Bull Springs Road

Total Miles
26.1

Elevation

1,582.05 ft

Duration

4 Hours

Technical Rating

4

Easy

Best Time

Winter, Spring

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Bull Springs Road
5

Trail Overview

Experienced drivers will find this trail easy, but it has its share of rough sections, and it is extremely remote. You'll cross through ranchland and then hit Coronado National Forest to climb the lower part of the Santa Rita Mountains to 5,000 feet. There are some mines and cool adobe ruins you can check out at Alto Camp. There are some roads that take off from the trail that ATVs and UTVs will enjoy exploring.

Photos of Bull Springs Road

Bull Springs Road
Bull Springs Road

Difficulty

Easy: A few steep spots with ruts and minor rocky sections. Conditions subject to change following heavy rains. Four-wheel drive and high clearance are definitely needed.

History

Alto was an early mining camp started by mining engineer Josiah Bond. A post office was established there June 6, 1912. Bond's wife, Minnie, was the postmistress. Ruins include a few adobe walls of the post office and possibly part of the family residence.

Technical Rating

4

Status Reports

Ronald Semper
Aug 29, 2024
2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Open
Philip King
Aug 11, 2024
2023 Toyota Tacoma
Open
Rough/Deteriorated
Extremely washed out but easily passed. It looks different than ever before. I run stock set up loaded with weight in a 2023 Tacoma 4x4 offroad and it was easy.
Richard Brooks
Jun 04, 2024
4x4
Open
Rough/Deteriorated
This was my fifth trip across to Patagonia. The trail was in the worst condition I have seen it. It was a very bumpy ride with many obstacles, mostly rock. On a positive note, we saw a big mountain lion about 10 yards away and moving away from us. Beautiful cat. The one way trip took 3 hours with few stops.
Mike Sholtis
May 04, 2024
2022 Jeep Wrangler
Open
Fantastic trail. lots of wildlife and beautiful vistas. cacti are in bloom now with forests of orange ocitillo and yellow prickly pear blooms. the trails are rocky and rutted but not hard if you go slow and steady. We finished at about 1:30 after starting at about 9:30 am making several stops for pictures. All in All a very enjoyable trail.

Access Description

From Interstate 19 at Exit 48, head north on east side frontage road 1.8 miles to Elephant Head Road on right. Head east 1.5 miles and turn right on Mt. Hopkins Road. Follow this road southeast 4.8 miles to Bull Springs Road on right. (From Exit 56, Elephant Head Road is 3.2 miles south.)

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