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 Canyon Views, 3/6/3016

Looking down La Milagrosa Canyon from the hillside just above the falls and pools. March 2016.
Looking down La Milagrosa Canyon from the hillside just above the falls and pools. March 2016.

Views from a loop up the ridge between La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon and down the La Milagrosa Trail.

Weathertop - above the La Milagrosa Trail before the descent to the first canyon crossing. March 2016.
Weathertop – above the La Milagrosa Trail before the descent to the first canyon crossing. March 2016.
Looking across the La Milagrosa Trail to a ridge below Agua Caliente Hill - from above the La Milagrosa Trail. March 2016.
Looking across the La Milagrosa Trail to a ridge below Agua Caliente Hill – from above the La Milagrosa Trail. March 2016.

Agua Caliente to La Milagrosa Canyon Trail Loop – 2/7/2016

A strange desert monster. February 2016.
A strange desert monster. February 2016.

The La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon Trail Loop is not a pristine wilderness experience – the walk thru the neighborhood at the beginning and end, old fence line, tanks, views of the city – but don’t be be fooled, the saguaros, flowers, water, big canyon walls and fun trails are too good resist…

Falling water in La Milagrosa Canyon. February 2016.
Falling water in La Milagrosa Canyon. February 2016.
Saguaro and Sun from the La Milagrosa Trail. February 2016.
Saguaro and Sun from the La Milagrosa Trail. February 2016.

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.