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
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

Sally Tree
Mar 19, 2024
4x4
Open
Normal
Started in Patagonia, 2:30 to Mt. Hopkins Rd. Saw a quad and SxS, A Ford Raptor and some whitetail. An easy afternoon with stunning vistas.
David Harden
Dec 30, 2023
4x4
Open
Normal
This was an easy trail with only a few slightly steep sections. Part of the trail is a shelf road and the views are pretty.
Dale Miller
Dec 25, 2023
4x4
Open
It had rained a couple days prior. About 2 inches. We went from the west side by Mt Hopkins Observatory towards Patagonia. Did not pass anyone until on the Patagonia side. Very rocky and rutted from the rains for first half. Slow going. Well maintained roads on east side. Saw several deer and a coatimundi. The fog from Lake Patagonia was very interesting. Great drive.
Steven Hinkle
Dec 17, 2023
1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Open
Normal
Dusty

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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