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| Mt. Wrightson from Gardner Canyon Santa Rita Mountains Total Length: 9.4 miles On 31 March 2008 I got the following email from Jason Adler with an update on the status of the trail. I haven't tried to thoroughly update the description based on Jason's account, so please read this email before you do this hike.
Dear Andy
I'm not sure if you're still actively involved with this website, but I figured I'd pass along an update on the Gardner Canyon trail. The Florida fire in 2005 burned a large expanse of the forest in this area, affecting much of this hike, especially the section between the Walker Basin trail and the Super Trail. The last time I did this hike was in 2004, and wasn't aware this area was burned until we hiked it this weekend. I'm kinda surprised there's no mention of damage to this trail on any of the popular Arizona hiking websites, not to mention the Forest Service's website and trail description. I understand the Gardner Canyon route is virtually untravelled compared to the Madera Canyon side, but you would think the Forest Service would at least mention something.
Anyway, the first thing to note is that Gardner Canyon road is currently closed to traffic .9 miles before the trailhead, so anybody hiking it should be aware that they'll be doing an extra 1.8 miles no matter how far up the trail they decide to go. There is a barricade across the road with a sign that says road closed to motor vehicles or something to that effect. There was no mention anywhere that it was closed to hikers, but there were times during the hike when I thought we may have been on the trail illegally because some of the burned areas still show no signs of life at all. Since this road block was unexpected, we tried to call the Nogales ranger district (we had cell phone service) to see if it was open to hikers. Nobody answered, I guess because it was the weekend.
From the trailhead to the saddle where it meets the Walker Basin trail it's pretty much the same, nothing much to report. Past that saddle, I don't remember exactly where it started getting bad, but as you get closer to the 'park' area at around 8000 ft, the burn gets worse. The park itself is now a moonscape with charred trees everywhere, some fallen, some standing. In fact, there were numerous fallen trees all along the trail; much more than I remember. I'm not a soil scientist, but the dirt seemed to be mostly ash still. The trail got to be pretty light in several places before the park, then at the park we could not find where to go. Normally I'm pretty good with spotting cairns and stuff, but there weren't any that we could find. We didn't build any because we just happened to hook up with the trail again after climbing up a ridge to see what the conditions were like further on. We were contemplating turning around and calling it a day. It looked better as we climbed higher so we decided to keep going. Coming back down, we encountered the same thing--the trail just seemed to disappear as you approached the park from above. We used that 'U' tree as a landmark. The debris slides that have come down in this area have really covered up the trail. It's mostly passable, but in my opinion, hikers should really pay attention in this section--it's easy to miss the switchbacks. If there is any reasonable amount of rain in the forecast, I wouldn't take my chances. It looks like there is still a strong likelihood of future mud/debris slides. Again, I'm not a soil scientist or ranger or anything...just an educated guess based on what the area looks like.
As you get closer to the Super Trail, it once again gets easier to follow, and once on the Super Trail and heading to Baldy Saddle and points above it seems to be mostly the same as I remember from previous trips before the fire. Looking down into lush, green Madera Canyon from Mt. Wrightson, I was kinda mad that our car was waiting in Gardner Canyon and not Madera!
I apologize for the long email--if you choose to update your trail guide please feel free to summarize what you feel are the key points (if any!) I'm going completely off of memory, since I had no idea of the conditions on the trail and didn't think to make concrete notes as we hiked. This hike was once one of my favorites in S. Arizona, but I'm crossing it off my list, hopefully temporarily. Overall, the trail itself is good or passable for most of the way, but other than the great views, the scenery is no longer there. There is barely any shade since most of the tree cover is gone, except at the beginning of the hike. I'm afraid that in inclement weather, hikers could be in danger from mudslides in some areas that show no signs of revegetation yet. I'll be calling the Nogales ranger office tomorrow to get more information and see what their take on the trail is. If I get more or better info from them, I'll follow up (much more briefly.)
Thanks for your time--by the way, I love your trail guides...I use them anytime I'm doing any of those hikes.
Thanks, Jason Adler
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Directions to Trailhead The last part of the route to the trailhead requires a high clearance vehicle. Some guide books say a 4-wheel drive is required, but I have seen it done by a 2-wheel drive pickup truck.
From the intersection of Tanque Verde and Grant/Kolb, head south on Kolb all the way down to I-10. Get on I-10 east, go about 11 or so miles, and then take the exit for Highway 83 South, exit 881. Go south on Highway 83 to about mile marker 35 or 36, and then turn right on Gardner Canyon Rd. (FR 92), which is signed. Gardner Canyon Rd is unpaved.
You go about 11 miles on Gardner Canyon Rd. A short ways in FR 163 takes off to the right. Go straight on FR 92, following the sign that says Apache Springs is 4 miles ahead. As you approach Apache Springs Ranch the road forks. Take the right hand fork which is signed as FS 92. You will pass Apache Springs Ranch on the left.
The next landmark is a large gravel parking lot on your right for the Arizona Trail. Go past this point.
After crossing Cave Creek, you will come to a signed intersection. Turn left here, following the sign which indicates that Gardner Canyon Trail is 4 miles down the road to the left. This sign also points to Cave Canyon Trail, the Arizona Trail, and Aliso Springs. From here to the trailhead the road is pretty rough, and you will want to turn on your 4WD before starting on any of the many creek crossings.
Next a dirt road comes in from the left and there is a sign which says Gardner Canyon Trail is four miles straight ahead, the Arizona Trail is 1 miles straight ahead, and Hog Canyon is 4 miles to the left. Go straight here. This is the last intersection, so from here just go straight until the road ends. There is a parking area and signs saying that it is the Gardner Canyon Trail.
Someone reported on 31 March 2008 that the road is closed 0.9 miles before the trailhead. |
| Trail Description Gardner Canyon Trail, FS #143 This is the first part of the ascent up Mt. Wrightson from Gardner Canyon.
From the dirt parking area at the end of Gardner Canyon Rd. you head up-canyon, along the stream through shady forest. After a few stream crossings the trail leaves the stream and begins to climb up, heading first southwest, and then south, with a few switchbacks, sometimes in the sun and sometimes in the shade. After about 35 minutes or so, you come to the top of the ridge, and there is a clearing with a rusted iron sign with cut-out letters:
(left) Walker Basin Tr.
The Gardner Canyon Trail continues uphill on the opposite side of the clearing, the Walker Canyon Trail goes to the left. Continue on Gardner Canyon Trail from here, heading out the the clearing basically opposite the point you came in. |
| Gardner Canyon Trail, FS #143 (Walker Basin Trail to Super Trail) Length: 1.8 miles Hiking Time: 1.2 hours Highest point: 8400 feet Lowest point: 6900 feet Trail goes uphill This section of trail climbs relatively steeply through pine forest up to the Super Trail, passing through a nice park area.
About an hour above the Walker Basin trail junction the trail levels out a bit and you get to a very beautiful park area with well spaced ponderosa pines with grass between them, and some boulders for sitting. There are good views to the south from here. There is also a strange u-shaped ponderosa pine. Near this strange pine is the remnants of wooden Forest Service sign which talks about how a fire started by careless campers devastated the area. Since this fire cleared out the small trees, and so created a beautiful park area, the fire no longer seems like such a disaster.
After the park area the trail climbs uphill for another ten minutes to the point where it hits the Super Trail. Baldy Saddle is .8 miles to the right on the Super Trail, Josephine Saddle is 2.5 miles to the left on the Super Trail. Turn right (north and uphill) here on the Super Trail. |
| Super Trail, FS #134 (Gardner Canyon Trail to Baldy Saddle) Length: 0.8 miles Hiking Time: 0.3 hours Highest point: 8840 feet Lowest point: 8400 feet Trail goes uphill This not very steep segment of the Super Trail passes through pleasant pine forest, connection the junction with the Gardner Canyon Trail with Baldy Saddle.
Another 5 to 10 minutes brings you to Baldy Saddle, where the Super Trail intersects the Old Baldy Trail. The sign at this intersection is oriented so that where you came from is to the left, and it reads as follows:
(ahead) Mt. Wrightson .9 mi.
The route to the summit of Mt. Wrightson is to the left (south) on the Old Baldy Trail.
Baldy Saddle is open, with some pine trees, and has great views to both the east and west. It is a perfect spot to stop for a bit before the final push to the top of Mt. Wrightson.
If you go to the right (north, or away from Mt. Wrightson) on the Old Baldy Trail about 200 yards you will come to another signed trail junction, which has two signs. The sign oriented so that you are facing north when you read it says:
(left) Old Baldy Trail
The sign oriented so that you are facing east when you read it says:
Baldy Saddle Crest Trail Go left here on the Old Baldy Trail, heading for the summit. |
| Old Baldy Trail, FS #372 (Baldy Saddle to Mt. Wrightson) Length: 0.9 miles Hiking Time: 0.5 hours Highest point: 9453 feet Lowest point: 8840 feet Trail goes uphill From Baldy Saddle head south, and uphill. At first the trail is not very steep, and switchbacks up the north slope of Mt. Wrightson through ponderosa pines. After about 10-15 minutes, however, you come to a place where the trail has been blasted out of solid rock, and there are very few trees around. After the blasted section, the trail moves around to the east slope of the mountain, and passes through some more trees.
Before you know it, you are on the summit of Mt. Wrightson, the single best peak in the Tucson area. There are unobstructed views in all directions, and on a clear day you can see at least 100 miles. This is a good spot to test your knowledge of the southern Arizona mountain ranges, since you can see almost all of them from here.
There is a register if you want to sign in, interpretive signs, and lots of good places to sit. The only drawback is the incredible number of ladybugs that sometimes inhabit this spot, so eat your lunch at Baldy Saddle if you don't like sharing your lunch. To return, just take the same route you took up. |
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