Cougar Trail

The Cougar trail starts at pullout K15, across Kinney road from the parking area. It ends at pullout K23, same side as the parking area. The whole trail basically follows a utility easement and is usually a well defined unpaved service road. At about 1.85 miles, there is a large wash, and the trail spikes away from the power lines. It is easy to miss the continuation over the wash and continue onto the Ringtail Trail where you may find yourself back on Kinney Road at pullout K19, so keep an eye out for the trail - remember it follows the power lines. After this wash, there are some good climbs, with the last revealing a view of the Tucson Desert Museum, and the highest spot on the trail. From here, you're basically at the end, and can go downhill a few hundred feet to pullout K23 as described above. The hike back is a bit weary, especially after the sun comes up! But mostly downhill with a few shady spots to rest (good for the doggy!) The Tucson Mountains are your backdrop most of the time, with some good sweeping views of the valley. Also some dense underbrush in the washes and behind the Archery Range (The trail runs the backside of that). There are too some nice groves of saguaro, but overall I'm giving this trail 3 stars. It has poor and nonexistent markings, a number of unmarked side trails, and it is an easement. The power lines are almost always in the view.