"The Tucson Real Estate Experts, your Experts in the Tucson Real Estate Market"

Hiking in Sabino Canyon

 

 

 

 

 Sabino Canyon and its Hiking Trails
 
Sabino Canyon
is situated in the Santa Catalina Mountain Range in the Coronado National Forest. It is a joy to hike, but in the Summer months you have to go pretty early to beat the sun.

 

hike2.jpg 

 

There are a variety of trails in Sabino Canyon, and some people choose to walk along the road that goes up in the canyon. The road meanders across Sabino Creek and there are nine bridges. The road route has the most amazing views of the creek, the riparian vegetation, stunning Saguaros on the canyon walls, and towering rock formations which are dotted all around in the Santa Catalina Mountain range. The trails vary in length and elevation, but go from around 2800 ft to 3300 ft above sea level and to about 9.2 miles in length. 

sabino canyon2.jpg

 

In the spring there is an abundance of water in Sabino Creek and many people go swimming, however the rest of the year the water is lower as the Creek is not a fresh spring, but a waterway for the winter melt off of the mountain snow.People are advised not the drink the water.

sabino creek_1.jpg

 

Bikers are allowed before 9am in the morning in Sabino Canyon, but after that the road is for walkers and the trolley bus. 

 For those that would like to walk part of the way, but not the full 3.8 miles up to the top of the Canyon and back, there is a trolley bus that will take you back.

For an overview of Sabino Canyon and its desert flora, you can ride the trolley both ways.

There is no excuse for not getting out there in the beautiful desert sunshine!

Eddie and a few friends, Carl Aune, and builder Bryan Ayers decided to do a 10 mile hike of Sabino Canyon starting at five in the morning last weekend.

For those of you no accustomed to being up at five, this is pretty standard especially in the Summer months here!

They took some beautiful photos along the way, and met some desert critters too.

hike3.jpg

 

 
The phonline hike is a more difficult hike in Sabino Canyon. It rises up far above the desert below and gives you spectacular views of Tucson and the surrounding area. The path is good, and there is variety along the way. Some areas are steep, but there are level areas where you can recompose yourself.

 

The trail zig zags down the mountain at the top of the trail and joins the road for the journey back. There are bathrooms along the road stops, so be advised to make sure that you relieve yourself before the hike!

hike5.jpg

 

 

Desert critters are a common experience to see on the trails, and in the Winter months, you also see Deer early in the morning.

hike6.jpg

hike4.jpg

Eddie, Carl and Bryan were really close to this Rattlesnake who happened to be mature. Rattlesnakes don’t like us either, so if you keep a wide berth the will not usually bother you.

hike11.jpg

hke1.jpg

 

 

If you are planning a visit this Winter to Tucson, Arizona give us a call …..we hike in Sabino Canyon every day during the Winter months and would love to show you around!

Anne and Eddie McKechnie

Tucson Real Estate Experts Team , Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 2890 E Skyline Drive, Ste 250, Tucson, Az, 85718, Direct Office Phone (520)529-7507,  Email them at info@thetucsonexperts.com

Search the Tucson MLS 

Experts in Tucson Real Estate, Oro Valley Real Estate, Marana Real Estate, Vail Az Real Estate, Sahuarita Real Estate in Pima County.

Tucson Real Estate Market still experiencing increased Buyer activity

From the Recent Press Release:

"Tucson is still experiencing a significant increase in buyer activity,  as we head into the Fall/Winter Season.
The amount of active Tucson Home listings on the market was 6,095. This is a decrease of 25% from the same time last year in August 2008.

There were also a total of 957 closings in August 2009,
When compared to the same time last year, the sales figured are up by 6%.

Tucson home inventory on the market is also showing a decrease which appears to be reinforcing the latest trend for Tucson.
In August this figure was  6.4, a significant decrease from  9.0 in August 2008.

However, the median price of sold homes was $162,500 for the month of August 2009, which has reduced 12% from August 2008.

It is therefore a great time to purchase a home as Tucson prices are very affordable, inventory is coming down and home prices appear to be stabilising.
New home builders are offering great incentives for you to buy before the first time home buyers tax credit runs out on November 30th 2009.
New property Tucson home sales are up 52% from the same time last year in August of 2008.

The inventory of homes has reduced in the Foothills. 85718 now has around 8 months of inventory compared to a few months ago when the inventory was over 12 months.
85750 still has 11 months of inventory, but this has also reduced from 13 months several months ago.

The most significant drop in inventory is in the 85749 Zip Code where three months ago there was over 24 months of inventory. This has now reduced to 10 months, which although still high, is showing signs of improvement.

Many Zip Codes now have a less than six month inventory, a good sign for an improving market.
However many lenders still see the whole of Arizona in a depreciating market, and Tucson often gets evaluated with the Phoenix market as one area.

Our statistics are quite different.

Interest rates are still very low for FHA and Conventional Loans and this week were hovering around 5%. There are still strict qualifications for Jumbo Loans, but they are out there and at great rates. Fixed Rates can be obtained for 5.5% for less than $500,000 and then 5.75% over $500,000.

The Tucson Real Estate Market  is experiencing a significant increase in Buyer activity, something that we will be watching into the usually busier Fall/Winter Season.
Remember Tucson homes must be closed before the cut off date of November 30th 2009 to get the tax credit."
 
Call Anne and Eddie for updated Tucson Real Estate Market news or visit them online at http://thetucsonexperts.com

The content of The Tucson Real Estate Blog is copywritten to Anne and Eddie McKechnie of Codwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Tucson Arizona