2016

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted January 10, 2016 - Charles Miles

Cody Trail - in the snow! January 2016. — Cody Trail – in the snow! January 2016.

Oracle Ridge Trail at the junction with the Cody Trail. January 2016.

Snow near Point 5466 off the Oracle Ridge Trail. January 2016.

Sunset from just off the Oracle Ridge Trail. January 2015.

The elevation in Tucson is around 2,600′ – too low for snow to collect on the ground during the recent storms – but at 4,400′ the American Flag Trailhead outside of Oracle is high enough that there is snow at the trailhead!

At the beginning the Cody Trail alternated between well trodden snow and mud, as I climbed higher the snow became slowly deeper and once I passed the Hijinks Mine there was no trace of anyone coming this way since the storm.

Eventually I reached the junction with the Oracle Ridge Trail – covered in tire tracks – and wandered up to and around point 5466 off the Oracle Ridge Trail before finding a spot to photograph the sunset. Eventually I turned on my headlamp and headed back down the Cody Trail…

The incredible snow in the Santa Catalina Mountains has allowed Ski Valley to open for skiing and snowboarding for the first time this year! But restrictions on travel on the Mount Lemmon Highway have changed a number of times in the past few days – consider calling (520) 547-7510 for ‘nearly current’ road conditions before trying to head up the mountain – Tucson News Now reports that this afternoon there is a long line of cars waiting to go up the mountain and because of over-crowding they are only letting a car go up when one comes down….

Mount Lemmon access restricted due to overcrowding – Tucson News Now
Catalina Hwy closed, 2 feet of snow expected this week – Arizona Daily Star
Snow falls on Mt. Lemmon, more to come – Tucson Sentinel
Mount Lemmon digging out from snowstorms – Tucson Sentinel
PCDOT crews preparing Mt. Lemmon roads for visitors, residents – KVOA.com
Ski Valley could open this weekend – Tucson News Now
Drier weekend in Tucson; Mt. Lemmon road still closed – Arizona Daily Star

Oracle Ridge, Catalina Camp, Red Ridge – 10/15/2015

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted November 1, 2015 - Charles Miles

The Oracle Ridge, Catalina Camp and Red Ridge Trail loop – big views, beautiful ridges, mines, roads, cattle, fire and aspens – this loop is not pure wilderness, but it is amazing, and perhaps all the better for the hints of the mountains past and future.

Moon on the old outhouse at One Park Place - an old mining camp that is strange, fascinating and slightly creepy all at the same time. October 2015. — Moon on the old outhouse at One Park Place – an old mining camp that is strange, fascinating and slightly creepy all at the same time. October 2015.

Colorful Madrone berries along the Red Ridge Trail. October 2015.

Rock along the Red Ridge Trail. October 2015.

Late fall color high on the Red Ridge Trail. October 2015.

9.1 miles, 2500′ elevation gain/loss.

Down the Oracle Ridge and Cody Trails – 4/13/2015

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted April 25, 2015 - Charles Miles

After a leisurely start I setup at the Oracle Ridge Trailhead to wait for a friend who is coming up the mountain from the American Flag Trailhead – intermittent clouds and a nice breeze keep things cool on my first miles of the day, walking the top of the trail, waiting…

Soon enough RA appears and after a few minutes of talking, organizing gear and confirming plans I start down the Oracle Ridge Trail.

1504 Oracle Ridge — Oracle Ridge stretching out into the distance – not far from the start of the Oracle Ridge Trail. April 2015.

The trail leaves Dan Saddle and climbs (and climbs!) past good views and thru tunnels made of trees, some alive and full of leaves, some just silvery skeletons.

After the trail re-joins the top of the ridge I am stopped several times by views off both sides – the CDO on one the left and the San Pedro Valley to my right.

1504 Looking Down from the Oracle Ridge Trail — From Oracle Ridge – after the climb out of Dan Saddle where the trail rejoins the top of the ridge – the CDO and Samaniego Ridge below with the Biosphere in the distance. April 2015.

1504 Looking down on the San Pedro — The San Pedro Valley from Oracle Ridge – south of Rice Peak. April 2015.

I chat with a friendly backpacker and share some water to ease his concerns about the dry dusty miles ahead – he is the 2nd and last person I will see today – after Rice Peak the descent towards Oracle begins in earnest. Signs guide me sometimes onto single track and often back to the dirt road – not a purist’s dream perhaps, but out here – alone – it really doesn’t matter.

1504 Late in the day on the Cody Trail — Casting a long shadow on the Cody Trail. April 2015.

The shadows get longer on the Cody Trail – power lines, buildings, roads and houses all come and go but my mind stays on the lovely winding trail – I stretch out and run for a while but I am too tired to run even the slight incline of the final hill and manage only a slow walk to end the day. 15.75 miles, +1,650/-4,800 feet of elevation gain/loss.

Oracle Ridge, Catalina Camp, Red Ridge Loop – 9/12/2014

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted September 19, 2014 - Charles Miles

1409 Running Down the Oracle Ridge Trail — Running down the Oracle Ridge Trail – massive views, green and flowers! Photo by Korey Konga. September 2014.

When discussing where to go hiking with a visitor to Tucson you can count on the Marshall Gulch Trail and the Aspen Trail getting mentioned in some loop/combination/variation – and certainly there can be NO argument about these being sublime and incredible trails.

But as lovely as those trails are the loop that – for me – has come to best represents the spirit of the Santa Catalina Mountains is the Oracle Ridge – Catalina Camp – Red Ridge loop. This loop has astounding views, steep descents, cows, mines, water, washed out two-track, a bit of pavement, the Arizona Trail, flowers, steep climbing, more steep climbing, bones, big trees, burned areas, One Park Place and even an occasional cactus…

1409 Oracle Ridge Trail two track covered in Flowers — Taking a picture break on Oracle Ridge – flowers covering the old road. September 2014.

The harshness, history and beauty of this loop may be without parallel in the range – 9 miles, 2550′ of elevation gain/loss – with the great company of Korey Konga!

1409 An old mine near the Catalina Camp Trail — Korey checking out a mine not too far from the Catalina Camp Trail. September 2014.

Oracle Ridge, Red Ridge Loop – 2014/7/28

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted August 1, 2014 - Charles Miles

Oracle Ridge is beautiful today, flowers, green, big views and sections of great ridges.

1407 Oracle Ridge — Near the beginning of the Oracle Ridge Trail. July 2014.

As the Catalina Camp Trail descends the temperature starts to soar, but soon enough One Park Place appears and the trees along the East Fork of the Cañada del Oro provide some relief from the sun – water in the East Fork of the CDO is a surprise and we sit, relax and enjoy.

1407 Water in the East Fork of the CDO — Flowing water in the East Fork of the Cañada del Oro. July 2014.

The loop in this direction ends with the steep climb up the stunning Red Ridge Trail.

1407 Looking down Red Ridge and over to Oracle Ridge — Looking down from the Red Ridge Trail – Red Ridge on the left and Oracle Ridge on the right. July 2014.

The Oracle Ridge – Catalina Camp – Red Ridge loop is approximately 8.6 miles with 2500′ of cumulative elevation gain/loss.