Consult your map to plan your route. The Mica project still needs 800 some odd volunteer hours to fulfill the commitment for their grant. Trail is in excellent shape the whole way. The trail starts 0.1 miles from manning camp along the South Fire Loop Trail and heads up to Mica Mountain following the Upper reaches of Chimenea Creek. The new connector trail now allows adventurous hikers to complete twelve miles of hiking (one way!) Access to the Summit of Mica Peak is only available via old Motorcycle trails as the summit itself is owned by the FAA. The terrain is fairly gentle; nearly level overall, crossed by shallow dry washes and rising slightly to low plateaus, and most paths encounter similar scenery. I really enjoyed my time along this trail in late November. Once down Chauncey, it is only a short (and less lung-busting) hike to Lamentation and more sweeping views, this time to the west. Hike by WTA Community: This trail is unsanctioned, use at your own risk! Thought I’d leave a review as there have been none recently. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, camping, and backpacking and is accessible year-round. Among other projects here, WTA volunteers helped complete the California Creek trail, the connecting segment that made the traverse to Liberty Lake possible. The weather is amazing at manning camp in summer, it’s just a matter of getting there first that is the issue and making sure it has water up there. Since the city is surrounded by five mountain ranges and bordered by two halves of a national park, there are seemingly endless opportunities to get out and experience nature, whether that’s 9,000 feet above sea level on Mt. Just south of Mica Mountain is Rincon Peak, another Arizona P2K … Views from Spud are amazing. Highly recommend you start as early as you can (I started at 7am a few weeks ago and that felt like too late, tried 5:15am the other day and that was better). Alternating steps and groomed trail up until mile 6.5 or so. Take the Douglas Springs Trail and plan for a very long day or an overnighter; (2) From the north via Forest Roads 4417 and 4424. Mica Mountain via Douglas Spring and Cow Head Saddle Trail is a 25.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Tucson, Arizona that offers the chance to see wildlife and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. Other Hiking Routes. The trail itself was built to last for a century and has been brushed/cleared recently ... you won’t lose it and it’s not overgrown. As you climb up the steep, narrow trail of Mica Mountain, picture a laden mule just in front of you. No views from summit, but as others have said, stop by spud rock for amazing views. To reach the Belmont Road Trailhead for the Mica Peak Conservation Area, take the Pines Road-State Route 27 exit from Interstate 90 and drive south. Mica Mountain via Douglas Spring and Cow Head Saddle Trail is a 40.9 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Tucson, Arizona that offers the chance to see wildlife and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. Off trail hiking or horseback riding is prohibited within the Cactus Forest, except in washes. Seattle, WA 98104. The trail connects Liberty Lake Regional Park to Mica Peak. You can backcountry-camp at Manning Camp and a few other places up in the high part, but it requires a permit ... check recreation.gov for all those details. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. So, having an app with trail maps will come in handy. Throughout 2016, Spokane County worked with Alta Planning & Design and various stakeholders to develop a non-motorized recreational trail plan for the 911-acre Mica Peak Conservation Area (now over 1,700 acres … Mica Mountain 8666 feet. Mica View Loop Trail is a 3.7 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Tucson, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The area hosts several varieties of flora, thanks to its elevation change from the parking area to the summit. Currently there is no water between the trailhead and Manning Camp, 12.4 miles in and >6,000 feet up, and the Manning Camp water is stagnant (100% reliable though) in the summer and will require treatment. I hit the trail at 8:20, which was later than I intended. Multiple authors contributed to this report. Eastern Washington -- Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene, http://www.spokanecounty.org/documentcenter/view/4066. Hike to the Mica Mine. Both peaks and most of … At 8,482 feet, Rincon Peak is the 3rd highest summit in Saguaro National Park, after Mica Mountain and Spud Rock. Over all I would say oct is a great time to do this trail, next time I’m going to make a base camp at Douglas spring camp ground in the fall of the year, from there manning camp is about a 13 mile out and back. Possibly due to the recent fires. Mica Mountain (Man Head) There are three popular ways to approach Mica Mountain: (1) From Tucson via Speedway Boulevard. Mica Peak is a popular destination for hikers, bikers, and equestrians because of the great workout it affords. Lake Solitude is rightly one of the park’s most popular longer day hikes. It was a very long trip but I’d say it was worth it. I did it, all the way to Manning Camp, I drank 12 liters of water and wish I had more. This is one of the most beautiful trails in Tucson. Recreational opportunities include hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, xc/backcountry skiing and snowshoeing. The Mica Bowl Fire has been burning within natural features with minimal fire activity, no observable smoke, and no growth since August 29. The shortest route to the top begins east of the park with a 4.5 mile hike along the Miller Creek Trail, then half a mile south on the Heartbreak Ridge Trail to another junction. The change in the vegetation from the trailhead to the top of Mica was great to see and be a part of. 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Pink Hill, Loma Verde, Cholla Trail, and Cactus Forest Loop, Douglas Spring, Bridal Wreath Falls, Three Tank, Garwood Loop, Douglas Spring to Three Tank Trail Junction, Shantz, Mesquite, Loma and Cholla Trail Loop, Shantz, Vanover, Loma Verde, Cholla, Cactus Forest Trail Loop, Douglas Spring, Converse, Garwood and Wildhorse Loop, Douglas Spring Trail, Tanque Verde Peak to Visitors Center, Cactus Forest Trail, Squeeze Pen Trail, and Pink Hill, Mica Mountain via Douglas Spring and Cow Head Saddle Trail. Hiking groups are limited to a maxi-mum of eighteen people. I signed in as the Naked Hiker and was kind of a legend among the summer trail workers ‘cause I’d do this hike every Saturday when it was too hot to go on the Tanque Verde Falls to Chicago Falls loop trail. Trip: Minimum 6 mile hike and 2,000 foot climb Nearest Trailhead: Douglas Spring (east end of Speedway Blvd) Bio: Located on a flat area in the desert grasslands under scattered juniper trees, the view is dominated by Mica Mountain. Mica Hill is a relatively new trail in the Cape Breton Highlands. If you want to camp at manning camp, have water boiling and filtration equipment and make sure there is water flowing at the camp. One option to consider is the Mica Mine Trail in the Bangs Canyon Special Recreation Management Area just south of town. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $45. You get the idea, water planning is the biggest obstacle for this trail, also watch out for Rattle Snakes, I saw one at Cow Head Saddle. As best as I can tell, this is the shortest way to hike up to Mica Mountain. Colossal Cave county park, a limestone cave and popular destination, is located on the east end of the Rincon Valley, north of the community of Vail . According to strava this was more like a 27+ mile out and back. Many trails exist here, but main access is via the parking lot on Belmont Road. There is not much to see at the actual Mica Mtn summit, just the same forest you’ve already been in for an hour. Length 3.7 miElevation gain 121 ftRoute type Loop Temperature on top of the mountain was around 80 at 11am and on the way down was about 100 at the bottom. The Mica Mine Trail is a 4.5 km (3 mi), one-way trip back in time. Facebook Page. Would not recommend doing this hike during the summer. Mica Mountain is the highest point of the Rincon Mountains, which loom 6,000 vertical feet above Tucson to the east of the city. However, most people access this trail from within Saguaro NP by driving to the Mica View Picnic Area (high clearance recommended) or from the Broadway Trailhead. Or pack your x-country skis for a fun day in the outdoors. Photo by snbess. Visitors can also enjoy views of Spokane Valley and the rolling Palouse.The peak itself is off-limits — the summit is owned by the FAA — but the western slope of the peak still offers 2,000 feet of elevation gain from parking area to high point. The trail starts off on the Glasgow Lakes trail, and you hang left at the fork in the trail to start this. The road is bordered by private property, so stay on the road. Primary access to the trail network is via the Belmont Road trailhead to the West of Mica Peak. Then a rocky terrain until the Cowhead saddle (mile 9 or so), then steps again for another mile, and rocky terrain till mile 11 or so. Keep your eyes peeled, just in case! The area hosts several varieties of flora, thanks to its elevation change from the parking area to the summit. Large portions of Mica Peak are now public land or open to public recreation with a permit. The Mica Mountain Trail is 1.4 miles long and climbs about 650 feet to the North Fire Loop Trail, 0.1 miles from Mica Mountain. Photo from WTA. Routes are possible from Liberty Lake Regional Park, the gated Radar Road and the new trailhead parking area on Belmont Road. You can continue on through a fern meadow to Reef Rock and then to Manning Camp where you can refill water from a spring or the Ranger Station and sign a guestbook. Let’s hike and check out the proposed trails for the Mica Plan, meet at the trailhead 9am. Turn left (east) onto Belmont Road and follow for 4.1 miles to the end of the road. On the way up Mica Peak. Juniper Basin Number of sites: 3 When here, look for sub-alpine low brush to fragrant Ponderosa pine forest. Mica doesn’t have great views but it is the high point so I did the extra 0.5 miles from Spud rock. Mica Peak is a popular destination for hikers, bikers, and equestrians because of the great workout it affords. Summary: This hike takes you up an infrequently traveled path to the top of Mica Mountain (the tallest point in Saguaro NP East) via the Italian Spring Trail, then takes you on a looping tour of all the natural features of the mountain before returning the same way. If you are entering on foot or bike the fee is $15 per person. Access the conservation area by hiking, biking, or riding along the road from the parking lot. These include: hiking and rock climbing in Rough Canyon and Ladder Canyon – home to an historic mica and quartz mine, OHV and mountain bike opportunities on the Tabeguache Trail, the Third Flats ATV trail system, and rock crawling on the Billings Canyon Jeep Trail. There is parking available here for horse trailers as well as passenger cars. The current preliminary trail plan is available and we need to be a part of checking these lines out. The trail is very well marked up until mile 12 or so, but after that it's currently obstructed by fallen trees and not easy to spot. Explore the old mine site where in the 1890s horses were used to haul mica down the mountain. From I-90, heading east, take Exit 289 for Pines Road (State Highway 27). Hughes Cabin Route: This route starts at the same location as the Boundary Mountain Route, and is a similar distance. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Make a stop and climb Spud Rock, I promise you won't be disappointed. But it's often loaded with visitors. You'll need a high clearance 4WD vehicle to travel the last couple of miles to the TH. This is off of … There are plenty of views from the trail itself on the way up too. Its population is approximately 500. There was still a little water pool today (6/16), through which you could filter your water. I suggest heading following the Fire Loop Trail to Spud Rock for the highest, most expansive west-facing views, or asking the ranger at Manning Camp how to get to Spud Rock from there after you’ve replenished water. Imagine its cart full of mica flakes shoveled out from the 30 degree hillside at 7000 feet. Super well maintained trail, super easy to follow even all the way up to Spud Rock and Mica Mountain. It's also possible to hike from here all the way to nearby Liberty Lake; a rugged 12+ mile one-way hike. Multiple authors contributed to this report, all the way to nearby Liberty Lake; a rugged 12+ mile one-way hike, Mica Peak Traverse: Completing A New Trail Near Spokane. I didn’t stay overnight but I did check out Manning Camp while I was up there and it would be really good for an overnight or two. Fees are $25 per vehicle or $20 per motorcycle. Note: Mica Peak was acquired in 2013 through Spokane County's Conservation Futures Program. There is no signage yet (as of Oct 2014), but likely will be soon. Not only the park high point, Mica is also an Arizona P2K, ticking off boxes on two lists at once. Gorgeous hiking and outdoor activ­it­ies are nearby and we provide you with our map and guide to explore them all. Be careful - part of the mountain is still an active quarry. The hike (or run) b... Narrated Google Earth flythrough and description of ascent to Mica Mountain in Tucson, Arizona. 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