Gardner Trail #143

If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path route to the summit of Mt. Wrightson and the Santa Rita Crest, this trail may be the one for you. When combined with the Cave Canyon Trail #149, it also provides an opportunity for a long but manageable loop that also takes in those lofty heights. Gardner Trail ascends the eastern slopes of the Santa Ritas passing through country that is virtually deserted when compared to popular Madera Canyon on the mountain’s western slopes. The views, although quite different than Madera, are just as impressive.

The trail begins at the end of Gardner Canyon Road and immediately begins traversing and switchbacking its way up the slopes of Mt. Wrightson. To the east, views stretch to the Chiricahuas of extreme eastern Arizona with the Whetstone, Mustang and Huachuca mountains floating in a sea of grass closer at hand. Below you, the forests of the Santa Ritas extend out into the grasslands bordering Cienega Creek. Gardner Trail ends at its junction with the Super Trail #134 which you can follow north to junctions with the Crest Trail #144 and Old Baldy Trail #372. The Crest Trail leads both to the summit of Mt. Wrightson and along the Santa Rita Crest to Florida Saddle where you can turn east again on Cave Canyon Trail #149 to Cave Canyon Road and back to Gardner Canyon Road via the short and appropriately named Cave Gardner Cutoff Trail #10. This loop is a total of 12 miles long if you don’t visit the Mt. Wrightson Summit, 14 miles if you do.