| About Coronado National Forest |
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| Greaterville Trail |
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Elevation Gain:
2,290 Feet
USGS Map:
Mt Wrightson
Usage:
Light
Trail Number:
79
Ending Elevation:
8,040 Feet
Difficulty:
Most Difficult
Beginning Elevation:
5,750 Feet
Length:
2.5 Miles
Reservation:
No
Season:
January - December
From Tucson, Leave Interstate 19 at the Continental Road/Madera Canyon Exit 63. Turn east and follow the Madera Canyon Road 7.3 miles to the Forest Road 62 cutoff. Turn east on Forest Road 62, Box Canyon Road, and continue along this scenic drive about 9 miles to Forest Road 229. Turn south on Forest Road 229. Follow it across the private property at Greaterville to Forest Road 165 and turn north and west through Melendrez Pass to the trailhead at the end of the road.
Location Information
Greaterville is, or rather was, a small mining town in the northeastern foothills of the Santa Ritas. Reportedly, it was named after a pioneer named Greater. Today, it is noticeable only as a couple of fence lines and cattle guards marked with private property signs that one must cross to get to the Greaterville Trailhead.The Greaterville Trail, combined with the East Sawmill Canyon Trail, provides access from the northeast to Florida Saddle, one of the major trail crossroads in the Santa Rita Range. This saddle marks the beginning of the Crest Trail that leads to the summit of Mt. Wrightson. The Greaterville and East Sawmill Canyon Trails pass through an area of rugged, scrub oak-clad ridges and forested canyons that slope gradually toward the Santa Ritas. Both offer views to the east of the Whetstones and Mustangs, as well as to the west of Mt. Wrightson and the Santa Rita crest. Closer at hand, ponderosa pines, alligator junipers, and Emory, white and silverleaf oaks make up most of the scenery. This area is good wildlife habitat. There are healthy populations of Coues white-tailed deer in the area and, if your eye is sharp enough to see them before they flush, you might spot some scaled quail or Montezuma quail . From the western terminus of East Sawmill Canyon Trail, you can head north into Florida Canyon, south and east along Cave Creek Canyon, or continue along the Crest Trail to the top of the Santa Ritas. One mile of the Greaterville Trail is within the Mt. Wrightson Wilderness.
No Mechanized vehicles, or Mountain bikes permitted in Wilderness areas.
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