Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
turn right and begin climbing roughly north. (If you cross the wash again, 20 yards
beyond this sign, you missed the right turn.)
The trail climbs and switchbacks past saguaros in all stages of life, ranging from
young ones less than a foot high to massive many-armed monarchs. Underfoot, mul-
tihued rocks are brownish-purple and salmon-colored. When you reach the summit
ridge, you'll find an open area to the left of the trail where you can pause and take in
the view to the southeast.
Old Tucson (see nearby attractions) lies to the east-southeast, with Gates Pass
Road climbing above it. To the south-southeast is the Gilbert Ray Campground (the
only one in Tucson Mountain Park, suitable mainly for RV campers), and gazing bey-
ond it to the horizon you'll see the Santa Ritas and Mount Wrightson.
From here, the summit ridge climbs briefly north and then swings northwest, with
super views on either side. Off in the distance to your left, about 40 miles to the south-
west, you can see Kitt Peak with its telescopes; south of it is the distinctive triangular
shape of Baboquivari Peak. On the other side of the ridge are the Tucson Mountains.
The highest of several peaks along the ridge is marked as 3,098 feet on most maps,
and from here you can see the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum to the northwest.
After the highest peak, the trail drops and turns southeast for a short distance be-
fore hairpinning back to the northwest. The trail then climbs around the right (east)
side of a final peak, without climbing it, then drops to a sign that appears seemingly in
the middle of nowhere, directing you to the Gilbert Ray Campground, back the way
you came, and the Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area, which is your route.
About 200 yards beyond this sign, the trail reaches a T-junction. There is no sign
here, but there is a flat rock slab about 2 feet square. Going right (east) continues
along the base of the mountain to the Brown Mountain Picnic Area; going left (west)
descends about 200 yards to the Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area, which provides a re-
stroom and a place to eat your snack or packed lunch. You've hiked almost 2.5 miles
to this point. Some hikers prefer to retrace their steps from the northwest end of the
mountain to enjoy the ridge views again.
Continuing east from the junction with the flat rock slab, follow the valley at
the base of Brown Mountain. The trail meanders pleasantly, east and then generally
southeast, with the mountain looming to the right. Desert flowers abound in spring,
