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The Saga of Big Red LbNA #73570

Owner:Martini Man
Plant date:Feb 2, 2019
Location:
City:Oro Valley
County:Pima
State:Arizona
Boxes:5
Found by: Norse Gnome (5)
Last found:Mar 15, 2022
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Feb 5, 2019
Location: kraP etatS anilataC

Distance: 2 miles, 200’ elevation change

Time: 1 - 1.5 hours depending on your pace

Terrain: Sandy horse trail. Some uphill walking, but nothing dramatic. Hiking shoes and poles are strongly recommended as is plenty of water since this is the desert. Head protection from the sun is also a must. Finding this box in the warmer months is not recommended as this place can get very hot.

Enter the park (fee) and head to the equestrian center and park in the designated area for vehicles without trailers. Restrooms are available at this location. Once parked, head to the trailhead at the north end of the lot to find the 50 Year Trail. Take trail to a “T”, turn left, than left again at the fork, which puts you on the 50 Year Trail. You will have a sharp incline to ascend and then you will walk a ways as the trail levels out. Watch for some large white boulders on the right and a short lonely saguaro between two large Palo Verde trees on your left. Walk to the larger tree on the right side discovering that it harbors a fearsome foursome of saguaros. When there you should walk 20 steps north to a large rock. Turn west to spot a saguaro in a tree. Look behind it under a rock between the fork of dead limbs for Young Big Red.

Returning to the trail, continue on, crossing a small wash. Pass a water tank on the right. When the trail curves left, continue straight into a clearing. Follow the open area to the right to spot the top of a saguaro to the south. Find your easiest path walking to that multi armed saguaro. Roping Him In is located near the base of the last Palo Verde on the left before running into some prickly pear cacti.

Return to the main trail and continue northwards until you reach a saguaro with one small arm on its backside on the left edge of the trail. Stop here and take a bearing of 300 degrees to spot some rocks between two armless saguaros. Big Red Goes to His First Ride is behind the rocks.

Return to the trail and retrace your steps back toward the equestrian center. Continue on until you reach a large five armed saguaro on the left edge of the trail. From this point, take a bearing of 295 degrees and walk in 27 steps. Look north to spot a Palo Verde 8 steps away. Big Red in His Prime is behind a rock at the base of that tree.

Walk back to the trail and continue on past the water tank. After taking a sharp left turn in the trail you will move on until reaching a spot in the trail where there is another sharp left to begin going more steeply downhill. At this point, spot a Palo Verde hugging a single saguaro at the corner on the right. Walk in 15 steps stepping between that tree and its neighbor. Take a bearing of 210 degrees and 28 more steps to find Big Red Retires nestled between split rocks and concealed by more rocks. Return to the trail and complete your walk back to your car.


Hike length: 1-2 miles