big man tips

HOPE CAMP TRAIL Rincon Mountain District, Saguaro National Park Hope Camp The Hope Camp historic site sits near the base of the Rincon Mountains wrapped in high desert grasslands, flood plains and thorny vegetation.   What remains of the long-abandoned cattle-herding camp is a barbed wire addled spread of dusty concrete troughs, corroded water tanks and a windmill that�s seen better days.   View of the Rincon Mountains from Hope Camp Trail This quiet pocket of relics and the trail that leads to it is now part of the Saguaro National Park Rincon District outside of Tucson.   The dilapited watering hole is the end cap of a remarkable trek and one of many points of interest hikers will encounter on the Hope Camp Trail.   From the Loma Alta trailhead that sits at the edge of Tucson�s eastern suburbs, the route reveals its treasures at a leisurely, constant pace beginning with a stroll on a wide dirt two-track popular with equestrians and mountain bikers.   The initi...

GARWOOD-THREE TANK LOOP Saguaro National Park East, Tucson Garwood Trail There�s more to Saguaro National Park than the eponymous cacti. This is especially true in the park�s east side where relics of human history blend with an array of plant and animal specimens wedged between the craggy peaks of the Rincon Mountains and see-forever valley vistas of suburban Tucson. The area�s keynote curiosities date to a cattle grazing era that ended in the 1970s. Remnants of ranch operations can still be seen along the two dozen trails that weave through foothills, washes and open desert. View of Santa Catalina Mountains from Carrillo Trail The interconnected trail system is setup with multiple access points and signed junctions with mileages. When paired with a downloadable map from the park�s website, hikers can easily create treks that range from short and easy to long and difficult. One recommended loop option that uses four trails is packed with points of interest and a sweaty climb into the ...