Route Editor
Route Scout
2, 4, who's counting by markthurman53  This trail does not appear to be listed as an official trail but it is there none the less and is used and talked about enough that it deserves its own description. The Four Springs Trail connects Kent Spring to the Florida Crest Trail via the saddle just north of McCleary peak. The Trail starts at Kent Spring where the Kent Spring and Bog Spring Trails meet. The unsigned trail heads up the hill to the Southwest and climbs steadily over the ridge and along the ravine to the Southwest of Kent Spring, crosses back over the ridge and eventually ends up along the upper reaches of the Kent spring canyon. The trail does about 6 switchbacks climbing 700 feet to Shovel Saddle, 1.8 miles from Kent Spring. This is a very picturesque saddle with pine trees and good views, mainly up to one of the saddles along the Florida Crest. So far the trail has been easy to follow but as the trail continues on toward McCleary Peak it is a little overgrown just north of Shovel Saddle. The trail is there, just need to look through the abundance of pine tree saplings and a couple tree falls, one fairly large one. The trail becomes easy to follow once past this area (Couple hundred yards) all the way to the Saddle north of McCleary Peak, 2.5 miles from start. There are good views from this saddle, especially of Elephant Head Rock. There is a route that takes off to the north to McCleary Peak. The Four Springs Trail heads east from this saddle down a couple of switchbacks toward Armour Spring and the Florida Crest Trail, 3.2 miles from Kent Spring. The trail from the Saddle to Florida Crest Trail is along the north side of one of the peaks on Florida Crest and can still be in snow even after most of the other trails are clear. Armour Spring is marked with a sign and isn’t much more than a little water from under a huge rock, there was actually more water in the creek just .1 miles east of the spring. There are good views to the north from along this trail. The trail from the Florida Crest Trail at least to the spring is listed as Armour Spring Trail #71, not sure if this official trail goes just to the spring or continues on to the saddle near McCleary Peak. No matter how I count it up there are only two springs along this trail and that bothers me, so I made up a route that would get me four springs. From the Bog Springs trail head, hike to Bog Springs, then Kent Springs, continue on along the Four Springs Trail to Armour Spring. At Armour Spring Return to Kent Spring and take the Kent Spring Trail past Sylvester Spring and back to Bog Spring trailhead. Now I have four springs and this makes for a nice 10 to 11 mile round trip hike. This is a great spring hike just check snow conditions. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
One-Way Notice This hike is listed as One-Way. When hiking several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
Four Springs Trail
You just can't beat summer in the santa ritas
much needed day in the mountains. started at super trail and cut over to 4 springs on pipeline and kent canyon. very pleasant climb up to the high stuff. i was 50/50 on doing McCleary and when i got there i just didn't feel like thrashing through the thick overgrowth. took the lovely, though somewhat overgrown, crest trail to pine saddle and hit 88 Mac for the first time in years, then continued on to baldy saddle. shot up one of the nameless summits on the way for fun. got some welcome cloud cover for my trip up to wrightson, then had a nice hike down old baldy. a deer graciously pulled off trail just beneath the saddle, at a switchback, to let me hike by without much of a care.
great day up there. the springs were all flowing, everything off the beaten path was a little overgrown and tore me up, i got bit, i got stung, flowers everywhere...everything summer in the santa rita high country should be!
much needed day in the mountains. started at super trail and cut over to 4 springs on pipeline and kent canyon. very pleasant climb up to the high stuff. i was 50/50 on doing McCleary and when i got there i just didn't feel like thrashing through the thick overgrowth. took the lovely, though somewhat overgrown, crest trail to pine saddle and hit 88 Mac for the first time in years, then continued on to baldy saddle. shot up one of the nameless summits on the way for fun. got some welcome cloud cover for my trip up to wrightson, then had a nice hike down old baldy. a deer graciously pulled off trail just beneath the saddle, at a switchback, to let me hike by without much of a care.
great day up there. the springs were all flowing, everything off the beaten path was a little overgrown and tore me up, i got bit, i got stung, flowers everywhere...everything summer in the santa rita high country should be!
2019-08-14 fricknaley
Four Springs Trail
i wanted to do the mccleary/88mac loop using four springs and coming down burnt saddle but the weather forced a change of hand.
pipeline is a jungle
going up four springs reminded me this is probably the best trail in the santa ritas. i saw a twin spotted rattler on the way up
the route out to mccleary is really overgrown and the roughest i have seen it. i did surprisingly see a couple guys up there tho!! not long after i arrived the drizzle started and i knew it was time to bolt. it immediately started coming down harder and confirmed that the rocky and at times slippery ridge out to mccleary is not where you want to be in the rain
once back on trail i really wanted to continue my loop and actually started it but the rain picked up significantly and then a thunder crack and i was immediately heading back down.
still a great day but could have been super great.
pipeline is a jungle
going up four springs reminded me this is probably the best trail in the santa ritas. i saw a twin spotted rattler on the way up
the route out to mccleary is really overgrown and the roughest i have seen it. i did surprisingly see a couple guys up there tho!! not long after i arrived the drizzle started and i knew it was time to bolt. it immediately started coming down harder and confirmed that the rocky and at times slippery ridge out to mccleary is not where you want to be in the rain
once back on trail i really wanted to continue my loop and actually started it but the rain picked up significantly and then a thunder crack and i was immediately heading back down.
still a great day but could have been super great.
2017-08-19 fricknaley
Four Springs Trail
Four Springs loop Madera Canyon
From the amphitheater: up BS#156 and over to Kent Spring, continuing up to the crest on Four Springs trail, south on CT#144, down OB#372, down Nature trail to start. Generally good trail conditions on Four Springs except the east-west section near Armour Spring, where the track is faint and overgrown, with some pink ribbons to mark the route. Went back up KS#157 to close the Bog/Kent loop.
2017-03-18 toddak
