50-Year Trail
March 20, 2005
50-Year Trail, March 20, 2005
'd heard of a network of trails in the Catalina foothills but never explored the area until unsettled weather caused us to call off our plans for a two-day backpacking trip.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/catalinas/images/50year03dn.jpg)
This area is an amusement park for mountain bikes.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/catalinas/images/50year02.jpg)
The roller coaster is an area called "The Chutes."
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/catalinas/images/50year02dn.jpg)
Almost as many thrills as paragliding, eh Dennis?
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/catalinas/images/50year03.jpg)
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/catalinas/images/50yearjackelope.jpg)
In addition to a carpet of spring wildflowers, we got up close and personal with a bona fide Arizona jackelope.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/catalinas/images/50yearmariposa.jpg)
All this about a 20-minute ride from downtown Tucson. Does any other U.S. city have a backdrop to rival our magnificent and mysterious Catalinas?
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/catalinas/images/50year04.jpg)