Arizona Trail Italian Ranch Trail Rincon Mountains Tucson, Arizona Distance: 11.4 miles Type: jeep trail, out & back Time: 3-5 hours Season: not summer Elevation Range: 3950-4960 ft Quick Rating: climber's dream Chiva Area Trail Map (left half) (526 Kb JPG) Chiva Area Trail Map (right half) (359 Kb JPG)

Description

This trail follows part of the Rincons Mountains Passage section of the Arizona Trail. You may also find the Italian Ranch Trail named the Italian Spring Trail in some references. You'll have a gently climbing warmup before turning off on a jeep trail for a rolling descent to the Tanque Verde Wash. The trail offers scenic vistas of the desert valley below the Rincon Mountains, especially in the early morning. Once you cross the wash the climbing fun starts. And the trail keeps climbing to the top of Mica Mountain. Unfortunately, you can only ride as far as the wilderness boundary. There you'll find shade and a stream to rest by before the return trip. You'll be rewarded with more high altitude views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Hikers are encouraged to continue into the Saguaro Wilderness.

Rating

If you've cruised the easy Chiva trails and are looking for something more challenging, this is a good ride to try. It's a shorter version of the High Chiva Loop. The first 3.5 miles is a fun and easy (mostly) downhill ride. Once you cross the Tanque Verde Wash, Italian Ranch Trail quickly becomes 2.5 miles of steep uphill climbing. Compared to the upper loop, this trail covers more elevation in a shorter distance. The good news is that you can turn around when you've had enough.

How to get there

Take Tanque Verde Road east of town where it turns into Redington Road. Follow Redington Road 8 miles after the paved road ends and the dirt road starts. Park at the small clearing on the right with a jeep trail. This is the second entrance to Chiva Falls.

Trail Log

0.0	Start from the second entrance parking area and ride east on Redington Road..
1.2	Jeep trail at small clearing on right. This is FR 37 and should be marked with a brown fiberglass stake with the Arizona Trail symbol. Turn right and follow the trail. Watch for dead end trail spurs. There are many not marked on the trail map.
3.2	Corral at junction of FR 37, FR 95 (left), and FR 60 (right). FR 60 is signed as 4424. The iron Arizona Trail sign shows signs of target practice. Follow FR 95 left past the sign.
3.6	Watch for a small trail on the right across the wash with an Arizona Trail marker. Follow it. The brushy jeep trail will soon be blocked by a low iron barrier. It's uphill from here on.
5.7	The jeep trail ends at a shaded stream crossing and fence. Best as I can tell, this coincides with the mapped wilderness boundary. A hiking trail continues through the gated fence. Rest and head back.
7.8	Italian Ranch Trail crosses wash. Follow FR 95 left.
8.2	Corral at trail junction. Follow FR 37 right.
10.2	Redington Road. Turn left.
11.4	Back where you started.

Notes

Start early to avoid traffic on the trail. This access doesn't see much use but the Chiva Falls area is probably the busiest around. It's also very popular with 4WD and quad enthusiasts. You'll find the vehicles noisy but the riders friendly and helpful. More than once we've been offered food, water, and a ride.

Watch out for hikers and horses and yield the trail, smile, and wave. They're not common but that's all the more reason to watch for them.

Trail maps are not complete. 4WDs are adding trails even as we speak so not all of them are mapped. Most of the important intersections still have trail markers.