I kept looking for the start of the trail beside the Health Clinic and the Post Office, both shown in the map above, but it just isn't there. Undeterred and with the map in mind, I crossed the Sonoita Creek bridge on Highway 82 heading northeast, and right at the end of the bridge, I saw the trail marker. Blink and you'll miss it; the trail (or what I think of as a trail) actually starts immediately at the north end of the bridge on the east side of the road. I was pretty excited and felt as if I'd found a real treasure. And actually I had! As stated on the sign above, the trail follows the old Southern Pacific railbed as closely as possible, then enters Nature Conservancy and Native Seed Search land. I had the trail all to myself -- well, just me and the birds. The trees were gorgeous! The trail crosses Sonoita Creek, this portion of which is dry this time of year -- good for me! There are stern warnings before you enter Nature Conservancy lands. As you can see, the views all along the trail are breathtaking. There was still a tiny bit of snow visible on this mountaintop. The first time I walked the trail, I came back on the second crossing of the wash rather than completing a short run of trail back to downtown. The huge cottonwood trees were beautiful. They were just beginning to show green the first time I walked the trail; now, one week later, they're totally green. I've had the trail to myself both times I've walked it. Well, except for Paisley! I took her along on my second walk. She had fun but had to drink a LOT of water along the way. The temperature was only around 70, but it's dry and very sunny. This is an easy, flat trail, just a couple of miles in length. If you plan to walk it, bring binoculars, water, and sunscreen!
3 Comments
Emily
3/15/2014 05:39:59 pm
Heck yeah -- I thought I was going to die today! We took Friday off for birding and wineries, but Wed-Thurs. were rough too. Today we had tailwinds for part of the ride, which were a blast, but the last 5 miles were into the wind, and it was really gusting by then (1:30 pm). A couple of gusts were kinda scary...glad no cars were coming by right then. I sure hope it calms down next week. I am not a fan of wind!
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Emily & BarryWe're a long-married, early-retired couple who are currently traveling as nomads with no fixed home base. After years of living in North Carolina (Emily's home state), we spent 18 months living oceanfront on Ambergris Caye, Belize, a year road-tripping the US in a Honda CR-V, a year in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and are now roaming North America in our 32' motorhome, Pearl, following warm weather whenever possible. Archives
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