Pima County Conservation Lands & Recreation will temporarily close the Gabe Zimmerman Davidson Canyon Trailhead for pavement repairs on April 14-16. The AZT is still open, and visitors are encouraged to park at the Three Bridges parking area just north of the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead during this time.
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Location
- Lakes Road to Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead
Length
- 12.6 miles
Resources
- MAP
- PROFILE
- TRACK
- Waypoints: GPS | MP
- Arizona Euro-American History
- USGS Topographic Maps: Mount Fagan and Vail.
- BLM Information Center maps.
Southern Access Point: Lakes Road
- GPS Coordinates: 31.90910° N, 110.67151° W
- NOTE: This trailhead is not directly accessible by vehicles. The trailhead is approximately 0.6 miles west of the access point (31.90857° N, 110.66196° W) along a two-track road.
Access
From the intersection of I-10 and AZ 83, drive south for 7.2 miles on AZ 83 to milepost 51.4. Turn right (west) and go through a gate on an unmarked, rough dirt road about 0.6 miles to the AZT. This road requires a 4WD high-clearance vehicle, or park near AZ 83 and walk in (recommended).
Northern Trailhead: Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead
- GPS Coordinates: 32.01362° N, 110.64730° W
Access
Take I-10 east and take Exit 279 (Wentworth Road/Colossal Cave Road). Turn east (left) for 0.2 mile to Frontage Road. Turn south (right) on Frontage Road for 5.2 miles to Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead.
Trail Route Description
Passage 7 crosses the valley between the Santa Rita and Rincon Mountains. The trail follows a singletrack path that rolls up and down grassy hillsides through fields of ocotillo, prickly pear cactus and creosote bush, and features spectacular views of the Empire Mountains to the east.
Mesquite trees, barrel cactus and cholla line the singletrack trail that dips in and out of sandy washes, crosses dirt and paved roads, and uses culverts to traverse underneath Highway 83 and Interstate 10. Overall, the terrain is fairly easy with only a few short climbs and a gentle descent to the north.
Difficulty
- Easy to Moderate
Season(s)
- Fall, Winter and Spring
- Current weather forecast
Water
Water is intermittent and scarce. Plan to bring your own water. Check the online Arizona Trail Water Report for current information at https://aztrail.org/explore/water-sources/.
Notes/Warnings
All water along this passage should be purified prior to use.
For more information
- The Passage Steward
- Coronado National Forest, Nogales Ranger District, 303 Old Tucson Rd., Nogales, AZ 85621 (520) 281-2296
- BLM Information Center (602) 417-9300.
Current Passage Info
AZT Vail Scramble Invites Runners & Volunteers on Sunday, April 12
March 29, 2026
The AZT Vail Scramble is back on Sunday, April 12. Trail runners and volunteers are encouraged to participate in this annual event, for the benefit of the Arizona Trail Association. The trail marathon, half-marathon and 10K traverses the valley between the Santa Rita and the Rincon Mountains. It offers spectacular, sweeping views and while the marathon has plenty of challenging ups and downs along the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains, the half-marathon and 10K courses offer mostly a gentle, winding descent through ocotillo, prickly pear cactus, creosote, and mesquite. The point-to-point marathon and half-marathon begins south of Vail and follows the AZT north toward the finish line after a short dirt road segment. The 10K starts near Sahuarita Road and Hwy 83 and runs concurrent along the final 6.2 miles of the marathon course. All races finish at the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead on the Arizona Trail. Transportation is provided to each start line on a school bus. After you finish, transportation is provided back to the parking area at Vail School District (13801 E. Benson Highway Vail, AZ 85641). Runners and volunteers are encouraged to register on UltraSignup.
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