KEY INFO
LOCATION Oak Tree Canyon to Lakes Road
DISTANCE 13.3 miles one-way
DAY-TRIP OPTION See turnaround note in the trail description.
SHUTTLE RECOMMENDATION Forest Road 231 (passage mile 3.2)
DIFFICULTY Moderate
LAND MANAGER Coronado National Forest, Nogales Ranger District, www.fs.usda.gov/coronado, 520-281-2296
RECOMMENDED MONTHS October–May
GATEWAY COMMUNITY Not applicable
GEOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS Not applicable
This beautiful passage rolls across the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains with grand vistas to the west and the Empire Mountains to the east. Mount Wrightson dominates the south, while views of the majestic Rincon Mountains to the north foretell adventures ahead.
This passage begins on FR 4072 in Oak Tree Canyon. Singletrack heads north-northwest through semiopen country. There is a gate just past the 0.2-mile mark on top of a slight rise. From here the trail veers away from an old doubletrack and begins working its way downhill. At mile 1.6, you cross FR 4064. After a short section that heads due north, the trail turns to the northeast and passes through another gate at mile 2.0.
Climb a short ways and the trail turns to the northwest, presenting a view down into Barrel Canyon. After descending about 150 vertical feet and following the bottom of this large flat drainage for a short distance, arrive at FR 231, a well-maintained dirt road and the access route from AZ 83 to Rosemont Junction. The trail crosses at a slightly northbound angle and then works its way up and out of the canyon through a pleasant forest of ocotillo. Just before a high point, the trail passes through another gate at mile 4.4.
From the high point, the trail drops fairly steeply into Scholefield Canyon, where hikers have reported water but only in very wet seasons. Cross this drainage and then a smaller side drainage, and proceed to another gate at mile 5.5. Just past this gate, the trail curls around an unnamed drainage and then up to FR 4062 at mile 5.9. The trail climbs moderately up to a saddle and then turns to the east and descends first into Papago Canyon and then Mulberry Canyon.
The rolling hills of Passage 6 offer respite to tired legs that have just traversed the Santa Rita Mountains.
TURNAROUND NOTE: The aforementioned drainages make for a pleasant turnaround spot if you’re day-tripping and you haven’t arranged a car shuttle to the north.
To continue on the trail, climb out of Mulberry Canyon for about 250 feet over a distance of 0.7 mile. Traveling north, the trail turns north-northeast and begins crossing a series of small drainages and contouring around the hills between them. It passes through a gate at mile 10.5. Cross a road in 1.2 miles and continue 1.6 miles to the end of Passage 6, just southwest of the Twin Tanks stock tanks on Lakes Road.
Rosemont Copper has plans to develop an open-pit copper mine in the northern region of the Santa Rita Mountains. If the U.S. Forest Service approves their proposal, mining operations would severely affect the current Arizona Trail route. Trail professionals and the ATA have designed a reroute of approximately 10 miles that will be implemented if the mine becomes reality.
The entire passage provides decent singletrack. The grade of a portion of the trail is too steep to be completely enjoyable, but once you’re out of the accordion-like features of the foothills, the trail improves dramatically. You can ride point-to-point by leaving a vehicle at one of the access points, or you can do an out-and-back ride from either the southern or northern access points. For more information about mountain biking along the Arizona National Scenic Trail, visit aztrail.org.
From the intersection of I-10 and AZ 83, drive south on AZ 83 for 14 miles, to 0.8 mile past milepost 44. Pull off on the right (west) at an unmarked road (FR 4072), and park near a locked metal gate. Climb over the gate and walk about 0.8 mile west up Oak Tree Canyon, to an AZT trailhead sign.
If you want to hit the trail from here, please follow the trail description in reverse order. From the intersection of I-10 and AZ 83, drive about south 7.2 miles on AZ 83 to 0.4 mile past milepost 51. Turn right (west) and pass through a gate on a rough, unmarked dirt road about 0.6 mile to the AZT trailhead sign. This road requires a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle, but you could instead park near AZ 83 and walk or ride in (recommended).
The sunsets of southern Arizona may be one of the state’s greatest natural resources.