Written: October 20, 2021

Trip report, Cave Creek to Florida saddle, May 5, 2022

View looking southeast
We did this hike in the first week of May (May 5). We commented several times that if it was any hotter, we would not be enjoying ourselves. High temperature in Tucson was 95.

It was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky.

One way distance is 3.8 miles and you climb from 5700 to 7800 feet. (A climb of 2100 feet in 3.8 miles). We did the 7.6 mile round trip in 6 hours. We started hiking at noon and were at the saddle by 4PM. We were back at the truck by 6PM with plenty of daylight.

I hear some people already, "why didn't you get an earlier start?". I am just not an "early start" sort of person. I would rather relax at home, enjoy breakfast, get to the trailhead at noon and hike into the evening with a headlamp. You might like it too!

Getting to the trailhead

Before the trip we looked at maps, read various online resources, and were unable to make head nor tail out of how to get to the trailhead. Hence this somewhat long section which is intended to make the world a better place by clarifying these things.

The usually excellent "Green Trails" map is completely in error regarding this area, and the information on the USGS topo, while accurate, does not reflect "recent" road closures. I put the word "recent" in quotes because the closures have been in place for some time, but my experiences and memories date from before them.

I drove my 4x4 Toyota Tacoma to the trailhead without ever using or feeling inclined to use 4 wheel drive. A high clearance vehicle is nice, but not essential One stream crossing may stop some vehicles or drivers.

From Tucson, head east on I-10 to Highway 83. Exit and drive south.

The Gardner Canyon road (FS 92) is clearly marked by a big green highway department sign, but it is somewhat hidden by bushes on the right until the last minute. From here the road is dirt and passable by virtually any car for the first 5 miles. The following gives mileages on Forest Service 92 (FS 92) from Highway 83. The above takes you to the trailhead you can (probably, maybe) drive to with a passenger car. Don't curse me if you cannot or if you rip the bottom off your car at the crossing at 5.8.

Here are coordinates (taken by my Garmin 66i) for the trailhead: 

-110:47.9661 31:42.6057 Gardner trailhead A

The Hike

View south from 7600 feet
From the trailhead, you start walking west on the old road along Cave Creek. In almost no time, a trail branches to the right, and this is the trail you want! A sign makes it clear. To the right is the Cave Creek trail, to the left is the link trail. The link trail will ultimately take you to Gardner Canyon and could be used to do a big loop up Cave Creek, along the Crest trail from Florida Saddle to Baldy Saddle, and then down the Gardner Canyon trail. Something for another day.

The Cave Creek trail is at first an old road, but that is only for a short distance. You pass through a nicely constructed gate and continue up the canyon. On our visit there was a fair bit of water in the stream up to about 6000 feet elevation. Pools had monkeyflower as well as yellow columbines.

After 1.8 miles you reach the old trailhead and marvel that once vehicles were able to get to this point. The rangers made a good choice when they decided to put the trailhead where it is now and keep vehicles out of this area. Good for the wilderness and good for the vehicles given the condition of things. The wilderness area boundary is spitting distance from the old trailhead and an old steel sign with words cut into it with a torch give clues that this was the location of the old trailhead.

Beyond this point, the trail begins to climb more steeply. Up to now it has been easy strolling, but now you are going to have to work. Eventually switchbacks start as you climb the south facing north side of the canyon. One particularly long switchback indicates you are almost to the top. At Florida saddle, there are a plethora of signs and nice views. Florida saddle is not on the main Santa Rita crest, but is on a spur ridge extending to the east.

We began our return at 4 PM and enjoyed the late afternoon light on the east side of the mountains. This is a reward the early birds miss.

The trail was in excellent shape the whole way and easy to follow. There was no down timber blocking the trail. A trail crew has worked on both this trail and the Sawmill trail over the winter and cleared out all the deadfalls.

Have any comments? Questions? Drop me a line!

Tom's hiking pages / tom@mmto.org