Madera Canyon

While on a recent drive south of Tucson along I-19 we turned off to explore Madera Canyon.  Madera Canyon is part of the Santa Rita Mountains, located within Coronado National Forest.  One enters the canyon at the desert floor and reaches the peak turnabout at an elevation of slightly over 5000 feet.   As one ascends,the scenery changes from cactus to pine trees! Picnic areas and hiking trails are common. There is even a Bed and Breakfast, and a few private homes located within the forest area.

   One feature that caught our attention were what appeared to be "ghost trees".  Located along a creek bed at one of the picnic areas were a number of these unusual trees...they were tall, the bark was smooth and white, and they had no leaves.  From a park sign we learned they were sycamore trees...riparian, deciduous hardwoods that grow to 60-100 feet tall; found along river banks, creeks and streams; the smooth white bark is characteristic. These trees were just starting to form leaf buds in the early spring...