East of Tucson the road across Arizona State Trust Land from Pistol Hill Road out to the Papago Well Trailhead is quite nice, a raceway compared to many old ranch or mining roads. I assume the first half of the road serves several private residences that sit adjacent to the Rincon Mountain Wilderness, perhaps the source of some extra maintenance and care over the years...
The last half of the road is distinctly rougher - a hassle if all you want to do is get there, an encouraging sign if you are looking for a quiet day a little off the beaten path.
The Papago Well Trailhead is just a few pull-thrus cut into the desert near an old corral on the southwest apron of the Rincon Mountains - plenty of parking for us and the zero other people here today... It would be legal to drive thru the corral and continue on Coronado National Forest land to the spring - the Rincon Mountain Wilderness surrounds but doesn't cover this area - but the poor road condition, good views, emptiness and lovely landscape suggests that walking is a better choice.
It is a fairly short hike out to Posta Quemada Canyon and the Papago Spring area. We find a large rusted metal tank framing nearby ridges and peaks in strangely ornate windows, a cement tank dated June 1933, flowing water in the canyon and a groaning windmill above a wide dark hole of questionable depth.
You could take the road farther - over into Shaw Canyon - but today is just a casual photo stroll so we turn around and have the good luck to enjoy a few rain drops on the way back.
