You will need to bring something to write with. Watch out for thorns and critters of course. Also, be careful choosing your parking. There are a couple of nearby pull-outs that will be more safe than just parking along the highway. Please secure the cache as you found it.
Thanks, and enjoy. Congrats to Carmel - FTF!
The Cañada del Oro originates in the remote Canyon del Oro in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, fed by rainfall and melted snow from the northern face ofMount Lemmon and flows northward toward the town of Oracle. The Cañada del Oro is a perennial creek in Canyon del Oro while at higher altitudes. The Cañada del Oro curves from flowing northward to southward through the town of Oro Valley north of Tucson, where it is usually a dry riverbed. In Oro Valley the Cañada del Oro collects watershed from the western face of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The Cañada del Oro ultimately feeds into the Santa Cruz River just northwest of Tucson, the principal watershed channel in the Tucson valley.
Historically, the Cañada del Oro was the focus of significant interest in gold mining, beginning with Spanish explorers in the 17th century. As early as 1880, the Cañada del Oro was labeled "Gold Cañon Creek" on American maps.[1] Following the Mexican-American War, American gold-rushers continued the search for the valuablemineral through the 1930s. Prospectors discovered minimal amounts of gold in the Cañada del Oro through placer mining operations.
During the late 19th century, the Cañada del Oro wash was used by settlers, Apaches, and US Soldiers alike as a road of sorts, toward the settlement of Tucson. There were many sad conflicts between the groups. Some of the conflicts were deadly. It continues to be part of our history. A good book to read related to the canyon and wash is titled: Canyon of Gold - Tales of Santa Catalina Pioneers, by Barbara Marriott. I recommend it. Very interesting.