You might sense something in the air as you walk along the banks of Madera Creek, treading here and there on yellow-brown leaves shed by sycamore trees.
Autumn.
Ambling beside the creek, in the heart of Madera Canyon south of Tucson, is one way to get an early feel for fall.
One day recently, the air was crisp, the creek flowed with monsoon runoff, and streamside vegetation showed the first hints of autumn color.
It's possible to reach the creek easily from several parking spots in canyon.
One place to start a short stroll or extended ramble is the amphitheater parking area. It's about a quarter-mile up the canyon road from the Santa Rita Lodge.
The 2.7-mile Nature Trail begins at the parking area and crosses a small bridge before winding away from the creek.
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The trail offers a fine autumn hike in its own right, but staying near the watercourse keeps you in the zone of tall sycamores, several other kinds of trees and seasonally flowing water.
"The vicinity adjacent to the stream and its small tributaries is a special habitat, called the riparian habitat," writes Douglas W. Moore in a book called "The Nature of Madera Canyon."
"Including the streambed itself, the riparian habitat is the entire lush, green corridor running the length of Madera Canyon, composed of both the land along the stream and all the vegetation associated with it," the book notes.
Take special care if you walk along the riparian corridor. If you're in an area with no established trail, watch your footing and avoid stepping on vegetation.
To reach Madera Canyon from Tucson, take Interstate 19 south to Green Valley and get off at the Continental Exit. Then drive southeast about 13 miles to the canyon. Signs show the way.
The Forest Service charges a $5 parking fee in the canyon, which is about 40 miles from Tucson.
Next week: McCain Loop drive.