Posts Tagged With: Saguaro National Park

Desert Waterfall Walks

Posted on February 25, 2024 by carryoncouple.com

Saguaro National Park East

We enjoyed an easy start along the trail to Bridal Wreath Falls.

The trail to Bridal Wreath Falls was a bit of a challenge, but the idea of seeing a waterfall in the desert was a novelty for us. Located in the eastern side of Saguaro National Park, the 7.75-mile trek rises 1,200 feet above the valley floor, eventually leading to the base of the small waterfall. We found a perfect lunch spot tucked beneath the shade of a giant boulder.

The climb was unforgiving, but seeing the falls (top right) was the reward…along with the expansive views of the downhill trip (left top and center).

Catalina State Park

The Santa Catalina Mountains form a backdrop for our hike on the Dead Horse Canyon Trail.

With one wrong turn, we managed to make this 4.6-mile Catalina State Park trail into just under six miles. The gorgeous Mountain views (almost) made up for the extra mileage, half of which was uphill. We reached the end, 900 feet above our starting point, and after a quick lunch started back down.

The no-name waterfall was not much more than a trickle (top right), but it provided a pleasant lunch spot view.
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Climb Every Mountain

Posted on February 16, 2024 by carryoncouple.com
Up for a Challenge? Try Wasson Peak
”We should climb one of these mountains before we go home,” I said to Reg the other day.
Click Reg’s post above to see if we made it
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Beautiful Memories

Posted on February 2, 2024 by carryoncouple.com
The view across Saguaro National Park East, with Mt. Lemon in the distance.

We’ve enjoyed a week-long visit with friends Chris and Judy. Before they hitched up their trailer for the drive home, we had one last adventure in Saguaro National Park East. There’s a beautiful loop drive through the park with ample pull-outs for an up-close look at the desert vegetation. Our first stop allowed Chris, who in his younger days spent seven years in Tucson, to point out some local landmarks.

Quite a few hiking trails cross-cross the park. For us, a short hike along the Mica View Trail got us out of the car, stretching our legs and working up an appetite for a picnic lunch. 

The sun put on another spectacular show, signaling our last evening with Chris and Judy.
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Do Horse Steps make Horse Sense?

Posted on January 29, 2024 by carryoncouple.com

The trail description warned there would be no “warmup” when starting the Hugh Norris Trail, one of the many trails found in Saguaro National Park West. One grumpy AllTrails reviewer complained the “1,000 horse steps were senseless for hiking trails.” I’ve never heard of horse steps and I’m pretty sure 1,000 was an exaggeration, although I didn’t count them. 
We stopped to read the information board then immediately began the climb up all those steps. The trail leads to 4,639’ Wasson Peak, a climb we chose not to do. Instead, our plan would lead us up to an elevation just over 3,600’, an elevation gain of 1,260’ before heading back down along a section of the Sendero Esperanza Trail, then joining the Dobbie Wash which would lead us back to our starting point.

It wasn’t long before our uphill trek revealed astounding views.
The steps continued.
What felt like a summit offered just a short respite.
The best view (and favorite photo) of the day.
Still climbing, searching for the perfect lunch spot.
Not so comfortable for sitting, but a pretty good view.

After lunch, it was all downhill. We quickly reached the parking lot after cheating (just a little) and walking the last bit along the road. 

Our feet enjoyed the Sandy soil of the final Dobbie Wash section.
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Backroads Across America: Icons of the Southwest

Posted on March 23, 2017 by carryoncouple.com



With time to fill between stops in Arizona, we took a short detour toward the Rincon Mountain District and Saguaro National Park (East).  Unfamiliar with what the park offered, we once again found ourselves leading the trailer along a narrow, scenic 8-mile loop through a historic cactus forest.  It felt a little bit like a ride at Disneyland as we slowly followed along, single file behind other park visitors.  We were pleased to find a number of pull-out spaces roomy enough to allow us to stop and take in the views.



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