On Thursday, November 10, 2022, Sean and I finished up our afternoon on the western side of Saguaro National Park by exploring some of the Tucson Mountain District’s northernmost areas, including sunset under Panther Peak (3,435 feet).

We had just come from the western unit’s scenic drive. After exiting the Park, we reentered on Picture Rocks Road and crossed the unit before turning around. Now headed west, we pulled over at Box Canyon Trailhead, which gave us some killer views of low clouds over the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. They are protected as part of the USDA Forest Service’s Coronado National Forest.

Instead of setting out into the network of trails south of the road, we headed northeast up a wash in a fairly narrow canyon.

After twenty minutes, we exited the canyon into a broad wash. I kept an eye out for Javelina. I really wanted the Javelina to be the commemorative animal for this Park. And we were very close to a residential area as Tucson expanded into the foothills, so my hopes were high.

Sadly, there were no Javelinas.

Sean had waited for me back where the canyon intersected with the wash, and we headed back toward the trailhead.

In all, it was a good little forty-five minute walk.

Next we drove over to Cam-Boh Trailhead right on the western edge of Park. The shadows were long, and it was getting too late for a proper hike. But we decided to walk a short way north on Rattlesnake Trail to take photos and look for Javelinas.

The trail is technically in federally designated wilderness, but it is right at the edge of the Park boundary, with modest homes visible just beyond.

It was about a quarter to five, and the late autumn sun was setting quickly.

Ahead of us, Panther Peak anchored the northwestern edge of the Tucson Mountains.

Safford Peak to Panther’s east is slightly higher (3,563 feet), but Panther is far more striking.

We kept wandering casually up the trail toward Panther until we wandered off trail and decided to make our way back (after we found the trail again) before the sun fully set.

As we wandered along, we spotted Gambel’s Quail and an American Kestrel, but I didn’t get any good photos of them.

Back past the parking area, we wandered around the picnic area waiting for the sun to finish setting and admiring the views. A Gila Woodpecker having its dinner was very irritated with our presense.

The golden sunset did not disappoint on this first day in the Sonoran Desert.

We waited out the twilight until almost 5:30, then headed east over Contzen Pass and into northern Tucson. We stopped at a Whole Foods for some snacks and drinks for our hotel room on the way back to The Graduate.

For dinner we walked the short distance (fifteen minutes) to Boca on 4th Avenue. Sean and I are both fans of Top Chef, and it was fun to check out a restaurant owned by Tucson native, Maria Mazon, from Top Chef, Portland.

The food was great, particularly the salsa flights.

Afterward, we wandered back to the hotel and relaxed with chocolate and Law & Order: SVU before going to sleep. We would need to be up early the next morning for our sunrise Ranger walk.