The origin for the name Josephine Canyon is unclear as several Josephines lived in the area, and any of them could have been inspiration for the name. The Canyon could possibly be named after the same woman as Josephine Saddle, Josephine Creek and Josephine Peak.
At one time, there were two canyons in the Santa Rita Mountains named Josephine. Although, the other Josephine Canyon is now called Little Casa Blanca Canyon. Some historians believe Josephine Canyon is named after Sarah Josephine Elizabeth (Josie) Pennington, the daughter of Elias and Julia Pennington, who were settlers in the area in the late 1800s.
Driving to the Josephine Canyon Trailhead is as exciting as the hike up the canyon. To reach the trailhead from Patagonia, turn north off of Naugle Ave. onto 4th Ave. (next to the Wagon Wheel Bar). Drive two blocks and turn left onto Pennsylvania Ave., which becomes Blue Haven Road once you leave the town limits. From the intersection of Blue Haven Road and Salero Road (FR-143), drive north on Salero Road approximately 10.5 miles where the road crosses a cattle guard and enters the Coronado National Forest. Continue for 2.5 miles, where Salero Road changes to Bull Springs Road and FR-4082 (Josephine Canyon Road) branches to the right and begins its serendipitous journey to the trailhead.
The first 0.6 miles of FR-4082 is in relatively good condition. However, beyond the Compadre Mine the road is in serious disrepair and only suitable for an appropriate off-road vehicle. Parking somewhere along FR-4082 and continuing on foot may be a good idea. In 0.7 miles, the road veers to the left, crosses Josephine Creek and heads up a steep, rocky hill. In another mile, there is an intersection of FR-4082 and FR-4860. FR-4082 turns 180 degrees to the left and starts a perilous journey up Tia Juana Ridge. To reach the Josephine Canyon Trailhead, bear right onto FR-4860 and continue northeast for 0.6 miles to another fork in the road. FR-4860 turns left and goes up a steep, rocky slope, where it abruptly ends. The Josephine Canyon Trail begins at the end of the right track.
The Josephine Canyon Trail is slightly more than two miles long and ends on Josephine Saddle, where it junctions with the Old Baldy, Super, Agua Caliente, and Temporal Gulch Trails. From Josephine Saddle, a number of interesting possibilities are available involving shuttling vehicles or swapping keys.
Many people believe Josephine Canyon is the most beautiful area in the Santa Rita Mountains, and I agree. Josephine Creek is embowered by enormous cottonwood and sycamore trees, as well as a wide variety of foliage typical of a riparian environment. The creek is perennial, although during dry seasons the stream flows mostly underground and only surfaces intermittently. The valley is relatively untrammeled and receives little visitation, most likely because of the difficulty accessing the trailhead.
An easier but longer way to visit Josephine Canyon is from the top down, hiking from Josephine Saddle downhill to the lower trailhead and returning the same way. About 1.5 miles of the Josephine Canyon Trail is in the Mount Wrightson Wilderness Area.
The lower section of the trail crosses Josephine Creek several times and, during wet times, passes numerous small pools of standing water. About 100 yards past the first wet creek crossing, the trail passes between two stone buildings surrounded by large alligator juniper trees. The smaller cabin on the west side of the trail sits on a small island in the middle of the drainage. The second somewhat larger cabin is on a terrace above the right side of the trail. Some of the rock walls in the corners of the larger cabin stand five feet high or more.
Several wood posts are interspersed within the stone walls, and a couple appear to have been living when the building was constructed. The front wall of the cabin is completely gone, although many of the rocks are lying nearby in a crumbled heap. Most of the walls outlining the smaller structure are badly deteriorated and lower than those in the larger cabin.
Several large juniper trees grow within the perimeter of the smaller cabin, indicating how long it has been since it was inhabited. The location of the cabins is labeled on Schrader’s 1914 map as Long Camp and the Camp Bird Prospects. In 1908, a man named M. Long originally located several Camp Bird mining claims in the area. However, for many years the same location was referred to as CCC Camp, after Charles C. Chapman, who owned a ranch in the area and worked on six CCC mining claims.
For the next quarter mile or so, the trail is difficult to follow, so be on the lookout for where the path veers to the left up a ridge away from the drainage. Once on higher ground, the route drops into a pristine side canyon, climbs over a ridge and then drops into the bed of the main arm of Josephine Canyon, where Arizona Golden Columbine grows profusely during the summer months. This area is a bird-lover’s paradise because in late spring and early summer several bird species, including the elegant trogon, migrate here from Mexico.
The trail crosses the creek several times and becomes increasingly more difficult to follow. Fortunately, cairns in the drainage are seemingly placed exactly where they are needed. When in doubt, stay close to the creekbed but continue looking for where the
trail leaves the drainage a second time.
About 1.6 miles from the trailhead, the path turns sharply to the right and climbs a steep hill away from the creek. It continues up a steep but well-defined path, reversing direction for a short distance. You may have doubts about still being on the trail because the path turns due south for a short distance, heading away from Josephine Saddle. Eventually, the trail swings back to the north and steepens somewhat. Fortunately, several long switchbacks ease the grade, although they may be overgrown with brush and small trees. The trail finally contours around a hillside below Jack Mountain and traverses left, up the west side of the main drainage to Josephine Saddle.
