East Fagan Foothills 5102, AZ

Overview
A pleasant loop southeast of Tucson that integrates a section of Las Colinas - AZT #6 on Arizona State Trust land, a more obscure conglomeration of "trails" and the Lake Road (FR 2862) in the northeastern foothills of Mount Fagan in the Coronado National Forest.


Hike
It's possible to park outside the State Trust gate to start this loop. The route generally tracks AZT #6, meandering through mainly Mesquite and Ocotillo for about two miles. South of The Lake near 4295 one must head west after crossing the Lake Road. Ducks along the obscure path guide one to a ravine crossing. Slightly north in the bed and then on the upper west side of this wash, one must gap a fence to enter the Coronado NF. The route then meticulously switchbacks up the ridge amongst Agave, Desert Spoon, and Prickly Pear (to name a few), eventually joining the 5102' turnabout terminus of FR 2852. Just northwest of this point is where the Mount Fagan East route starts/ends.To return (CW), continue north on the undulating road at first, then mostly steeply descending where it'll swing more easterly leaving the Coronado NF at a gate. The road follows a wash for a way and then one will stay south (right) of The Lake to complete the lasso loop by following the rocky road east back down to AZ-83.

2025-01-20 pseudalpine