AZ TRAIL - KENTUCKY CAMP

MOUNTAIN RANGE: Santa Rita                           HIKABLE MONTHS: NOV thru MAR

TRAVEL MILES: 97 ROAD CONDITION: 2 (paved and graded dirt)

TYPE OF HIKE: B – Moderate                               HIKE MILES: 7.5

TRAIL CONDITION: 2                                           ELEVATION GAIN/MAX.: 980/5,398 FT

ROUTE TO TRAILHEAD: Take I-19 north to Duval Mine Road.  Turn right and take Duval Mine Road/Old Nogales Highway to Sahuarita Road.  Turn right onto Sahuarita Road and head east about 17 miles to SR 83.  Turn right and go south on SR 83 about 17.5 miles to Gardner Canyon Road, turn right and rendezvous on the right as you enter.  Follow Gardner Canyon Road about 5.6 miles to the parking area for the Arizona Trail, just past the Apache Springs Ranch.

PARKING AT TRAILHEAD: Large gravel lot on the right side of the road.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: Follow the AZ Trail out of the north side of the parking lot.  The trail is marked with AZ Trail markers all the way to Kentucky Camp.  The trail follows old water system that was built to support the mining operation.  At the top of the first ridge, the trail crosses FR 4881 (unmarked).  The trail continues up the hill and after about 15 minutes into the hike, you can see where the pipe (removed) crossed a small side wash and was supported by a wood trestle.  Just below the second ridge, the water system incorporated a tunnel about 300 feet in length.  This tunnel is about 20 feet to the right of the trail.  The trail leads to a ranch road (FR 4110) on the crest of the ridge that leads east and west.  Cross the road following the trail and ditch to an accumulator which was used to capture debris that was in the water before it overflowed into a pipe that led into the next two canyons.  Return to the road and the Arizona Trail and follow it 1.1 miles to a point where the trail leaves the road to the left and switch backs down the canyon to a grove of trees (good snack site).  Continue on the Arizona trail and it will cross FR 4085 (unmarked at this location).  Proceed until you come to a fence on the right.  Go through the gate and then left along the fence.  Follow the trail to Kentucky Camp and lunch.

Return to the parking lot using the same route.

COMMENTS: See additional information in Library References.

BULLETIN DESCRIPTION: From the trailhead just west of Apache Springs Ranch, follow the AZ Trail past part of the water pipeline leading to Kentucky Camp.

DATA SUPPLIED BY: Jim Perkins 4/1999; updated by Tom Johnson 4/1999, Peggy Smith 2/2006

LIBRARY REFERENCES: Arizona Trail; Gardner Canyon; Kentucky Camp History; Kentucky Camp Water System