KEY INFO
LOCATION Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead to Saguaro National Park
DISTANCE 14.8 miles one-way
DAY-TRIP OPTION See turnaround note in the trail description.
SHUTTLE RECOMMENDATION Colossal Cave Mountain Park (passage mile 4.7)
DIFFICULTY Easy
LAND MANAGERS Saguaro National Park, nps.gov/sagu, 520-733-5158 for headquarters; Colossal Cave Mountain Park, colossalcave.com/welcome.html, 520-647-7275; Pima County, pima.gov, 520-877-6000; Arizona State Land Department, azland.gov, 602-542-4631
RECOMMENDED MONTHS September–April
GATEWAY COMMUNITY See Vail.
GEOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS See “The Karst of Colossal Cave”.
This passage takes you through Cienega Creek, a lush riparian corridor that has perennial water and harbors a population of native fish. Autumn in the creek offers some of the best colors imaginable. The geology is dramatic and beautiful, and this passage is popular among equestrians, mountain bikers, and trail runners. The Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) through Cienega Creek Nature Preserve is open to all nonmotorized users, but exploring the preserve outside the trail corridor requires a permit from Pima County.
Passage 8 also passes through Colossal Cave Mountain Park, a privately operated Pima County Park that is home to one of southern Arizona’s most accessible and impressive cave formations. This may be your only opportunity to go underground while on the AZT (culverts and underpasses don’t count), and the perspective of seeing a completely different world just below the surface should not be missed.
Inspiring views of the Rincon Mountains define this passage, and as you enter Saguaro National Park (one of only two national parks that allow mountain bikes on dirt trails), you’ll experience a vegetative transition from desert scrub to lush saguaro forests. Enjoy easy trail miles as you explore this wonderful singletrack, because an arduous ascent into the Rincon Mountains lies ahead.
The trail begins at the kiosk on the east side of the parking lot and follows a clear path northeast 0.3 mile where it drops into an arroyo and turns north. It runs through the sandy drainage, crosses Cienega Creek, passes under a trestle, and then quickly climbs out of the main wash in a side channel on the right (east) side. Follow this channel to the northeast a short distance to a doubletrack, and take a sharp turn to the west for 0.25 mile to reach Marsh Station Road.
Carefully cross the paved road, go under the train trestle, and pick up the trail on the other side of the fence. Mountain bikers and equestrians should go around the end of the guardrail, while hikers can just step over it. Equestrians should walk their animals across Marsh Station Road.
The Sonoran Desert comes alive at night, and an experience along the AZT wouldn’t be complete without a hike or mountain bike ride under the full moon.
The trail heads west for a very short distance, with views of Cienega Creek before resuming its path to the north. About 0.5 mile past the trestle, the trail passes through a fence and continues northeast on the south side of a wash before reaching a pipeline road and a power line. Continue north, passing through a gate, and crossing into Colossal Cave Mountain Park.
Take in the views at the saddle before descending the big sweeping switchbacks toward La Posta Quemada Ranch. A side trail leads from the AZT to the ranch where limited services, including camping, a gift shop, and snacks, are available.
TURNAROUND NOTE: If you’re doing an out-and-back day hike from the south, Colossal Cave Mountain Park is a perfect destination and turnaround spot.
To continue on this passage, the trail contours northeasterly along Posta Quemada Canyon toward La Selvilla Picnic Area before bearing left out of the canyon bottom and turning north. It crosses four doubletracks in quick succession on its northern route to Pistol Hill Road. Shortly after Pistol Hill Road, it passes through a gate and makes its way along pleasant singletrack en route to X9 Ranch Road and then continues to the north-northwest to the attractive riparian areas of Rincon Creek. This area makes for fine camping before you enter Saguaro National Park, which requires permits for its limited camping areas.
The park boundary lies 0.2 trail mile north of Rincon Creek. Just 0.7 mile beyond is Hope Camp, a historic ranching site and the end of Passage 8.
The entire passage provides excellent, moderate singletrack. You can ride point-to-point by leaving a vehicle at one of the access points, or you can do it as an out-and-back from any of them. The X9 Ranch Road crossing is the northernmost bike-friendly vehicle-access point on the passage; alternatively, park at the Loma Alta Trailhead and ride 2.5 miles along the Hope Camp Trail to access the AZT. For more information about mountain biking along the Arizona National Scenic Trail, visit aztrail.org.
Mountain bikers enjoy the world-class trail through saguaro forests near Colossal Cave Mountain Park.
Take Exit 281 off I-10 and follow Marsh Station Road (frontage road) 3 miles southeast, then north, to the parking area on the east side of the road.
If you want to hit the trail from here, please follow the trail description in reverse order. There is no vehicle access for the 3 miles required to reach the beginning of the Hope Camp Trail. On Old Spanish Trail, travel approximately 7 miles southeast of the Saguaro National Park Visitor Center, or go 4 miles northwest of Colossal Cave Mountain Park on Old Spanish Trail and then turn north on Camino Loma Alta. Go about 2.5 miles until the road ends at a small trailhead and parking area. Travel 3 miles east on Hope Camp Trail to historic Hope Camp.