Wayne Tomasi

This trail, easily accessible on the west side of the Santa Ritas, takes hikers through a very popular birding area, where it is common to see the elusive elegant trogon.

The Old Baldy Trail, the shortest route to the summit of Mount Wrightson, is a popular hiking trail. It’s also a difficult walk through a gnarly maze.

Here’s the shortest, easiest and most direct route to two landmarks in the upper basin of Adobe Cabin.

This trail is one of the shortest in the Santa Ritas. It is by no means the easiest.

The rarely visited Apache Gulch is home to several abandoned mines, remnants of an adobe home, remains of a few dilapidated stone buildings and the largest concrete dam I have seen in the Santa Rita Mountains.

If you are seeking an isolated and seldom used route to the upper reaches of the Santa Rita Mountains, this is the trail you are looking for.

The trail, which is near three caves that are favorites of the spelunker community, combines the best of two worlds: the first half is a relatively easy walk, and the second half is challenging.