DAVIDSON CANYON LOOP

PASS REQUIREMENT: State Land Permit (SLP)

MOUNTAIN RANGE: Empire                                HIKABLE MONTHS: NOV thru MAR

TRAVEL MILES: 64 ROAD CONDITION: 1 (paved)

TYPE OF HIKE: B – Easy                                       HIKE MILES: 7.0

TRAIL CONDITION: 2                                           ELEVATION GAIN/MAX.: 500/3,668 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 to SR 83.  Turn left (north) onto SR 83.  Cross over the I-10 interchange and immediately take the first right onto the Frontage Road, which becomes Marsh Station Road.  Drive approximately 3 miles to the Gabe Zimmerman Davidson Canyon Trailhead parking sign.  The parking lot is on the right.

PARKING AT TRAILHEAD: The trailhead has ample parking.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: Note: Distance in miles from the trailhead in ().

Start on the Arizona Trail south for about 200 feet to the Horse Trail Bypass.  Start down this bypass trail on the left until it intersects with the Davidson Canyon streambed (1.16).  Turn right and hike upstream until intersecting a fence (1.5).  Go on left side of stream bed through the fence.  Proceed upstream to another canyon wash (2.5).  Turn right and go upstream, passing through boundary fencing. This fence area is a possible lunch site.  Continue upstream, passing the first power-line road to a second road (3.4).  Turn right and proceed to an intersection. (3.69).  Turn left at the intersection and go until a Y at another road (3.9).  Turn sharp right for about 100 feet and then turn left and bushwhack a short distance to the Arizona Trail.  Turn right on the trail (north) and proceed under I-10 via a tunnel (5.4).  After exiting the tunnel, hike downstream a short distance and continue the Arizona Trail to the right (5.5).  On the ascent from tunnel, look for endangered pineapple family cactus (small reddish-hued cacti).  Continue on the Arizona Trail to the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead.

COMMENTS: While there are no fees to use the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve, the leader will need a hiking permit from the Pima County Natural Resources website.  Go to www.pima.gov/nrpr and click on “Recreation” on the Menu Bar.  Under Reservations/Permits/Rentals, click on “Natural Resource Area Access.”  Click on the “Cienega Creek” tab and then click on “Request a hiking permit.”  Fill out the form.  The center will send a filled-out permit via email attachment.  Make a copy for your vehicle and one to carry during the hike.

BULLETIN DESCRIPTION: Hike a 3-mile section of the Arizona Trail exploring the beauty of a section of the pristine Davidson Canyon.

DATA SUPPLIED BY: Tom Johnson 4/2010; updated by Scott Tewksbury & George Higginson 3/2022

LIBRARY REFERENCE: Arizona Trail, Agua Verde Castle