One of the few very lush trails in the Santa Catalinas, this 5.2-mile-long trail takes you down, down, down through forest and flowers to a spring-fed creek, and then up, up, up to raspberries below a junction with the Bigelow Trail.  

Difficulty: Most people would rate this trail as difficult. The tread is pretty good, but has large rocks in some steep sections. Dropping 1,600 feet and then climbing 1,600 feet -- plus heat, humidity, and encroaching vegetation during the monsoon season -- can make it brutal. The best time to hike it is May or October.

Current Condition: (10/5/23) The northwest end has been cleared to some degree as far as the junction with the Crystal Spring Trail. A crew is currently clearing the trail from there to Novio Spring at the bottom. From Novio Spring to the Davis Spring Trail junction the trail is overgrown, as are parts of the rest of the trail to the Bigelow Trail junction. There are four logs across the trail between Novio Spring and Bigelow Saddle. The easternmost log is a large tree with its limbs attached that fell into one of the switchbacks coming down off Westfall Knob. Hikers are going around the tree.

Connecting Trails: Crystal Spring Trail #17 goes off to the north. Davis Spring Trail #31 goes off to the east and ends in about a mile. Butterfly Trail #16 connects with Bigelow Trail #54 and Incinerator Ridge Trail at Bigelow Saddle. Incinerator Ridge Trail is not listed on the southeastern trailhead sign, but it is part of the “Lemmon Drop” that is very popular with mountain bikers.

Directions: The trail can be accessed at both ends. The northwest trailhead is located between miles 22 and 23 on the Catalina Highway. The southeast trailhead is located on Bigelow Saddle, which is one-half mile up the Bigelow Trail from the parking lot located across the highway from the Visitor Center, between miles 18 and 19.

Restrictions: No motorized vehicles. Dogs must be on leash.