Bug Springs Trail #10

Bug Springs Trail #10 is a rugged long-distance hiking route in the Santa Catalina Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest. It’s managed by the USDA Forest Service and mapped as a multi-use trail corridor open to hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

Plan on a steep, climbing-oriented hike. The route is about 4.6 miles one-way and centers on roughly 1,400 feet of climbing (from around 3,800 ft at the lower trailhead to about 5,200 ft near the upper).

The route character is rocky and steep, with rough switchbacks and loose rock surfaces. Expect sustained effort rather than a gentle climb or mellow tread.

There are two common access options from the Catalina Highway (also referred to as Mt. Lemmon Highway): a lower trailhead that’s often used for the uphill direction, and an upper trailhead near the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site that’s often used when starting for a descent.

Trail conditions are strongly affected by sun exposure: the route has very little shade, and it runs along exposed ridgelines. Summer heat and water needs matter on this line.

For history-context before or after your hike, the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site sits in the same area network tied to the Molino Basin/Bug Springs trail system; it’s a former Federal Honor Camp site that now functions as a recreation access point.

More information: Gordon Hirabayashi Campground Guide | Arizona 2026 - Outdoorithm, 100+ Must-Do Hikes in Phoenix, Arizona, Tag - bug-spring - HikeLemmon