HOPE CAMP TRAIL HISTORY

The Hope Camp Trail is located in an area that has recently been added to Saguaro National Park, East.   In 1991, Congress authorized the purchase of a 4011 acre expansion to the park but did not provide funds for the purchase at that time.  The purpose of the expansion was to preserve scenic areas of the Sonoran Desert and certain riparian corridors and to provide additional opportunities for visitor enjoyment.  Subsequently, Congress allocated six million dollars to purchase land for the expansion of both the East and West units of Saguaro National Park.  Land purchase to effect the expansion has been incremental.  These funds were sufficient to purchase 614 acres, 102 of which were along the south border of the East Unit in the Rincon Valley area of the park.  This purchase completed the current expansion plans for the East unit and brings its total size to 66,947 acres.  The area was formerly part of a ranch and two abandoned ranching line camps are visible along the trails that follow old ranch roads. 

There have been three interim trails established to provide access to the area, the Hope Camp Trail, the Ridge View Trail and the North Hope Trail.  No off-trail hiking is permitted.  The Club hike will follow the Hope Camp and North Hope Trails for a total round trip distance of 6.2 miles.  Saguaro National Park is developing a formal management plan for the area.  A Park Ranger has indicated that the Park Service is looking at the possibility of using this area as a trailhead for a new trail to provide an alternate route to Rincon Peak.

There are two large development projects that will encroach on the Park.  The largest is the Rocking K Ranch which is located primarily to the West of Camino Lomo Alta but does include a small area to the East of the trailhead.  The development consists of about 4,400 acres on both sides of the Old Spanish Trail.  The developer is Diamond Ventures who plans to build about 5,000 homes.

The other development is called Coyote Creek and is located to the east of Camino Lomo Alta and north of the Old Spanish Trail.  The size of the development is about 1,000 acres and will be a ranch community of 395 homes with lot sizes of between 1.3 to 4 acres. The development will also include an 11 acre equestrian center. The developer is Peter Backus.

Prepared by T. Johnson from Arizona Daily Star articles and from the interim Trail Plan for the Rincon Valley Area developed by the National Park Service.
15 January 2001

Additional Material: GVHC Library File 53