| About Coronado National Forest |
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| Centella Trail |
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Ending Elevation:
9,260 Feet
Usage:
Light
Length:
1.9 Miles
Elevation Gain:
180 Feet
Difficulty:
More Difficult
Beginning Elevation:
9,080 Feet
USGS Maps:
Chiricahua Pk, Rustler Pk
Trail Number:
334
Reservation:
No
Season:
Spring - Summer
From Tucson, Take I-10 east 81 miles to State Route 186. Turn south and continue for 23 miles to State Route 181. Turn east towards Chiricahua National Monument and drive 4 miles to Forest Road #42. Continue up Pinery Canyon 12 miles to FR 42D. Drive about 2.5 miles to the Rustler Park Campground. Access this trail via the Crest Trail about 2.5 miles from the campground.
Location Information
For travelers along the Crest Trail, this trail is part of a system that leads to a number of interesting features including Flys Peak, Bear Wallow Spring, Tub Spring and scenic Centella Point.This trail branches from the Crest Trail #270 along the stretch that lies between Flys Park and Round Park, just south of the Wilderness boundary. Centella Trail heads east from a junction where the Long Park, Crest and Flys Peak Trails intersect. The trip to Centella Point, with its panoramic overlooks of the Cave Creek Basin, is 1.9 miles long. "Centella" is the Spanish word for thunderbolt. Be sure to notice the trees which have been struck by lightening on this exposed point. This area, which was the site of a small but hot fire in 1987, provides an excellent opportunity to observe how the forest regenerates after such a disturbance. Aspen, one of the first tree species to sprout after a fire, are growing on the north end of the ridge. Various wildflowers and grasses cover much of the fire site. Insects and birds are plentiful, and animals such as black bear seem to welcome rather than regret the meadow having been created. Motorized and mechanized vehicles and equipment, including mountain bikes, are not permitted in Wilderness Areas.
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