With the southern Arizona temperatures cooling off a little we decided to visit Madera Canyon which is in the Santa Rita mountains. Madera Canyon is located about halfway between Tucson and the border. The canyon is an internationally renowned birding location, so it was a perfect place for Valerie to spend a few days and there is some great hiking in the nearby Mt Wrightson wilderness area so Dean was happy. There is a small 13 site campground in Madera Canyon, and we were luck to get one of the three sites that will accommodate larger rigs. The surrounding forest land and state trust land is also available for boondocking.
Lots of Coues Deer in the Area
The hike to the Carrie Nation Mine was a challenge but it was interesting to see a 1915 copper mine. Would have loved to seen the inside but the water was fairly deep and who knows what is inside an old mine.
The
remains of an old steam engine used at the 1915 mine site. Note sure
how they managed to get the boiler to the site as even today there are
no roads for miles.
