Bowen Stone House / Agua Caliente

February 6, 2025

It’s another split day. Rachael’s leveraging the free bus service to take a hike west into the foothills of the Tucson Mountains, on a route she picked out herself; and I’m after another of my stretch goals, biking out to Agua Caliente State Park for some birding. It’s a warm day and I could have gotten an earlier start, but I wait around until Rachael is also ready to go to make sure she sets off in the right direction for the bus stop she’s after.

The Bowen Stone House

This was my favorite hike so far. I still has some issues with taking the bus to the start because I had to wait about 40 minutes in the heat to catch my bus. And then the bus driver changed before I got to the end point and didn’t stop where I was supposed to get off. This added a mile to my hike so I hiked 13 miles rather than 12. That’s okay because 13 is a lucky number for me. Part of the hike was on sidewalks and bike lanes that were scenic and the rest was on trails. The trail to the Stone house was on a well marked beautiful trail! An to top it all off, I saw someone walking their goats just a few blocks from our Airbnb. I’ll let the slide show tell how wonderful it was.

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Karen PoretGreat video, Rachael! The selfie, the shadow and the goats on tether were awesome!
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1 week ago

Rachael AndersonTo Karen PoretThanks. It was a great hike!
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1 week ago

Agua Caliente Regional Park

Agua Caliente is well outside the core of the city, up in the northeast corner of the box. Other than Sweetwater though it’s probably Tucson’s best birding site near enough to bike to on a day ride, and there are a number of species I can hope to see here that are unlikely closer in to town.

Unfortunately, I don’t see any of them. I really should have gotten an earlier start - both because that’s when the birds are more likely to be ours but also because I really need a couple of hours out there to allow time for the walking paths out to the best locations.

I didn’t arrive at the park until around 1:30, and with still over 20 miles ahead of me I had to turn back too soon. Still though it was well worth the visit for the few interesting bird shots I did get, but also to be reminded of what an exceptionally lovely spot this is, a real oasis in the desert. I’ll try to make it out again in the next few weeks and arrive maybe two hours earlier.

The ride begins by following the University Bike Boulevard to the end at Wilmot, where I turn north and aim straight at the Catalina Range. A mile or so later Wilmot bends to the northeast and becomes Tanque Verde Road.

A new mural! This one’s on the side of the Scented Leaf Tea House.

It’s another Joe Pagac, who also likes sea creatures.

Tanque Verde Road is the primary cycling route northeast, leading depending on your choice of direction to Agua Caliente and beyond that to the gap at Remington Road, or north to Sabino Canyon, or northeast to the Catalina Highway and the ascent of Mount Lemmon. the split happens not long after crossing Pantano Wash.

I’m going east of course, which takes me past first Mo Udall Park and then across Tanque Verde Creek where I stop to admire the views east to the Rincon Mountains and across the National Park.

For the rest of the way to Agua Caliente the mountain views become increasingly spectacular, with first Mica Mountain standing straight up in your face and then there’s a long drop north to the wonderful Catalinas that are just right there.

East on Tanque Verde, with the views improving with every mile.

Finally I turn east again on Roger Road, and soon a row of palms announces that I’ve come to Agua Caliente.

Agua Caliente Park is on the left, the entrance just past the row of palms.

Agua Caliente is a true oasis in the desert, a hot spring fed by waters flowing down from the Catalina Mountains. It has a deep history, but the existence of the park itself stems back to the creation of a thermal hot spring resort in 1873. The fruit orchard and I assume the majestic palm trees all date back to its establishment.

In Agua Caliente State Park. The trees on this channel are all blackened from an apparent fire.

There should be enough information here for Bill to figure this one out.

So fast! The poor little guy never had a chance. Look at the size of that tank though! It must take a lot of fishie snacks to make a meal. He speared and swallowed four or five of them as I watched,

I don’t get far before coming to the end of the biking zone, so I lock up to a railing and start walking down one of the nature trails. This one passes through a long, deep mixed fruit orchard. The trail passes right below the eastern end of the Catalinas.

February’s is the Snow Moon, and will be full in four days. Looks like conditions should be good for another viewing.

I really don’t get far at all before it’s obvious I need to turn back if I don’t want another bad story day on my hands. I return to the bike, swing past the pond for a few last views at this exceptionally pretty spot, and head for home.

I make a bit of a loop out of the ride, biking west on Limberlost soon after leaving the park. I follow it for a few miles until it terminates at the Catalina Highway, the road to Mount Lemmon. I angle left onto it and sail west and downhill, dropping for nearly fifteen miles. I don’t really start climbing again until coming to Mountain Avenue where I leave the wash and head south toward the UofA campus and then home. I’m there well before dark - no bad story day this time.

Once I’m home I crack open a Guinness to celebrate the day and the fact that I’ve just checked off a thousand kilometers for the tour; and I start thinking ahead to when the right day will be to bike my age in miles again.

East on Limberlost Road, and the views just keep getting better.

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Today's ride: 42 miles (68 km)
Total: 634 miles (1,020 km)

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