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Coronado Hiking Trails |
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Greenhouse Trail #248 & Basin Trail #600
Many Forest visitors, upon driving the road to Herb Martyr
Campground and seeing Winn Falls tumbling 400 feet off
the north shoulder of Sanders Peak, start looking for a way to get
a closer look. The
best way to get a close look, relatively speaking, is
via the Greenhouse Trail. This route from canyon bottom to high country
starts at the
end of a 4-wheel drive road (FR 713) off the Herb Martyr
Road (FR 42A) and switchbacks its way into the Chiricahua high country.
Along the
way, it passes an overlook that presents a fine view
of the falls. Remember that in early summer it’s liable to be dry and in winter
it becomes a 400 foot icicle, but even if it’s only a bare cliff,
it’s still worth a look.
Beyond the Winn Falls viewpoint, the Greenhouse Trail
continues climbing to a high divide between Cima and
Greenhouse canyons that presents
more good views. From this scenic vantage point, the
trail follows a more gradual course into a mossy basin where big
trees
and wildflowers
flourish on the moisture provided by a perennial stretch
of Cima Creek. In this idyllic setting you’ll find a couple
of old Forest Service cabins where Forest officers once spent spring
and summer. It is a restful
spot to view history before completing the last stretch
of the 1,600 foot climb to the Crest Trail #270 at Cima Park.
An alternate way to access the Greenhouse Trail is
via the Basin Trail off Forest Road 42. This friendly
pathway follows a moderate
gradient through oak/pine woodland, past Welch Seep,
to a junction with the Greenhouse Trail at the end
of FR 713. The Basin Trail is a good
place to see white-tailed deer and other wildlife.
This trail is also accessible via the Ash Spring Trail #247A out
of
Herb Martyr Campground.
Attractions:
Views of Winn Falls and Cave Creek
Wildflowers and big trees
Access to high country
Historic cabins
Season: Spring, summer, fall
Length: 4.1 miles (#248), 2.8 miles (#600)
Elevation: 6,240'-9,240'
Rating: Most difficult (#248), more difficult (#600)
Use: Moderate
USGS Map(s): Chiricahua Peak, Portal, Rustler Park
Access: From Tucson, take I-10 east 139 miles to
US 80 (you will cross the New Mexico
border to get to this intersection). Turn right (south)
and drive 28 miles,
then turn right (west) on the road to Portal, 7 miles.
Drive west on
FR
42
approximately 4 miles, turn left
(west) on FR 42A and continue 2 miles to FR 713 (4-wheel
drive road). The trailhead is at the end of FR 713.
Forest Road 42 is a gravel road suitable for passenger
vehicles. It is open April through November. The road
is not plowed
and is usually
closed
following
snowstorms.
The road is rough and dusty and may be muddy and slick
after a rain.
Notes:
3.3 miles of the Greenhouse Trail are within the Chiricahua
Wilderness.
Motorized and mechanized vehicles and equipment, including
mountain bikes, are not permitted in Wilderness.
See the Wilderness section
of this guide
for more
wilderness rules and ethics.
Before using this trail, call the Douglas Ranger
District for a report on current trail conditions
which can
vary with season,
weather and
maintenance status.
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