Overview
Location
- Davis Spring Trailhead - Santa Catalina Mountains - Southern Arizona
- Google Map Coordinates: 32.45735900 -110.63795000
- At This Trailhead: Davis Spring Trail - shown on many maps but now only an off-trail route except for the very beginning of the trail! (Some maps also show the Evans Mountain Trail which no longer exists.)
- Nearby Trailheads and Parking:
Driving Time and Distance from Tucson
- 2 Hours and 30 Minutes from Speedway and Campbell
- 75.0 miles from Speedway and Campbell
- Vehicle Access: A High Clearance 4WD Vehicle is the best option to reach this trailhead.
Fees and Services
- Fee: Yes (The parking area and surrounding land outside of Coronado National Forest is Arizona State Trust Land which requires a paid permit for recreational use.)
- Restrooms: No
- Water: No
Additional Notes
- Once you leave Redington Road be aware that there are not any maps that accurately show all the current roads/gates/conditions!
Driving Directions
Suggested driving directions from the Speedway and Campbell intersection in Tucson to the Davis Spring Trailhead:
- North on Campbell (3.5 miles)
- Turn left onto River Road (2.2 miles)
- Turn right onto Oracle Road/AZ-77 (36.1 miles)
- Take the San Manuel/Veterans Memorial Blvd exit and continue thru San Manuel and the hard left at Black Hills Mine Road (14 miles)
- Bear right near the river to stay on Redington Road (10.2 miles)
- Bear right to stay on Redington Road (0.7 miles)
- Turn right onto Davis Mesa Road - the junction is unsigned
- From here it is approximately 10 miles to the Davis Spring Trailhead. The road is generally in good shape up until the ranch house - after that the road is rougher and a high clearance 4wd vehicle is strongly recommended. Don't expect to find ANY signage to help with navigation in this area. If this is your first visit I recommend downloading and using the GPX file below - I am not aware of any maps that accurately show the roads in the area along with locked gates and road conditions (be especially suspicious of Google Maps in this area). The notes below won't note every side road or parking area, but should help with major turns - distances are very approximate:
- Continue on Davis Mesa Road (0.7 miles)
- Take a right to continue on the road rather than following the gas line (0.4 miles)
- Cross the gas line (0.3 miles)
- The road makes a left hand turn away from the gas line (2.4 miles)
- Stay to the right as the road approaches the canyon (0.1 miles)
- Stop at the AZGF Box to sign in (0.2 miles)
- A small sign will direct you to the right, uphill, away from the ranch house - from this point the road is notably rougher (0.1 miles)
- Turn right (0.3 miles)
- Cross a sandy wash (1.3 miles)
- Left at the junction (1.9 miles)
- Pass the turn to Split Tank (1.7 miles)
- Arrive at the unsigned parking area.
Google Maps Directions from the Speedway and Campbell intersection in Tucson to Davis Spring Trailhead.
Alternate Route – Redington Road across Redington Pass
The directions above take you north around the Santa Catalina Mountains – you can also get to the Davis Mesa Road by heading east from Speedway and Campbell and taking Redington Road across Redington Pass. This route is about 25 miles shorter but is not shown here as the main option because it generally takes longer to drive due to the many miles of rough dirt road across Redington Pass. Google Map showing the route over Redington Pass.
Davis Mesa Road – Redington Road to the Davis Spring Trailhead – Map and GPX
The map below shows the Davis Mesa Road from the turn off Redington Road to the Davis Spring Trailhead – especially on your first visit to the area the network of rough unmarked roads can be slightly daunting, I suggest downloading this gpx file (shown below) to use along with a topo map and the directions above.
Resources
- In June 2018 Ken Murphy left a very informative comment on Edgar Canyon, Davis Spring Trail, Point 5817 – 4/1/2016 about the drive saying: “The “road” to Davis Spring can be driven without 4WD for most of the way, but I don’t recommend it. Best use a 4WD with tires in good condition for driving over rocks. Even a small SUV or crossover should do. One very rocky spot on a steep incline has some deep water erosion holes as you navigate the incline, but they can be carefully driven around and avoided. Remember to sign the log at the 6 Ranch entrance. The road across Davis Mesa is clear and easy to follow. Cattle can roam freely there. There are several “Y” intersections with other roads along the route. A TOPO map shows which direction to follow at those. There were no obstructions the entire distance when I drove it late June 2018.”
All Trailheads - Map
Update Notes
- 2019/1/22 – First Version