Parker Lake

PARKER CANYON LAKE HIKE & WINE TASTING

Join the Muleteam this Saturday April 5th for a scenic hike around the shores of one of the few lakes in the Sonoita area. This is an easy hike, about 5 miles round trip on a mostly flat trail in a natural setting with and great views and (usually) ducks and herons. Bring water and lunch. After the hike there will be an optional wine tasting at Callaghan Vineyards on Elgin Road near Sonoita. Meet April 5th at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to carpool. This is a very scenic drive of about 1½ hours through beautiful country on the west side of the Huachucas. Free, but gas donation is appreciated. For more details contact Doug at 520-432-0307 or reiniger@wyoming.com, and for the current Muleteam hike and season schedule go to muleteam.blogspot.com.

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BACKTRACK - Turkey Pen

A good time was had by all!  All 3 of us.  (Turkey Pen Trail is BEAUTIFUL) - Laura

More photos at Photos 2024-25 - Join the page and add a few of your own photos.

Archive Photos:

Past seasons: Photos 2023-24 - Photos 2022-23 - Photos 2021-22 

Other Photos: Picacho Peak 2014 - 20th Anniversary Photo Book

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The web page muleteam.blogspot.com has the current hike and schedule. Also go there to subscribe to the Muleteam weekly email (125 followers). 

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SCHEDULE 2024-2025

 

April

12 - Old Bisbee art stairs with Larry

19-20 - Rucker hike and campout in the Chiricahuas with Carol

26 - South Perimeter Trail in the Huachucas with Ed King

May

3 - West Tombstone Canyon last hike and potluck with Susan Mayes

Turkey Pen

This hikes meets 8am.

HIKE TURKEY PEN TRAIL IN THE CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS
Join the Muleteam on March 29th for a hike on the Turkey Pen Trail, one of the easier trails close to Bisbee in the Chiricahuas. The trail begins on Turkey Creek Road and ends at Rock Creek at Fitch corral. About halfway it passes the very scenic Fife Canyon trail. This is a moderate 3.14 mile hike in good condition mostly following an old logging road. We will pass the Johnny Ringo State Historical Landmark (Johnny Ringo’s gravesite) while driving to the trailhead and stop on the way back for those who want to say hello to Johnny. This is a 90 minute drive to the trail from Bisbee, so we will meet at 8:00am (instead of 9:00am) at the Bisbee Courthouse fountain. Carpooling is strongly recommended. For more details, contact Steve at sss@theriver.com or call (520) 432-7770.

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BACKTRACK - Guindani trail, Whetstones

We had 14 hikers and 3 dogs for our outing this time with at least 3 hikers
from Sierra Vista. A couple of hikers who went to the Iron Man at 9 did their
own hike. We were on the trail by 9:20 and it got warm but never too hot.
We went up the south side first – the sun and rocks side while it was still
cooler. There was evidence of a fire on this side of mountain, with dying
barrel cacti and agaves, but the north side was clear of signs of fire, and
actually quite lush for such a time of drought. We had brunch on the saddle at
the high point of the trail. Some hikers’ compass app said we were at 5610
feet there. Sadly there were only 2 puddles of water in the creek bed that
comes down the canyon on the north side, though the dogs did enjoy a romp
in the water. Everyone was back in the parking lot by 1 p.m. - Monica

More photos at Photos 2024-25 - Join the page and add a few of your own photos.

Archive Photos:

Past seasons: Photos 2023-24 - Photos 2022-23 - Photos 2021-22 

Other Photos: Picacho Peak 2014 - 20th Anniversary Photo Book

__________________

Subscribe for the email

The web page muleteam.blogspot.com has the current hike and schedule. Also go there to subscribe to the Muleteam weekly email (125 followers). 

• With a computer/laptop add your email address in the subscription box upper right. 

• To subscribe by phone scroll to the bottom and click "view web version", click the subscription box to enlarge and add your email address.

____________________

SCHEDULE 2024-2025

 

April

5 - Parker Canyon Lake and wine tasting with Doug

12 - Old Bisbee art stairs with Larry

19-20 - Rucker hike and campout in the Chiricahuas with Carol

26 - South Perimeter Trail in the Huachucas with Ed King

May

3 - West Tombstone Canyon last hike and potluck with Susan Mayes

Guindani Trail

This hike meets at 8am.

HIKE GUINDANI TRAIL FROM KARTCHNER CAVERNS STATE PARK
Join the Muleteam this Saturday March 22nd for a hike in the Whetstone Mountains beginning in Kartchner Caverns State Park. The Guindani trail is a 4.2-mile loop. The trail is lovely in that there are no skree and the elevation is below Bisbee so the breathing is easy. One half is in the shade of a treed canyon with a steep hike. The other half is in the sun with very gradually lowering elevation. We will lunch on the saddle with lovely views. 
It is about a one-hour drive to Kartchner Caverns, on Hwy 90 from Sierra Vista almost to Benson.  To give us more time, we will meet March 22nd at 8:00am (not 9:00am) by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain or meet at the park entrance at 8:45am. Dogs on leashes welcome. Bring water and lunch. There is a State Park entrance fee of $10 per person or $20 per vehicle for 2 to 4 people (so carpooling is highly recommended). We should return around 3:30 pm. For more details contact Monica at 520-461-6799 or sometimesthelight@hotmail.com.

The Whetstone Mountains are named for a common rock there, novaculite, also called flint, used to sharpen knife blades.  The Whetstones are also notorious for being where Wyatt Earp shot and killed Curly Bill Brocius.  And what’s more, the dinosaur fossil, Sonorasaurus thompsoni from the Cretaceous Period was found there in 1998. 

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BACKTRACK - Juniper Flats

7am - We probably have four inches of snow here at Mule Pass; Old Divide road is likely unsafe for the tires on many Bisbee typical cars, not sure if the Old Divide Road is even closed or not; Juniper Flats is in a cloud with forecasted 40 degrees, 65% humidity, and 25+ knots of wind. I will drive down from Mule Pass if I can to the Iron Man at 9 in my 4WD and tell anyone who shows up there that the hike is cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. - Dave

One brave soul hiked the Juniper Flats. It actually turned out to be a nice hike. While there was a strong cold wind, a good part of the hike was sheltered by the mountains. Near the top it was quite windy, but as long as you were dressed for the weather it was fine. - Ed

More photos at Photos 2024-25 - Join the page and add a few of your own photos.

Archive Photos:

Past seasons: Photos 2023-24 - Photos 2022-23 - Photos 2021-22 

Other Photos: Picacho Peak 2014 - 20th Anniversary Photo Book

__________________

Subscribe for the email

The web page muleteam.blogspot.com has the current hike and schedule. Also go there to subscribe to the Muleteam weekly email (125 followers). 

• With a computer/laptop add your email address in the subscription box upper right. 

• To subscribe by phone scroll to the bottom and click "view web version", click the subscription box to enlarge and add your email address.

____________________

SCHEDULE 2024-2025

March

29 - Turkey Pen in the Chiricahuas with Steve Sklarow

 

April

5 - Parker Canyon Lake and wine tasting with Doug

12 - Old Bisbee art stairs with Larry

19-20 - Rucker hike and campout in the Chiricahuas with Carol

26 - South Perimeter Trail in the Huachucas with Ed King

May

3 - West Tombstone Canyon last hike and potluck with Susan Mayes

Juniper Flats

HIKE JUNIPER FLATS

The Muleteam will lead a hike from Mule Pass into Juniper Flats in the Mule Mountains, with lunch at a scenic picnic site after about 2.5 miles, between the 1st and 2nd Towers. We’ll start at Mule Pass, hiking Juniper Flats Road and will enjoy a panoramic 750 foot ascent to Juniper Flats. Roughly 2.5 miles in, there is a nice lunch area on a granite outcrop overlooking where the waterfalls would cascade during the monsoon season. The hike is about 5 miles total on mostly easy roads. Back early afternoon. Meet on March 15th at 9:00am at the Bisbee Courthouse fountain. For more details contact Dave Reed at daveincaz@gmail.com.

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BACKTRACK - China Camp

Despite the early morning snow and cold, we had eleven people and one dog at the China Camp trailhead.  Ten proceeded to the route while one walked behind for a short distance then returned to the parking lot with a good book to pass the time.  Periodically the sun came out from behind the clouds and warmed us up.  The views were great!  Three bovine tried to block our forward progress but eventually, with a little convincing, decided to move and allowed us to pass.  Lunch was by a couple puddles of water, but a pretty spot to relax and chat.  We arrived back at the cars earlier than expected. All in all a great hike. - Sandy

More photos at Photos 2024-25 - Join the page and add a few of your own photos.

Archive Photos:

Past seasons: Photos 2023-24 - Photos 2022-23 - Photos 2021-22 

Other Photos: Picacho Peak 2014 - 20th Anniversary Photo Book

__________________

Subscribe for the email

The web page muleteam.blogspot.com has the current hike and schedule. Also go there to subscribe to the Muleteam weekly email. 

• With a computer/laptop add your email address in the subscription box upper right. 

• To subscribe by phone scroll to the bottom and click "view web version", click the subscription box to enlarge and add your email address.

____________________

SCHEDULE 2024-2025

March

22 - Guindani Trail in the Whetstones with Monica

29 - Turkey Pen in the Chiricahuas with Steve Sklarow

 

April

5 - Parker Canyon Lake and wine tasting with Doug

12 - Old Bisbee art stairs with Larry

19-20 - Rucker hike and campout in the Chiricahuas with Carol

26 - South Perimeter Trail in the Huachucas with Ed King

May

3 - West Tombstone Canyon last hike and potluck with Susan Mayes

China Camp

HIKE TO CHINA CAMP
Join the Muleteam this Saturday, March 8th, for a hike in the Dragoon Mountains on an old mining road with wonderful views. This hike starts with little elevation gain then changes to a moderate uphill to the camp ruins and down the same way for a little more than 5 miles total. Lunch will be by a creek, and there will be no climb to the peak! Bring water and lunch. Dogs welcome. Back mid-afternoon. Meet Saturday by 9am at the Old Bisbee Courthouse fountain to carpool (about an hour). Free, but gas donation is appreciated. For more details contact Sandy at (520) 353-5124 or slajudice@yahoo.com.

Alternate meeting spots:
Anyone wanting to can meet the group at the turnoff from Hwy. 80 onto Middlemarch Road. Please be there by 9:30. We will drive on Middlemarch Road about 1-3/4 mile beyond where the road branches off to the left toward Slavin Gulch and Council Rocks. There is a large dirt parking area on the left where we will park and start hiking. 

 
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BACKTRACK - Fairbank 

The 2025 San Pedro Riverside Picnic was one of the best in our 15-year history. Twenty-two hikers and one dog took advantage of this wonderful hike on a sunny and slightly breezy day. As planned, we spread out the tablecloths in the shade of a giant Cottonwood tree, put out the food and drinks and had a very long and relaxing lunch. Our tradition of many kinds of delicious homemade food, starting with wine and Laura’s Margaritas, continued as strong as ever with contributions by new Mules. When we reluctantly returned to the trails, about half of the group continued back to Fairbank on the trial along the river/train track and the other half took the same path back. We all arrived at about the same time with fond memories. - Doug

More photos at Photos 2024-25 - Join the page and add a few of your own photos.

Archive Photos:

Past seasons: Photos 2023-24 - Photos 2022-23 - Photos 2021-22 

Other Photos: Picacho Peak 2014 - 20th Anniversary Photo Book

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SIDETRACK - shirts?

Surplus Muleteam shirts for sale: 2 regular and 2 large, $15 each

Text Larry at 520-224-4951

__________________

Subscribe for the email

The web page muleteam.blogspot.com has the current hike and schedule. Also go there to subscribe to the Muleteam weekly email. 

• With a computer/laptop add your email address in the subscription box upper right. 

• To subscribe by phone scroll to the bottom and click "view web version", click the subscription box to enlarge and add your email address.

____________________

SCHEDULE 2024-2025

March

15 - Lower Miller Canyon in the Huachucas? with Amy and Dave Reed

22 - Guindani Trail in the Whetstones with Monica

29 - Douglas hike or Cochise Stronghold with Kelly

 

April

5 - Parker Canyon Lake and wine tasting with Doug

12 - Old Bisbee art stairs with Larry

19-20 - Rucker hike and campout in the Chiricahuas with Carol

26 - South Perimeter Trail in the Huachucas with Ed King

May

3 - West Tombstone Canyon last hike and potluck with Susan Mayes