Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Madera Canyon Loop - Mount Wrightson Wilderness, Coronado NF, AZ


Distance: 6.2 miles (10.0 km) roundtrip
Elevation: 5400 - 7080 feet (1646 - 2160 m)
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous
Season: Year Round (watch for snow in winter)


The Santa Rita mountains, located near the border with Mexico in SE Arizona, are one of the famous Madrean Sky Islands, whose dense conifer forests float above a sea of hot, lowland desert. Madera Canyon, which cuts right into the heart of the range is world famous for its birding, as several Mexican species of birds make their only homes in the United States in these and a handful of other mountain canyons along the border. Birds such as the elegant trogon, painted redstart, Mexican junco, and many others are found here.


Perhaps not as charasmatic and sexy as a bird, the Santa Rita mountains also contains some tree species that just barely make an appearance in the U.S. including the Arizona madrona, Apache pine, Chihuahuan pine, and Arizona yellow pine. Several other species are near their southernmost extremes in these mountains including quaking aspens and Douglas firs.


There is a wonderful loop hike that allows visitors to climb through the Sonoran life zones into the high conifer forests, a chance to see some of these rare birds in the sycamore-lined canyon, and just enjoy the cooler climate that this mountain sky island has to offer.


The loop hike begins at the Madera Canyon parking area at the end of the Madera Canyon Road. There are two trail options, but I would start at the "Old Baldy Trail" because it makes a steeper (and more shade covered) ascent to Josephine Saddle, while the return on the "Super Trail" is more gradual on weakened knees.


The Old Baldy Trail climbs from 5400 to 7080 feet in approximately 2.5 miles. It is steep, but definitely not overly so. It is a nice reasonable climb in a dense conifer forest of Arizona and Chihuahuan pines, Silverleaf and Emory oaks, and some huge Arizona madrona.


From the saddle, there is a route that climbs an addition 2400 feet to the summit of 9400 feet Mount Wrightson in 3 miles. But, as you can see in these pictures, conditions were definitely not right for that summit attempt today. The Super Trail then descends down a more open, mostly southwest facing slope of oaks and yuccas for 3.7 miles back to the parking area.



We did the hike in late February the day after a snow storm. Temperatures were in the 50's at the parking area and 30's at the saddle. But, what a winter wonderland to enjoy. However, this is an El Nino year. In a dry winter, it is quite likely you would encounter no snow on this hike. But, April is probably the best month to do this hike, since that is when the trogons return, the wildflowers start blooming, and the temperatures are more moderate!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

The craze for the smokeless cigarette has been phenomenal.

Electronic cigarette is only releasing a small amount of vapor and nicotine.

Non-flammable Njoy is driven by advanced microelectronic technology, a tiny rechargeable battery and a unique replaceable cartridge and the film
consists of water and the smell oof nicotine,
which mmimics the tobacco.

Also visit my blog post gusti sigaretta elettronica

Anonymous said...

Life of any Laser source in fiber kind machines is about 1, 00, 1000 hours.



Here is my page: laser cutting quote

Anonymous said...

Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.

I'll make sure to bookmark it and come back to read mmore of your useful information. Thanks for
the post. I'll certainly comeback.

my website :: More Help

Anonymous said...

Thank you for every other informative web site. Where else could I am getting that type of
information written in such an ideal way?
I have a project that I am simply now working on, and I've been at the
glance out for such information.

Here is my blog; orange peeler

Anonymous said...

First off I want to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question which I'd like to ask if you do not mind.
I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your thoughts before writing.
I have had difficulty clearing my thoughts in getting my thoughts
out. I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are
usually lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or hints?
Kudos!

Feel free to surf to my page :: где купить анаболики в санкт-петербурге

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20150908 junda
michael kors
louboutin pas cher
coach outlet
coach factory outlet
soccer jerseys wholesale
ray ban sunglass
prada handbags
ugg australia
adidas uk
nike blazer
fitflops sale clearance
air force 1
longchamp outlet
jordan shoes
michael kors outlet online
new balance outlet
prada outlet
ugg boots sale
kate spade handbags
ray bans
adidas gazelle trainers
polo ralph lauren outlet
barbour uk
north face uk
michael kors handbags
ray ban outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors uk
uggs outlet
ralph lauren uk
michael kors handbag
nike free run 5.0
oakley sunglasses sale
canada goose uk
toms wedges
cheap soccer shoes
coach outlet online
adidas shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
coach factory outlet

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20150908 junda
michael kors
louboutin pas cher
coach outlet
coach factory outlet
soccer jerseys wholesale
ray ban sunglass
prada handbags
ugg australia
adidas uk
nike blazer
fitflops sale clearance
air force 1
longchamp outlet
jordan shoes
michael kors outlet online
new balance outlet
prada outlet
ugg boots sale
kate spade handbags
ray bans
adidas gazelle trainers
polo ralph lauren outlet
barbour uk
north face uk
michael kors handbags
ray ban outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors uk
uggs outlet
ralph lauren uk
michael kors handbag
nike free run 5.0
oakley sunglasses sale
canada goose uk
toms wedges
cheap soccer shoes
coach outlet online
adidas shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
coach factory outlet

Unknown said...

michael kors uk
dallas cowboys
adidas outlet
air jordan 4
gucci outlet
pittsburgh steelers
cheap soccer jerseys
louis vuitton bags
oakley,occhiali oakley,oakley italia,oakley occhiali,oakley sunglasses
lacoste pas cher
ralph lauren outlet
north face outlet store
hollister uk
nobis jacket
ralph lauren outlet
air max shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
fred perry polo shirts
cheap nba jerseys
1024minko

Anonymous said...

2016-1-5 xiaozhengm
longchamp bags
ed hardy uk
cheap jordans
ugg boots
sac longchamp
canada goose jacket
jordan retro 3
nike cortez
true religion jeans
true religion
nike tn
canada goose outlet
cheap toms
gucci borse
coach factory outlet
ed hardy outlet
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet online
jordan 3
cheap ray ban sunglasses
louis vuitton handbags
nike outlet
air jordans
toms outlet
soccer jerseys
moncler jackets
oakley vault
fitflops
louis vuitton handbags
air jordan pas cher
louis vuitton outlet
cheap oakley sunglasses
ugg outlet
air jordan uk
christian louboutin shoes
sac longchamp
christian louboutin outlet
michael kors uk
nike outlet
michael kors outlet

Unknown said...

20160402 junda
adidas gazelle
nike trainers
mizuno running shoes
coach factory outlet
coach outlet
true religion outlet
burberry outlet online
coach outlet
kate spade handbags
louis vuitton pas cher
ralph lauren outlet
rolex submariner
running shoes
michael kors outlet
lacoste shoes
converse shoes
jimmy choo outlet
kate spade outlet
toms shoes
burberry outlet
michael kors outlet online
burberry outlet
puma shoes
ghd flat iron
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet
sac longchamp pliage
ecco shoes
coach factory outlet
versace shoes
pandora charms
coach outlet
michael kors outlet online
designer handbags
canada goose uk
michael kors outlet online
christian louboutin outlet
burberry outlet
cartier watches
canada goose outlet

Unknown said...

mcm backpack
michael kors handbags
louboutin pas cher
toms shoes
louis vuitton outlet store
nba jerseys
ralph lauren uk
timberland shoes
michael kors handbags clearance
swarovski outlet
adidas wings shoes
longchamp outlet
burberry outlet
burberry outlet online
gucci sunglasses uk
oakley sunglasses
nike air max 90
snapbacks wholesale
nfl jerseys wholesale
michael kors wholesale
beats by dr dre
nike huarache
ray ban sunglasses
timberland shoes
true religion jeans sale
hollister clothing store
louis vuitton bags cheap
louis vuitton outlet
discount oakley sunglasses
longchamp solde
ralph lauren polo
fitflops sale
omega outlet
ralph lauren outlet
rolex watches
20160606caihuali

John said...

ralph lauren outlet online
canada goose jackets
polo ralph lauren outlet
ed hardy uk
pandora charms uk
coach outlet
under armour shoes
louis vuitton handbags
nike huarache black
birkenstocks
ralph lauren
kate spade outlet
ferragamo shoes
tiffany and co outlet
ray ban outlet
babyliss flat iron
armani exchange
salvatore ferragamo
ralph lauren pas cher
louis vuitton uk
nike blazer
adidas gazelle
converse
burberry handbags
adidas stan smith
polo ralph lauren
kate spade bags
oakley outlet
cartier watches for sale
louboutin outlet
basketball shoes
dior sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
2016628yuanyuan

Unknown said...

birkenstock shoes
michael kors outlet online
michael kors outlet
armani exchange
coach outlet
uggs outlet
cheap nike shoes
ugg boots outlet
polo ralph lauren outlet online
buy red bottoms
20161087caiyan

chenlina said...

michael kors outlet
canada goose outlet
fitflops sale clearance
replica watches
michael kors outlet
coach outlet online
louboutin shoes
louis vuitton outlet
adidas yeezy 350
louboutin shoes
chenlina20161107

Unknown said...

nba jerseys
saics running shoes
birkenstocks
nike air huarache
nike trainers
michael kors handbags
pittsburgh steelers jersey
salomon boots
new balance shoes
ed hardy clothing

Unknown said...

tory burch shoes
yeezy boost 350 v2
adidas ultra boost
nike basketball shoes
nike air max 90
goyard wallet
yeezy
yeezy boost
yeezy 500
adidas nmd

Unknown said...

yeezy boost
ray ban store
hermes birkin
birkin bag
chrome hearts online
adidas iniki
john wall shoes
pandora bracelet
michael kors handbags
adidas stan smith men

QQQQQQQQQ said...

nike flyknit
michael kors outlet online
birkin bag
michael kors outlet
cheap mlb jerseys
cheap jordans
red bottom heels
nike free run
adidas zx flux
nike football boots

SSSSSS said...

yeezy
nike flyknit
off white nike
kyrie 4
adidas superstar
longchamp
jordan 6
derrick rose shoes
true religion outlet
yeezy boost 350 v2

Unknown said...

curry 4
nike air max
adidas shoes outlet
adidas tubular
lebron 16 shoes
birkin bag
adidas iniki
hermes birkin
nike roshe run
golden goose

Just Giving Back For All To Enjoy

Why pay money to buy hiking books? Why pay fees to view trail websites? By searching my archives and checking back often to see new posts, we are sure you will be able to find the hike that is right for you ... and for free!

In addition, we provide fascinating ecological and geological information to make the hikes informative and fun. As former National Park Rangers, we know how to find the right hike for you. So, if you are on vacation, we will provide you with the hike you absolutely MUST do while in an area. Do not go on vacation without checking out this site!