Bear Springs marks the start of the historic Ditch Trail. From here, the century-old path twists and turns through the hills, traveling eight and a half miles to Kentucky Camp. The trail, built in 1904, was part of a project designed to bring water from the springs to a mining camp.
The Ditch Trail is a nearly level path for most of its length. It follows a ditch workers dug in the rocky soil, an open trench that carried water to the mine at Kentucky Camp. About three miles from Bear Springs, a 1,000-foot tunnel enables the water to jump from Casa Blanca to Gradner Canyon. I leave my pack at the creek-side campsite and go for a late afternoon hike to see the tunnel.
Remnants of the ditch are readily visible along the path, and I can almost imagine what it looked like with water sluicing through the tunnel. The path contours along the eastern edge of the Santa Ritas on an ever so slightly downward course. It's an easy stroll and Sukha, who seems to sense that the load has been lightened somehow, gets his second wind.
From here it's another five miles to Kentucky Camp, where the Arizona Trail passes right through the historic adobe buildings. The Santa Rita Passage links a series of trails and forest roads to get from there to Oak Tree Canyon at Highway 83--the end of the line until the next passage is completed.
For Sukha and I, the tunnel is the end of the line for this hike. We head back to Bear Springs just as the sun dips behind Mount Wrightson.
When we finally arrive at Bear Springs Sukha collapses in a tired heap. Then, as if it's not enough that he's exhausted and has sore paws, he must suffer the indignity of an intrepid deer traipsing through our camp. If you're going to hike the Arizona Trail, I want to tell him, you better pace yourself.
Trail Sections
Huachuca Mountain Passage. If you want to start at the beginning, this is it. The southern-most section of the Arizona Trail begins at Montezuma Pass in the Coronado National Memorial. Work is currently underway, however, to extend the trail another two miles south to the Mexican border. When complete, you'll be able to start your journey on the U.S./Mexico international border. The 20-mile passage through the Huachuca Mountains travels through the Miller Peak Wilderness on the way to Parker Canyon Lake. Somewhere in the vicinity, the 16th-century Coronado Expedition passed by on one of the first recorded thru-hikes of Arizona. Contact: Sierra Vista Ranger District, (520) 378-0311; Coronado National Memorial, (520) 366-5515.Canello Hills Passage This 30-mile route leads north to the town of Patagonia. The relatively low elevations should make this an ideal winter hike. Sierra Vista Ranger District, (520) 378-0311
Santa Rita Passage For details on this 40-mile passage from Patagonia to the Empire Cienega Ranch, contact: Nogales Ranger District, (520) 281-2296.