Bog Springs-Kent Springs Loop in the Santa Rita Mtns (5.3 miles)

Distance: 5.3 miles
Elevation: 5060'-6700'
Hiking time: 4.5 hours (slow on purpose)
Elevation: 5060' - 6700'

The Bogs Springs-Kent Springs Loop hike in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson makes for a challenging hike.  This is not a hike for the faint-of-heart either, as elevation gain  is close to 1700', making the 5.3-mile hike seem more like a 7-miler.  Robert and I had wanted this to be a special hike with Nina's friends from her time in Sierra Vista.  She now lives in Sahuarita, 90 miles away, and hasn't hiked with the old meet-up group since moving in November.

Nina, Robert, HollyW, SteveT and I, along with canines Trace and Zeke met at the trailhead parking area within the upper Bog Springs campground at 10:30am and started the hike at 10:38am.  One has to know that the trail starts here, as there are no signs leading drivers to this location as it's in the campground. I last did this hike a few years ago with the Huachuca Hiking Club and remembered just a few details:  that it was steep in parts, rocky in others, and that the return hike was all downhill.  We hiked this clockwise, going up to Bogs Spring first, then Kent Springs.  This way the grade is not as steep, and views are just as plentiful.

Weather promised to be in the mid 70s in Sahuarita, meaning more like upper 60s at our elevation. I wore my blue hiking shirt and never felt the need to put on my windbreaker.  I warmed up enough on this hike.  Skies were mostly clear with no wind.

The hike was not as busy as I expected it to be.  We were the first in the parking lot.  This trail goes down into a dry wash but then gradually climbs up an old mining trail before turning off on a single-track up to Bog Springs.  The old mining trail goes up to Kent Springs and is rocky, with loose rocks, and exposed. An old metal sign for the Bogs Spring Trail comes at the .8-mile mark and leaves the crowds behind.  This is where the fun begins, as one climbs up to see views west into Green Valley-Sahuarita.  Emory Oak trees along the way provide for relieving shade.

Robert, who's been lamenting being out of shape since last August, stayed up front.  He'd dash ahead and then wait for the others.  I was second.  Holly, Nina and Steve were in the rear. The trail takes on a gradual grade the entire time and we rested often, but the steepest grade is the distance from Bogs to Kent Springs beginning at the 1.4 mile mark as the trail takes a steep switchback route to a ridgeline that eventually descends into the lush sycamore-filled ravine of Kent Springs.

Robert and I somehow missed the actual Bog Springs (it was just behind the sign; we had just gone uphill from there).  This was an oversight, as it would have been the first water stop for Zeke. Here's where we stopped for lunch.  Water was flowing from the springs into the drainage and refreshed the dogs. We were in a cool, shaded area.

This was everyone's first time doing this loop and everyone enjoyed it.  No one complained about the elevation, distance or difficulty.  We had agreed as a group to do this hike as opposed to the Elephant Head mountain bike trail because of the shade, and this was a wise decision. Everyone did say what a beautiful part of the Madera wilderness the loop went through.  I am curious about The Four Springs trail off Kent Springs. This trail continues uphill to the Florida Crest Trail via the saddle just north of McCleary peak to an elevation of 8127'.  There are so many trails in the mountain range that I have never done.

The hike from Kent Springs now takes a downhill grade, looping back to the mine trail we took at the start.  The trail is more reminiscent of an old mine trail, wider and rockier than the singletrack we had left.  There were pools of water but the drainage was dry by the time we crossed the creek, neared Sylvester Springs, and finished off back at the campground.  There were more people in this last mile of the trail and I put Zeke back on his leash.

Our destination post-hike restaurant was Pub 1922 in Sahuarita, a place Nina had been wanting to try for its gluten-free menu.  I don't go to Sahuarita often at all and know nothing about the area's restaurants, but it was a nice place for a group of six.  We sat away from the noisy bar area.  Service was slow but the food was decent.  The dogs rested in a shaded parking area.  Robert and Holly drove back to Sierra Vista, but Steve and I visited with Nina and Mark in their new home.  They have a panoramic view of the Santa Ritas along the drive there.

Nina is interested in doing the Bogs-Kent Springs loop on a monthly schedule.  I'd like that, too, and hopefully explore other trails in her area.  Keystone Peak is 50 miles to her west, the highest peak in the Sierritas and once a busy mining area.  The land is still owned by the McGees.