December 13, 2019 Gould Mine - Sendero Esperanza - Hugh Norris Trail. King Canyon Trailhead.

Kings Canyon Trailhead is the beginning of several trails that lead to mines, petroglyphs and rock structures that give us an idea of how people have used this area in the past.

Long Hike - Leader - Mike. This group started at Gould Mine Trail which meets Sandero Esperanza just past the Gould Mine. Sandero Esperanza meets Hugh Norris Trail further up the trail where, for this hike, turns right. The climb is fairly steep up toward the saddle before the climb to Wasson Peak. The views on the peak are well worth the climb. After lunch at Wasson peak, this group took the King Canyon Trail back to the dam, and down the King Canyon wash back to the Gould Mine Trailhead. 

Medium Hike - Leader Nancy - This hike starts at Gould Mine Trailhead that leads to the Mine. The Gould Mine trail meets the Sandero Esperanza trail just before the mine. After visiting the mine, we backtrack on Sandero Esperanza, back past the dynamite storage to "Mam-A-Gah Picknick Area". Around this area is a stone house made by the CCC in the 1930s. We proceed to the dam and down King Canyon Wash for a short distance to see the Petroglyphs. We return to the dam and start up the wash to the Old King Canyon Trail which starts in a wash and comes out onto a trail following a ridge. This trail leads to the "Sweetwater Saddle" which is the junction of Sweetwater trail and King Canyon Trail as well as a good place for lunch. We return to the King Canyon Trailhead down the King Canyon Trail. There were very nice views of a fairly green desert for this time of year. We are lucky to see 4 deer in a group with 2 fawn on the Old King Canyon Trail, and another 4 deer when going down King Canyon Trail.

   
                                 

Data from Wasson Peak

Data from Gould Mine - Old King Canyon - Figure 8

More Pictures from Medium Group

 Map from "All Trails" Show these trails.

Directions, distance and time to the trailhead:

From Florence Blvd, take I-10 south to exit 236. Turn right and then a quick right onto Marana Road. Drive one mile and turn left onto North Sanders Road, drive four miles. At the stop sign turn left onto Avra Valley Road. Drive one mile and turn right onto Sandero Road. Proceed 9 miles and turn left at the entrance to the park, onto Kinney Road. Drive 2.4 miles to the Red Hills Visitor Center for a pit stop. Coming out of the Visitor Center turn left onto Kinney Road and follow for 2.1 miles. There is a sharp left into the Trailhead parking lot, not paved. If you have passed the Desert Museum sign you have gone too far.

Google Maps to Kings Canyon Trailhead

December 6, 2019 Romero Pools - Catalina State Park - Romero Canyon Trailhead

Long Hike was beyond Romero pools for another 2 miles. This hike was lead by David up to the Pools then others went beyond. 10 miles
The Medium Hike was to the Pools lead by Jerry.  6 miles. 

This hike started with slight elevation gain along a sandy trail leading to a stream which we chose to cross by various means. Some hikers used poles to cross the rocks, others used plastic bags over their shoes and others found a part of the stream where there was less water. 

Sutherland Wash

Romero Canyon Trail 

                                                                            

After walking for about 1/2 hour we started and upward climb up the mountain. 

We could see evidence of the construction and replacement of large wooden rails used for water damage control. 

 

The trail was wet in places from the rainfall 
from the last two weeks but did not hamper our hike. 

This was a view from a little off the trail about 1/2 hour from the pools

The trail descends into the canyon and then starts to climb again before another descent to the pools. See the graph at the end of the blog for the elevation gains and losses. 

A look back at the Pools 

Beyond the Pools - Long Hike Pictures 

Data From Medium Hike

Hike Description: This hike is an out and back up Romero Canyon Trail to some picturesque pools in the Catalina Mountains. The difficulty increase with the length of the hike. 

Long Hike: To Romero Spring - 10 miles - B+
Short Hike: To Romero Pools - 6 miles - B

Alltrails description and map of the hike

Directions: Take 1-10 south and take Exit 240. Turn left (east) onto Tangerine Road. In 13.5 miles turn right onto Oracle Road (#77), then in 0.2 miles turn left into Catalina State Park. At the Guard House Purchase a car pass ($7.00). Proceed to the parking lot on the left. 61 miles.

We need drivers   Carpools and driving to the trailhead

Google Maps to Romero Canyon Trailhead

Casa Grande Mountain Hike

Hikers for the Casa Grande Mountain leave the parking lot at 8:00 and will be back before lunch. 

Google Maps to Arica Trailhead - Casa Grande Mountain

Google Maps to Peart Road Trailhead to Casa Grande Mountain

November 29th, 2019 - Romero Pools and Romero Springs - Cancelled due to Rain

Hike Description: This hike is an out and back up Romero Canyon Trail to some picturesque
pools in the Catalina Mountains. The difficulty increases with the length of the hike. 

Long Hike: to Romero Spring 10 miles - B+

Short Hike: To Romero Pools 6 miles - B


Alltrails description and map of the hike

Directions: Take 1-10 south and take Exit 240. Turn left (east) onto Tangerine Road. In 13.5 miles turn right onto Oracle Road, then in 0.2 miles turn left into Catalina State Park. At the Guard House purchase a car pass ($7.00). Proceed to the parking lot on the left. 61 miles. 


Google Maps to Romero Pools Trailhead

Casa Grande Mountain Hike

Casa Grande Mountain Hikers leaver the Palm Creek Parking Lot at 8:00 and arrive back to the park before lunch. 

November 22, 2019 Romero Pools - Catalina State Park - Cancelled

Cancelled due to heavy rains for two days prior. Safety issues with water in the washes and slippery rocks.

Hike Description: This hike is an out and back up Romero Canyon Trail to some picturesque pools in the Catalina Mountains. The difficulty increases with the length of the hike.

Long Hike: To Romero Spring 10 miles - B+

Short Hike: To Romero Pools 6 miles - B

Alltrails description and map of the hike

Directions: Take I-10 south and take Exit 240. Turn left (east) on Tangerine Rd.
In 13.5 mi. turn right onto Oracle Rd, then in 0.2 mi. left into Catalina State Park.
At the Guard Shack purchase a car pass. ($7). Proceed to the parking lot
on the left. 61 miles.

32°25’31.86W, 110°54’30.54N

Google Maps to Romero Pools Trailhead

Casa Grande Mountain Hike

Casa Grande Mountain Hike leaves Palm Creek Parking Lot at 8:00 and arrives back at the park before lunch.