Trail Overview

The Turkey Creek Trail in the Coronado National Forest runs along a ridge that separates Turkey Creek and Mesquite Canyons. This part of the trail is located within the Rincon Mountain Wilderness boundary. The landscape it traverses resembles that of the Saguaro National Park, with abundant saguaros and other characteristic Sonoran Desert vegetation. The trail offers views of Rincon Peak to the south and the Santa Catalinas to the north. Cell service is incredibly patchy, so download your map before your trip.

Photos of Turkey Creek Springs FR 4408

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Difficulty

Once you start the trail after the campground, you will begin to climb on some loose rock. Although the climb is fairly steep, there are no difficult obstacles to cross. The most challenging portion of the trail is a very steep hill with loose scree that may require 4WD. It is narrow at the top of the hill, with a sharp left-hand turn. Once you get up to the top of the ridge, the views are spectacular all the way to the hiking trailhead, where you turn around to head back.

Technical Rating

Kellen Bogardus

Dec 28, 2025

Open

Closer to a 3/10. A few tricky rutted out sections in the first half, but the rest is pretty smooth cobble road. Cows are stubborn about getting out of your way, so some patience might be needed.