Log In. Until that point, we would hike through grazing areas and meet lots of friendly cows. We found it, and it was breathtaking. Next generation ranger Ryan Summers, left, and wilderness ranger Shannon McCloskey look over the camps visitors log shortly after arriving at Manning Camp 8,000 feet above sea level in … in The views as we ascended were spectacular, and they were enhanced by the huge boulders and rocky terrain. But we had it all to ourselves. And watching our step because of those friendly cows. After our trip, we asked at a visitor center, and were told an NPS intern should have been staying up there in the cabin. Be prepared. You get to relax, enjoy the views, nature, and get away from crowds and work. The trail started out in Happy Valley Saddle, which is the region between Rincon Peak and Mica Mountain. The trail was sandy, with shiny mica bits. Civano has a median listing price of $325K , making it the most expensive city . After filtering water, we went and picked a campsite that we thought looked private. This is the desert, so water sources are hard to come by. I'll also check with the Park Service before we go, but their information is often a bit sketchy. Create Recommended Route or Trail . The water we had passed through on the way there had subsided, so it was easier to cross. Difficulty: Difficult due to elevation gain, long days, and rough trail in some areas When the national park was established, the cabin and surrounding areas were restored and used as a campground, corral, and research station. Getting there involves a relatively tough hike across the aptly-named Heartbreak Ridge. After our long hike down from the mountain, we'll have a 90-minute drive back to the Visitor Center at Saguaro National Park East. We plan to do it again someday, and when we do, we’d make it a 5-day trip, adding days to hike the trails we missed. Date Visited: We did this backpacking trip from April 17, 2017 to April 19, 2017, Places: At the terminus of East Slope Trail is Spud Rock campground. We waved goodbye, and were soon greeted with the sounds of a stream. There was a fire ring, but we didn’t feel like going through the hassle of making a fire, when we could just crawl into the tent and get warm instead. Explore all real estate & homes in . Happy Valley, where we’d stay the first night, did not have a spring – only ephemeral water from snow melt. We settled in, made some dinner, and were exhausted so went to sleep shortly after. My initial thought was Douglas Spring, since I had found a route from Backpacker Magazine for that trailhead. Something about it all just makes your body and soul feel good. Once again, we were the only ones in the campground. ft. single-family home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. Manning Camp is the site of an old homestead. But we did have enough time to hike to Spud Rock. Same area We walked on the side of the road, and jumped across a narrow part of the stream. Our initial plan after arriving at Manning Camp was to hike the intersecting trails north of the campground that led to the highest points in Saguaro National Park. We hadn’t seen any water since we passed Miller Creek at the start of the trail. We wanted to get an early start, especially with much of the trail being exposed to the sun. Kristin and I grabbed some energy chews and water, then walked through camp past the cabin. At a minimum, the total charges will be $24.00 for the group. and set up our first camp. Particularly Special Place. Number observed: 4. Whoops. New construction in 2017!! We’ll be back. It would be a bit more strenuous with steeper trails, and the last day would have a decent chunk of mileage. A variety of boulders made for gorgeous scenery and interesting terrain. There were pine needles littering the ground, so we had to be cautious to avoid slipping. Not expecting much from a dirt road, we were surprised when it had great views. Each of those campsites can hold two or three tents. We hiked through it as the winds rustled the grasses, and we felt as though we had been magically transported somewhere else. So we enjoyed the view, walked around, took photos, and were just glad to see water. Fabulous open floor plan, great for entertaining; Large Master Suite with porcelain tile and custom glass; Gourmet kitchen with granite countertops; details, details, details. As a result, we each packed 5 liters of water (a 3-liter bladder, and two 1-liter water bottles). Our rental car was a Nissan Rogue – no 4 wheel drive, but it had a higher clearance. Hotel staff recommended a restaurant called Pablo’s Steaks. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed…it was Easter Sunday. Manning Camp is the site of an old homestead. And eat. Who knows how long they’ve been there, but they were still helpful. There’s a cabin at the campground that was built in 1905 by Levi Manning, a mayor of Tucson. That left us with Tanque Verde. Sunglasses are essential on this trail, which is mostly exposed to the sun. Camp at Manning Camp. We grabbed a rock, threw it in, and it made a big splash. Before we knew it, we were onto Forest Road 35 (Happy Valley Road), a dirt road going through the Coronado National Forest. It had also gotten pretty cold out. this wonderful three-night backpacking trip in Tucson's backyard. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). It was the highlight of our visit to Saguaro National Park. We wanted to get to Manning Camp at a decent time so we could do additional hikes around it. However, this trail will eventually become a part of the Arizona Trail, since it is the shortest route from Madrona ranger station to Manning Camp. We hoped it would turn out better than our attempt to climb Rincon Peak. We found campsite #3 to be the best, as it was the furthest removed from the trail, had log chairs, a leftover portable table, bear box, and fire ring. Happy Valley Road also became sandier and bumpier as we passed ranches and pastures, and continued to enjoy mountain views. Campsite #2 seemed to be the least desirable, mainly because it didn’t seem to have a bear box. looping dayhikes we can do on Saturday, and we'll figure that out once we're up there. Our only complaint with the shade was having to share it with small, annoying bugs. Finding what sunshine we could, we sat there eating our oatmeal. At this point, we had also started seeing pine trees, which made sense, since we were at an elevation of around 6,200 feet! Sign Up or Log In. 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