samaniego ridge

Alamo Canyon, Catalina State Park – 4/17/2016

Posted - Charles Miles
A Gila Monster outwitting my efforts to get a picture - just above Alamo Canyon. April 2016.
A Gila Monster outwitting my best efforts to get a picture – just above Alamo Canyon. April 2016.
Golder Dome - front - and Samaniego Ridge and Peak - back - from Alamo Canyon in Santa Catalina State Park. April 2016.
Golder Dome – front – and Samaniego Ridge and Peak – back – from Alamo Canyon in Santa Catalina State Park. April 2016.
Bighorn Mountain. April 2016.
Bighorn Mountain. April 2016.
Table Mountain in the sunset from Alamo Canyon - Catalina State Park. April 2016.
Table Mountain in the sunset from Alamo Canyon – Catalina State Park. April 2016.

The main trails in Catalina State Park are beautiful – but there are many smaller trails and quieter places too, very worthy of time and exploration…

Sunset on Pusch Ridge – 11/15/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Pusch Ridge in sunset light – taken from Golden Gate Mountain in the Tucson Mountains.

Pusch Ridge – Pusch Peak, Bighorn Mountain, Table Mountain with Rosewood Point on the other side of Pima Canyon and Samaniego Peak and Mule Ears visible on the ridge in the background. November 2015.

Baby Jesus Loop – 2014/5/11

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1405 50 Year Trail Dusty Conditions
The view from the 50 Year Trail – the wind/dust almost obscuring the view of Pusch Ridge in the middle of the day! May 2014.

The windy/dusty – slightly cooler – day pulled us out to the west side of the Santa Catalina Mountains for the Baby Jesus Trail Loop.

Golder Ranch Road Parking Area – 50 Year trail (a counterclockwise loop today), the single track of ends too soon… Dirt roads and gunfire as the background… Trail Link – Sutherland Trail, I barely paused at the junction with the Baby Jesus Trail, the thin track thru the desert was marked but seemed too small, thankfully Alison corrected our path.

The Baby Jesus Trail seems to get surprisingly little use near the junction with the Sutherland Trail – cows – the Wooden Trough Spring Tank has clear flowing water, a great surprise!

1405 Wooden Trough Spring Tank
Wooden Trough Spring Tank – we were surprised to see the water, running and clear. May 2014.

The cows have taken over trail building in this area and at times following the trail is a bit of a guessing game, today we are glad that the last hiker on this trail seemed to know it rather well and left us beautiful foot prints to follow.

The lower stretches of the Baby Jesus Trail are especially beautiful as it follows a ridge and canyon past beautiful rock formations – easy to see why the lower portion of the trail receives more use.

1405 Moon with Samaniego Peak and Mount Lemmon
The moon rising between Samaniego Peak and Mount Lemmon. May 2014.

A short section of road – single track on the 50 Year Trail – the moon rising between Samaniego Peak and Mount Lemmon – Pusch Ridge – home…

1405 Pusch Ridge from the 50 Year Trail
Pusch Ridge. May 2014.