With a full moon high in the sky and a nice loop trail in mind, Tucson Mountain Park seems a perfect place to be. In her first-rate book, Tucson Hiking Guide , Betty Leavengood writes about a 5.3 mile loop trail starting off at the Gilbert Ray Campground, just across from where Old Tucson Studios used to be. Rolling into the campground just off McCain Loop Drive, we follow the signs through dozens of parked RVs lined up in their designated slips like slumbering elephants. In her book, Leavengood makes it sound as though you can park near the trail without taking up site A31. This is not really true, unless you park on the narrow road itself.
Technicalities can be a nuisance.
I leave hoping my truck becomes invisible to the powers that be. I figure I don't plan to stay, so shouldn't have to pay. In the past, this strategy has had greater success with park rangers than meter maids. The permits are free. This is not a problem in the summer, when Gilbert Ray Campground barely reaches 10 percent of its capacity.