Quantrell Mine #141

Soaring views of the Santa Cruz Valley, the Santa Rita foothills and Elephant Head are your reward on this 2.78-mile one-way, rather desert-country journey. The trail starts in the upper reaches of a branch off Chino Canyon and follows an old roadbed up the grass- and cactus-covered western slopes of the Santa Ritas. Good views of Mt. Hopkins, with the Multiple Mirror Telescope at its summit, Madera Canyon to the north and the Tumacacoris and Baboquivaris to the west make this an excellent trail for those who like expansive views. History buffs will find it to their liking, too, because the trail follows a turn of the century road grade constructed to provide access to a number of mines including the Quantrell Mine. This extensive dig produced considerable amounts of gold, silver and lead ore during its heyday. Some of the old loading facilities are still visible, along with some rather impressive road work. If you’re a mountain biker (a good one) you can use your wheeled steed to get to the trailhead which branches off the Elephant Head Mountain Bike Route where it leaves Chino Canyon. Actually, there are two access routes to this trail, the one up Chino Canyon via FR 4073 and a longer but less steep route from a trailhead on FR 183 in Agua Caliente Canyon. If you do use your mountain bike to access this trail, remember to leave it at the Wilderness boundary. Mountain bikes are mechanized vehicles and therefore not permitted in Wilderness areas.