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.

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 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.

Molino Basin to Agua Caliente Hill – 10/31/2015

Grass, grass and more grass – the Bellota Trail is covered in grass – hiding the trail and occasionally making the footing…interesting… Water is flowing at West Spring Tank and we almost get our feet wet at the junction with the La Milagrosa Trail.

Desert Tortoise using FR4445 above Agua Caliente Canyon. October 2015.
Desert Tortoise using FR4445 above Agua Caliente Canyon. October 2015.

Not long after turning onto FR4445 and beginning the descent into Agua Caliente Canyon we find a desert tortoise – perhaps enjoying a break from the tall grass?

Plentiful flowing water in Agua Caliente Canyon! A nice reason to pause before the long climb up to the Agua Caliente Hill Trail, past False Hope Hill and to the summit!

Water flowing in Agua Caliente Canyon at the FR4445 crossing. October 2015.
Water flowing in Agua Caliente Canyon at the FR4445 crossing. October 2015.
Agua Caliente Trail below False Hope Hill - heading for the summit! October 2015.
Agua Caliente Trail below False Hope Hill – heading for the summit! October 2015.
Butterflies and flowers at the end of October on the Agua Caliente Hill Trail. October 2015.
Butterflies and flowers at the end of October on the Agua Caliente Hill Trail. October 2015.

Molino Basin Parking Area, Bellota Trail, La Milagrosa Trail, FR4445, Agua Caliente Hill Trail, Agua Caliente Hill South Trailhead – 13.8 miles, +3200’/-4500′ of elevation gain/loss.

 

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.