junction with the East Fork Trail and then up – past the Bear Canyon Trail and onto the Bear Canyon Trail, across Sycamore Canyon, past Sycamore Reservoir where Sycamore Canyon and Bear Canyon were pouring an impressive amount of water over the dam, up to Shreve Saddle and then down the Molino Basin Trail to the car we had left at the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site earlier in the day.

1501 Water rushing over the Sycamore Reservoir Dam
Water from Sycamore Canyon and Bear Canyon rush over the Sycamore Reservoir Dam. January 2015.

Descending the Palisade Trail is a great way to see everything from pine forest to cactus and take in quite a few impressive views. Currently miles 4-6 of the Palisade Trail are distinctly more overgrown and less used than the upper sections of the trail – with some attention and effort you should be able to find the trail, but be prepared to use your map and navigate if needed.

12.8 miles, +1,400’/-4,350′ of elevation gain/loss.