9,456-foot (2,882 m) peak in the Santa Rita Mountains within the Coronado National Forest, in southern Arizona
General Information
Trailhead access via Madera Canyon Road; no overnight use at trailhead
Interagency and Coronado National Forest passes accepted
How to Get There
From Tucson, AZ (45 mi): Take I-19 S to Exit 63 (Continental Rd), head east, then turn south on Madera Canyon Rd and follow it to the end where the trailhead begins.
Overview
Mount Wrightson is the 9,456-foot summit of the Santa Rita Mountains in Coronado National Forest, rising nearly 7,000 feet above Tucson and known for its views from its bare peak. It was named for miner William Wrightson, killed by Apaches in 1865. It is a popular but demanding hike, and the area is a prime birding location where black bears are common.
Two trails start at the Madera Canyon trailhead: the Old Baldy Trail, a steady 5.4-mile climb of more than 4,000 feet, and the longer, gentler Super Trail (8.1 miles). They meet at Josephine Saddle, halfway up. The final approach is north-facing and can be icy in winter, and there are several springs along the way, though hikers should carry plenty of water. Trails cross forest that burned in the 2005 Florida Fire.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mount Wrightson", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
Featured Trails
Old Baldy Trail
11.4 mile loop, 4032 feet
Most popualr of of the two summit trails to the top of Mt Wrightson
