KEY INFO
LOCATION Canelo Pass to Patagonia
DISTANCE 16.6 miles one-way
DAY-TRIP OPTION See turnaround note in the trail description.
SHUTTLE RECOMMENDATION Not applicable
DIFFICULTY Moderate
LAND MANAGER Coronado National Forest, Sierra Vista Ranger District, www.fs.usda.gov/coronado, 520-378-0311
RECOMMENDED MONTHS September–May
GATEWAY COMMUNITY See Patagonia.
GEOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS Not applicable
Rolling grasslands mixed with Upper Sonoran Desert define this passage. Hundreds of plant and animal species thrive in the nearby Patagonia–Sonoita Creek Preserve, owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. This preserve’s 275 species of birds attract tens of thousands of bird enthusiasts each year. You might catch a glimpse of a rare violet-crowned hummingbird, northern beardless-tyrannulet, or gray hawk.
Passage 3 does not feel as isolated as the first two passage, but it is rarely used—despite its proximity to the preserve. Novice backpackers might enjoy a one- or two-night shuttle hike starting at Canelo Pass and ending at the Harshaw Road Trailhead (see the map and alternate access instructions). Plan hikes to avoid camping between mile 5.5 and about mile 6.3, where regulations prohibit overnight stays.
Two singletracks lead away from the kiosk in the Canelo Pass Trailhead parking lot (5,330 feet). Follow the one on the right, to the west, climbing slightly. (The trail on the left is the end of the AZT’s Passage 2.) Pass through a gate in a saddle at mile 1.1 (5,600 feet), and descend fairly steeply through three switchbacks to the north edge of Meadow Valley at mile 2.1. The trail soon turns left (southwest) onto an old jeep road.
At an intersection at mile 2.4, turn right and follow the road over a small hill to the intersection with a more heavily traveled road (FR 765). Cross the road and continue a bit more than a mile on a singletrack section that gradually slopes to the northwest taking you into Redrock Canyon and terminating at the southeast end of the Down Under Tank dam. You rejoin the ranch access road at the northwest end of the dam.
If there is no water in Down Under Tank, check in the streambed below the dam—within the first 200 yards. (And always remember to follow water-purification protocol in the wilderness; see “Contaminated Water”.) Continue descending through the pleasant, open oak savannah.
Hikers not wanting to carry a fully-loaded backpack often rely on pack stock—donkeys, mules, llamas, goats, and horses–to help bear the burden.
TURNAROUND NOTE: At about mile 5.9, you reach a broken windmill where signs indicate camping is prohibited. This marks a great place to turn around and head back to your car if you’re doing an out-and-back hike for the day.
The road veers right (north) to continue descending through Redrock Canyon, and near mile 6.3, it passes a north-facing no-camping sign (indicating you’re leaving the no-camping zone). To continue on the trail, proceed on a charming old road to a fork at mile 7.5. Bear right (north) to cross the drainage and pass the windmill at Red Bank Well. If there’s no visible water, try lowering the float in the trough to activate the flow. Pass through a corral as the road ends and continue down canyon to the north on a clear singletrack.
You pass near Gate Spring at mile 8.3, which is down the hillside about 150 yards to the south. Do not linger in this area because it is within the habitat of threatened and endangered species.
Turn right (north) at a fork at mile 9.3, pass through a gate at mile 9.4, and, in 50 yards, follow a trail that leaves the drainage bottom to the left (northwest). A brief climb leads into a gnarly forest of mesquite. Continue straight across a road to the west at mile 10.0. At mile 10.5, pass through a wash and turn southwest to parallel the wash for 80 yards. Follow the trail left (south) out of the wash, and climb through switch-backs to mile 11.9.
Pass through a gate, and then reach a saddle at mile 13.2 that offers a view of the Harshaw Creek Valley winding northwest to Patagonia. Several switchbacks lead down to Harshaw Road (FR 58) at mile 13.7. If you left a car here, cross the road and follow singletrack a few yards to the parking lot.
If you left your car in Patagonia—or if you’re thru-hiking the AZT—turn right (northwest) and follow the road. Pass Patagonia RV Park at mile 16.3. At mile 16.6, the road winds to the left and enters the town. In another 0.1 mile, turn right at the post office, and walk to Naugle Avenue (AZ 82), the main drag through town. Turn right and follow the road to First Avenue. This is the end of Passage 3; Passage 4 turns left onto First Avenue and continues northwest.
This passage of the AZT provides almost continuous riding for more advanced riders. It has short stretches of difficult terrain, with some rocky, steep sections, but most of the passage is accessible to those with honed singletrack skills. For more information about mountain biking along the Arizona National Scenic Trail, visit aztrail.org.
The seasonal Down Under Tank is one of the most coveted water sources along Passage 3.
From the town of Patagonia, follow Harshaw Road (FR 58) east 14 miles to an intersection with FR 799. Traveling north on FR 799 for 5 miles, cross Canelo Pass and continue about 0.5 mile down the other side to a large parking area on the left (west) side of the road. The trail toward Patagonia departs from the right side of a kiosk; the trail arriving from Passage 2 is on the left side of the kiosk.
From the town of Sonoita, follow AZ 83 south for 18 miles to a turnoff on the right for FR 799. Continue 2.9 miles to a parking area on the right that is marked with AZT signs.
If you want to hit the trail from here, please follow the trail description in reverse order. While Passage 3 ends in the town of Patagonia, most trail users park at the Harshaw Road Trailhead to avoid the last 3.2 miles of this passage, which is along roads with motor vehicles. From Patagonia, take Harshaw Road (FR 58) east for 2.8 miles. You will see the trailhead on the left and a large parking area on the right.
After winter snowmelt and summer monsoon storms, the canyons along Passage 3 hold water for a few weeks, turning the otherwise-dry hills into a pleasant paradise for trail users.