Summary: The Santa Rita Crest Trail runs north and south along the famous Santa Rita Ridgeline. From Florida Saddle on the north end to Baldy Saddle on the south end, it offers 2.4 of the sweetest miles you will find in southern Arizona. The northern end sits at Florida Saddle at 7810 feet, which is guarded to the north by Florida Peak and the mighty McCleary Peak (8357), the northernmost peak of the ridgeline. The southern terminus lies at the everfamous Baldy Saddle, weighing in at 8780 feet and guarded fiercely by old Wrightson itself (9453). You can reach Florida Saddle from Cave Canyon, Sawmill Canyon or Florida Canyon. Cave is a nice choice. Of course, Baldy Saddle can be reached from the Old Baldy trail or the Super Trail. Bear in mind just reaching the Santa Rita Crest trail requires a serious effort, which just makes it that much sweeter.

Hike: This will be described from the northern Florida Saddle end. There is a typical old Santa Rita rusted metal sign marking your arrival at Florida Saddle. The sign says the Crest Trail runs south and initially it climbs up some switchbacks. It's surprising how overgrown this trail is in places, and the beginning is one of those places. There are plants up to your waist as it climbs up away from the saddle. There are areas of burn and the plants are making a fierce comeback. The trail will climb about 235 feet in the first 0.25 miles or so, at which point you will come to a marked sign for the Armour Spring trail, which breaks off to your right. Stay straight on the Crest Trail.

Over the next 0.65 miles or so, the trail will climb about 500 feet as it skirts east of the first major peaks of the Santa Rita crest. In so doing it offers up some huge views east over the eastern foothills of the Ritas, including out over Cave Canyon. You can see out to the Rincons, Whetstones and Huachucas as well. In the summer, especially late summer, the flower show will mesmerize. After a total of about 0.9 miles from Florida Saddle you will stumble onto a nameless saddle opened up by a fire, nestled between Peak 8853 to the north and a nameless 9000 foot peak south. This magical meadow sits a little over 8500 feet and is worth whatever sweat you worked up coming up whatever canyon it was that brought you here. Green grass, sprinkled purple with wildflowers looking out forever east and west...

Take a good long look at Elephant Head down the western side of the saddle and search for a useful cairn to help guide you away from the saddle with no name. The Crest Trail continues left of the main ridgeline, staying on the east side. The next 0.6 miles is fairly smooth as the trail continues on the east bank of the Crest, offering great views and sweet flowers. Nice rock formations dot the landscape. The trail is usually a little overgrown, which just makes it even sweeter. At about 1.5 miles from the Florida Saddle, the trail will bank hard right. To your left is a little ridge leading out to a nice little nameless peak just slightly above you. You'll climb a quick 300 hundred plus feet to get just below the ridgeline again, then climb a little more to top out over 9000 feet briefly before beginning the unfortunate descent to Baldy Saddle. When you top out at the divide before descending you will be at roughly at roughly 9086 feet and you can see Wrightson....it and sees you. The rest of theway Old Baldy keeps a watchful eye on your progress down to the end of the Crest Trail at Baldy Saddle. Be sure to skirt up the little peak just north of Baldy Saddle before you stop. It offers SENSATIONAL views of Wrightson, Madera Canyon, the Old Baldy trail and Mt. Hopkins. A very excellent place for lunch.
- Aug 05 2008 fricknaley & jeffmacewen

One-Way Notice: This hike is listed as One-Way. When you hike several trails on a single "hike", log it under the initial trail or the destination trail. Then link the other trails to your logged trip, check out the example.