Recollections of Spain LbNA #77745
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Add Location| Owner: | Martini Man
 |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Feb 21, 2026 |
| Location: | |
| City: | ORO VALLEY |
| County: | Pima |
| State: | Arizona |
| Boxes: | 4 |
| Found by: | JoySong (4) |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Feb 22, 2026 |
| Status: | FF |
| Last edited: | Feb 28, 2026 |
Last checked/found: 21-Feb-2026
Location: anlinataC etatS karP
Terrain: Sandy and rocky trail, with mostly gradual ascent and descent
Distance: If you do the entire noynaC pooL the distance will be ~3 miles with an elevation gain of ~200 ft.
NOTES: Trekking pole(s) and hat are recommended. Please take plenty of water along. Do your homework before heading out as there are LOTS of other boxes hidden on this route. If you will be in the area to do a lot of boxing, contact me to get .pdf versions of clue booklets for two events that were held in the park.
In SEP-OCT 2025 Wisconsin Hiker and I travelled to Portugal and Spain for five weeks. It was an excellent trip. There were many highlights, including a river cruise in the Douro Valley in Portugal, many magnificent sights in Barcelona, historic inns, the beautiful north coast of Spain and excellent food and wine.
Head to the trailhead parking area located at the end of the park road. Restrooms are available at this location.
To start your journey, go to the northwest corner of the parking lot and take the trail that starts at the opening in the fence. Take a right at the “T” and then stay straight through the next intersection to stay on the noynaC pooL trail. Continue on this trail as it crosses washes in several locations.
Continue until you reach the bottom of some stairs. From here, take the side trail on the left for 64 steps, just past a huge saguaro on the left. Then head in 14 steps to the right, going under the branches of a large mesquite. You’ll find the expressive \FLAMENCO DANCER resting in the rocks.
Continue onward from the steps. Cross the wash and ascend the steps on the other side. Continue alongside the creek, enjoying the views. Go up some more stairs and keep going. When the trail finally makes a short sharp right turn away from the water, then a left, stop in the curve of the “S” and look right to see a large boulder 20-25 steps upslope, with a hop bush in front of it. You will find FRANCO behind the boulder. Francisco Franco was the Spanish military general who ruled Spain as a dictator for 36 years until he died in 1975.
Return to the main trail and continue on. At the “Horses” sign you can choose left (stairs) or right (dirt path) to ascend to the benches at the top. Take a well-deserved rest and then continue on to a brown trail sign at a curve. Take the undesignated side trail on the left for 20 steps. Then take a bearing of 160° and walk in ~34 steps to a ~3-foot boulder that is below and to the left of a sotol. You’ll find some ROMAN RUINS in front of the boulder. Romans were heavily present in Spain, occupying the Iberian Peninsula for approximately six centuries. As a result, there are many ancient ruins throughout the country.
Return to the main trail and continue on the loop. You’ll eventually cross a small wash with several boulders on the left edge of the trail and then soon come to a large brown boulder on the right, with a saguaro nearby. From the boulder, take 18 more steps along the trail, then walk in to the right for 20 steps to reach a tall mesquite. Go to the five boulders behind the tree and be ready for TORO, who is getting ready to charge from the northeast side of the largest boulder. (If you come to an official trail intersection, you went too far.)
Return to the main trail to continue onward and return to the parking lot.
Location: anlinataC etatS karP
Terrain: Sandy and rocky trail, with mostly gradual ascent and descent
Distance: If you do the entire noynaC pooL the distance will be ~3 miles with an elevation gain of ~200 ft.
NOTES: Trekking pole(s) and hat are recommended. Please take plenty of water along. Do your homework before heading out as there are LOTS of other boxes hidden on this route. If you will be in the area to do a lot of boxing, contact me to get .pdf versions of clue booklets for two events that were held in the park.
In SEP-OCT 2025 Wisconsin Hiker and I travelled to Portugal and Spain for five weeks. It was an excellent trip. There were many highlights, including a river cruise in the Douro Valley in Portugal, many magnificent sights in Barcelona, historic inns, the beautiful north coast of Spain and excellent food and wine.
Head to the trailhead parking area located at the end of the park road. Restrooms are available at this location.
To start your journey, go to the northwest corner of the parking lot and take the trail that starts at the opening in the fence. Take a right at the “T” and then stay straight through the next intersection to stay on the noynaC pooL trail. Continue on this trail as it crosses washes in several locations.
Continue until you reach the bottom of some stairs. From here, take the side trail on the left for 64 steps, just past a huge saguaro on the left. Then head in 14 steps to the right, going under the branches of a large mesquite. You’ll find the expressive \FLAMENCO DANCER resting in the rocks.
Continue onward from the steps. Cross the wash and ascend the steps on the other side. Continue alongside the creek, enjoying the views. Go up some more stairs and keep going. When the trail finally makes a short sharp right turn away from the water, then a left, stop in the curve of the “S” and look right to see a large boulder 20-25 steps upslope, with a hop bush in front of it. You will find FRANCO behind the boulder. Francisco Franco was the Spanish military general who ruled Spain as a dictator for 36 years until he died in 1975.
Return to the main trail and continue on. At the “Horses” sign you can choose left (stairs) or right (dirt path) to ascend to the benches at the top. Take a well-deserved rest and then continue on to a brown trail sign at a curve. Take the undesignated side trail on the left for 20 steps. Then take a bearing of 160° and walk in ~34 steps to a ~3-foot boulder that is below and to the left of a sotol. You’ll find some ROMAN RUINS in front of the boulder. Romans were heavily present in Spain, occupying the Iberian Peninsula for approximately six centuries. As a result, there are many ancient ruins throughout the country.
Return to the main trail and continue on the loop. You’ll eventually cross a small wash with several boulders on the left edge of the trail and then soon come to a large brown boulder on the right, with a saguaro nearby. From the boulder, take 18 more steps along the trail, then walk in to the right for 20 steps to reach a tall mesquite. Go to the five boulders behind the tree and be ready for TORO, who is getting ready to charge from the northeast side of the largest boulder. (If you come to an official trail intersection, you went too far.)
Return to the main trail to continue onward and return to the parking lot.