San Rafael Valley Trail
This stunning trail connects Patagonia and Coronado National Memorial. Beginning in the mountains, the road passes ghost towns before arriving at the border town of Lochiel. Continuing east, the trail offers big views in the valley before climbing towards pavement near Highway 92.
Where to go:
This trail begins near the town of Patagonia along State Route 82. From the highway in downtown Patagonia, head southeast on 3rd Ave past the town hall. Make an immediate left to head northeast along McKeown Ave/Harshaw Road. Follow the paved road as it meanders south for 6.6 miles. Staying right at 5.9 miles. This is where the road turns to dirt and heads south. Alternatively, you could begin this trail at the overlook within Coronado National Memorial and drive this trail in reverse.
Trail Description:
From the end of the pavement, continue south on Harshaw Road. The road remains wide and smooth as it slowly climbs. Just after 1.3 miles, the trail reaches the historic Harshaw townsite. A cemetery remains on the hill to the right across the small creek. Adobe foundations are visible from the road on the left. Continue uphill to the south. The road continues past a private mining operation less than a mile later. Eventually the trail briefly levels out and reaches an open area. Stay straight at 5.3 and 6.0 miles as lesser roads branch off.
The road then drops through a rather scenic section. At 9.8 miles you’ll reach a junction. The main trail continues straight ahead, but if you want to see the Washington Camp Ruins (0.5 miles to the west) or head to Nogales, Patagonia Mountain Trail goes to the right. Continue south through the junction. The road passes through the historic town of Duquesne, which still has quite a few residents today. Stay left at 10.5 miles where the trail splits. The trail continues to drop in elevation as the trees quickly give way to high-desert grassland. Off to the right is a monument to the explorer, Marcos De Niza, who explored this area back in the 1539. Stay left at 15.4 miles as the trail reaches the historic border town of Lochiel. The road swings to the east as you may get some views of the US-Mexico border, which is less than a quarter of a mile to your south at this point.
The road heads back north briefly before turning back to the east. The views along this section are quite impressive as you are now in the heart of the San Rafael Valley. At 20.8 miles, stay right onto F.R. 61 where F.R. 194 goes left. The road continues to wind through the wide valley as you pass some private ranches. Stay right again as the road splits at the 27.4 mile mark. Shortly after this, you’ll cross into Cochise County. You’ll reach another large junction at 32.9 miles. Stay right again. At 35.5 miles, stay right again as you continue to follow signs towards Coronado National Memorial. From here, the trail begins a rather rapid climb as you approach the Huachuca Mountains. The views off to your right along this section are incredible, and much of what you are seeing is Mexico. At 41.6 miles, you’ll reach Montezuma Pass where you’ll probably want to stay right into the paved parking lot to check out the view. The overlook features commanding views both to the west and to the east. This area also has bathrooms and access to hiking trails within the National Memorial. Refer to park maps and informational signs for more information. Continuing east from the overlook takes you on a windy dirt road that eventually turns to pavement at 43.5 miles. This is the official trail end, and you can continue an additional 6 miles to Highway 92. Highway 92 will take you to Sierra Vista (to the west) or Bisbee (to the east).
Notes & Trail Ratings:
Overall, this trail remains easy throughout. Most of the drive is over wide, graded dirt roads. A few areas in the mountainous areas can get rocky and have washboards, but high-clearance isn’t really required. It’s over 50 miles from Patagonia to Highway 92 and there is plenty to stop and look at, so you’ll want to allow a solid 2-4 hours to make the drive. Easily extend your day by exploring additional trails and Forest Roads in the area. Due to the high elevation of some of this trail, you could find some snow during the winter months. Travel with caution and keep in mind that you are very close to the border throughout the drive.