In an effort to better promote the Sunrise and Sunset Hike offered at the JW Marriott Resort and Spa, Southwest Trekking has been making an effort to take out the resort staff on the hiking trails in the Tucson Mountain Park. With the Lorane Lee Hidden Canyon and Bowen Trail heads literally 200 yards from the front door, the JW Marriott Resort and Spa has some of the best on site hiking found in Tucson.
Southwest Trekking offers a complementary one hour Sunrise (departing at 7:00am) and Sunset (departing at 5:00pm) Hike to all guests staying at the resort. Depending on group size and ability, we will either hike the Bowen or Lorane Lee Hidden Canyon trail. Both hikes offer stunning views of the amazingly rich Sonoran Desert and a knowledgeable guide to explain the unique fauna and flora found in the region. The morning hike allows guests the chance to start their day with some fresh air and exercise, while the Sunset Hike offers a chance to view the setting sun in a truly scenic setting.
This morning, I had the opportunity to take Steve, the concierge from the JW Marriott Resort and Spa, out on the morning hike. Steve was ambitious and I was itching to get in a little walk, so we were able to make it out to the stone house located 1.5 miles in on the Bowen Trail. It was Steve’s first time seeing the stone house, and I’m quite sure he was as impressed as I was the first time I saw it. We had a nice morning exchanging interesting facts about the city of Tucson and the Sonoran Desert while strolling through some of the most amazing stands of Saguaro Cactus found in the area. It was an eye opener for Steve as to how accessible and immense the trail system is out in the Tucson Mountain Park, and how diverse the vegetation is along the entire hike.
Unfortunately we didn’t get to see any animals this morning, save for a few trail runners and one dog, but it’s not uncommon to spot some Javalina, Mule Deer, and coyote on the trails in the early morning. Steve mentioned that he could now understand why having a guide was important and beneficial to the guests; not only do we know where we are going, but we can also explain some of the interesting characteristics of the Sonoran Desert. This was the whole reason for taking the staff out on the trails, so they could actually know how amazing the hiking is located at the JW Marriott Resort and Spa. I took this as a success.
As more and more hotel staff start joining us on the morning hikes, I’m sure we’ll see the popularity of the hike go up. And the reason is simple, once you get to experience this amazing desert, you can’t stop talking about it. If you are staying at the JW Marriott in Tucson, I encourage you to join us for one of our complementary hikes. It’s also important to remember that there is amazing mountain biking right out the front door of the hotel as well. If you ride, or want to ride, talk to a Southwest Trekking guide when you check in for more information.
Have you ever been hiking in the Tucson
Mountains, near the Yetman Wash, and encountered ruins from an old stone house? If you have, then you’ve come across the old homestead of the Bowen family. This iconic structure is located about 1.5 miles away from the JW Marriott at Starr Pass, which is the closest trail head to view the house. An out-and-back journey is only a 3 mile trip, and covers relatively flat ground, making it an excellent choice for a short hike. To the right is a close up of our map that Southwest Trekking made of the Tucson Mountain Park. The closest access to the Bowen’s Homestead is at the JW Marriott, but it can also be reached via the Lee Gensner/Starr Pass trail head located at the end of Clearwell Road. You can download our whole map off of this blog. Look to the right of the screen for a heading titled maps, and click on the link to open a pdf file. You can save it on your computer, print it out for later, or stop by the JW Marriott and pick one up on your way to the trail.
mid west, and it was suggested that a change in climate might be of some aid to her deteriorating health. The Bowen’s moved to Tucson in the late twenties from a small city outside of Chicago called Rockford. They soon set their sights on the Tucson Mountains, and decided to homestead the area in the early nineteen thirties. It was at this time that the husband, Sherry Bowen, who was previously a type setter, went to work constructing the house out of native stones that you see today. The Bowen’s eventually expanded their homestead to about 2,000 acres. Almost twenty years after arriving in Tucson, the Bowen’s left their property and moved to New York City where Sherry could continue his career as a typesetter. Their property was eventually included in the Tucson Mountain Park in 1983.
As you walk out to the house, try and imagine as if you were taking a stroll around your property. What an amazing area to call your home! It’s important to remember that back in the 1930′s, Tucson was a much smaller city and covered a much smaller surface area. Living out in the Tucson Mountains was pretty removed from the hustle and bustle (not to mention conveniences) of city life. The Tucson Mountains themselves housed a much higher population of deer and big horn sheep back then, and with that came more mountain lions. The wife kept a diary while they were homesteading the property which make references to the abundance of wildlife that was in the area.