Little known hike that is the gateway into the Tortolita Mountains.
Near: Tucson, AZ
Distance: 7.12 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1025 ft
Hike Time: 3.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Condition: OK, but a few difficult spots
Hike Type: Out and Back
The path is graded dirt for the first half, weaving in and out of the nearby wash. The trail gets slightly more rugged as you near an old, ruined stone house that was once lived in by cattle ranchers. After the house, you begin a steep climb. This is the only strenuous climbing on the entire trial. If you have trekking poles, bring them. Once you reach the top, you descend into a sandy basin. There is a canyon overlook that allows you to see your progress up the mountain.
There is a nice shaded area with a huge cottonwood tree in the middle of it, and nearby is a “Lunch Overlook.” Continuing on the trail, past the tree, you will follow a well-marked, winding red dirt path, leading you to a gate, which separates the terminus of the Wild Burro Trail and the beginning of the Wild Mustang Trail.
Trailhead
From Speedway and Campbell, head west on Speedway and turn right to merge onto I-10 W. Take Exit 240 toward Tangerine Road, which merges onto Casa Grande Highway. Turn right at W Tangerine Road. Turn left at Dove Mountain Boulevard, and continue for 3.6 miles. The trailhead is on the right side of the road. (Lat:32.46663 Lon:-111.09283)
