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Coronado Hiking Trails |
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Sycamore Canyon Trail #40 & Border Trail #45
Most of those who come to visit in this area are drawn
here by the unique environment of Sycamore Canyon. Home of one of
the few perennial streams in extreme southern
Arizona, it supports such a diverse plant and animal community that part
of it has been designated the Goodding Research Natural Area. Over
625 species
of plants have been identified here, many of which are rare and/or endangered.
Sycamore Canyon’s animal life is extremely diverse as well, especially
its birds. Over 130 species have been identified as frequent visitors here.
Among those are colorful vermilion flycatchers and various warblers, raptors
and herons.
The trail starts out at the Hank and Yank Ruins. The remnants
of an old adobe wall are all that’s left of a Civil War-era homestead that was pioneered
in this canyon by Hank Hewitt and Yank Bartlett. The trail itself exists only
in a few places along the floor of Sycamore Canyon. More generally it just
follows the stream, crossing it and recrossing it via stepping stones and gravel
bars.
As the canyon meanders toward Mexico, pinnacles and sheer rock cliffs that
form the canyon walls occasionally crowd the stream so that a little fancy
footwork
is required. A number of pools in the inner reaches of the canyon usually hold
water year-round.
About 5 miles downstream of the trailhead, the canyon opens
out and crosses a barbed wire fence that marks the Arizona/Mexico
border. Here, you can either
turn around and return the way you came or turn east and travel along a
little-used pathway called the Border Trail. This foot and horse
path was put here to
provide access for maintenance of the international boundary fence. It
leads over the
grassy foothills of the Pajaritos to the end of the Summit Motorway (FR
39A), which may sound like a thoroughfare, but it’s a 4-wheel drive road.
Attractions:
Scenic canyon
Streamside trail
Colorful songbirds/rare plants
Historic site
Travel the international border
Season: Fall, winter, spring
Length: 5.3 miles (#40), 4 miles (#45)
Elevation: 5,000'-3,400'
Rating: More difficult
Use: Light
USGS Map(s): Ruby
Access: Turn west off Interstate 19 at the Peña Blanca/Ruby Road ( AZ
Hwy 289). The exit is approximately 8 miles north of Nogales. Follow this road
9 miles to Peña Blanca Recreation Area where the
pavement ends and the Arivaca-Ruby Road becomes FR 39.
Drive a total
of 8.5 miles from the end of
the pavement to the Sycamore Canyon Road (FR 218) which
turns left (south) to the
trailhead at the Hank and Yank Ruins historical marker.
To get to the Border Trail turn off FR 39 onto the Summit
Motorway (FR 39A) 2.5 miles from the end of the pavement
at Peña
Blanca Lake. FR 39A is a 4-wheel drive road.
Notes:
5.1 mi. of the Sycamore Canyon Trail and all of the
Border Trail are within Pajarita 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.
Sycamore Canyon Trail ends at the U.S./Mexican
Border
No camping in Goodding Research Natural Area.
Before visiting this trail, call the Nogales
Ranger District for current trail conditions
which can
vary with season,
weather and maintenance
status.
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