If you are seeking an isolated and seldom used route to the upper reaches of the Santa Rita Mountains, the Gardner Canyon Trail is what you are looking for. The Trail is officially 4.4 miles long and stretches from the wilderness boundary in upper Gardner Canyon to the Super Trail, four-tenths of a mile below Baldy Saddle. On Baldy Saddle, the Super Trail junctions with the Crest Trail providing access to Mount Wrightson, the Old Baldy Trail, and several other upper elevation routes.
The Gardner Canyon Trail is one of the shortest routes to the summit of Mount Wrightson and is named after Thomas Gardner, an early settler to the area.
There are two ways to reach the Gardner Canyon Trailhead. One requires walking approximately half a mile more in each direction but eliminates driving several miles of challenging road. With the appropriate vehicle and a sturdy set of tires, driving directly to the trailhead in Gardner Canyon is probably the best choice. To reach the trailhead, turn off Route 83 onto FR-92 (Gardner Canyon Road). Drive west on FR-92 approximately six miles to the junction of FR-92, FR-4084, and FR-785. Turn left onto FR-785 and drive approximately five miles up Gardner Canyon where the road ends in a large parking area. The beginning of the trail is accessed through a hiker’s gate at 5920 feet elevation.
An alternative way to access the trailhead is to follow FR-92 approximately nine miles to the trailhead for the Cave Canyon Trail. Hike up the Cave Canyon Trail approximately 0.2 miles where the trail splits: The Link Trail is to the left and the Cave Canyon Trail to the right. Take the left fork and walk 0.4 miles to the Gardner Canyon Trailhead.
The Gardner Canyon Trail scales the eastern slope of the Santa Rita Mountains, passing through country virtually devoid of people, especially when compared to the more accessible trails on the western slopes. Before the Forest Service closed the last mile of FR-785, the Gardner Canyon Trail was the shortest and most direct route to the summit of Mount Wrightson. Many people think the Gardner Canyon Trail has more expansive and impressive views than any of the west side trails, although the Gardner Canyon Trail is more isolated and its trailhead is more difficult to reach.
The trek begins through a hiker’s gate and follows an abandoned roadbed for one mile to an open hiker’s gate at the end of a large campsite. The mile-long section of old road gains little elevation. However, there are splendid views of Mount Wrightson as well as glimpses of Ditch Mountain, Gravesite Ridge, and the area in the vicinity of Tunnel Spring.
Almost immediately after passing through the open gate, the trail crosses Gardner Creek and enters the Mount Wrightson Wilderness Area. After a quarter mile, the trail leaves the creek, the grade steepens, and the route leads away from the primary drainage. As the path continues climbing, the surrounding vegetation changes, primarily with the appearance of ponderosa pine. The trail is well-groomed, and the tread is protected by strategically placed rain-deflector logs and an occasional stone retaining wall.
Approximately two miles from the trailhead, the path reaches a clearing on an exposed saddle where Walker Basin Trail #136 enters from the left. Beyond the saddle, the trail begins to switchback up a steep southeast-facing ridge with exceptional views of every imaginable landmark south and east of the Santa Rita Mountains. On a clear day, the Sierra Mariquita (ladybug) Mountains in Mexico are visible to the south beyond the San Rafael Valley.
About three-fourths of a mile above Walker Saddle, the route passes through an area canopied by silverleaf oak trees and the easy walking changes to difficult as the trail passes above the head of the main arm of Gardner Canyon and begins a steep ascent up the final ridgeline. The path here is cluttered with sinister-looking burnt trees lying across the trail. None of the trees present a serious obstacle, although care must be taken not to lose the trail. After a dozen or more switchbacks, the track levels off at the edge of a small bowl-shaped hollow that is a magnificent place to rest and eat a snack. The forest floor is dotted with thousands of ponderosa pine saplings, ferns, and wild grasses, indicating that normalcy is slowly returning to what was once a peaceful sanctuary.
The trail continues and swings around the meadow to a saddle below the main block of the Santa Rita Crest. From here the junction with the Super Trail is only 200 yards, a few switchbacks, and 300 vertical feet away. However, take your time as this short section is one of the steepest parts of the trail and the tread is covered with loose dirt, pine needles, and small stones.
The Gardner Canyon Trail officially ends where it meets the Super Trail at 8400 feet. From the saddle it is only 0.4 miles to Baldy Saddle and another 0.9 miles to the summit of Mount Wrightson.