Getting to California Gulch:
California Gulch Road (FR 217) heads south from the Ruby Road (SR 289) near the ghost town of Ruby, west of Nogales. For the most part, directions in the current birdfinding guides are still valid and useful and I do not reproduce those directions here. The directions are valid as far as the "parking area" at the north entrance to the gulch. The relevant pages are as follows:

Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona, Tucson Audubon
Pages 203-206 (4th edition, 1995)
Pages 178-180 (5th edition, 1999)
Pages 195-197 (6th edition, 2004)
Pages 215-218 (7th edition, 2007)

A Birders Guide to Southeast Arizona, Taylor/ABA
Pages 202-203 (1995 edition)
Pages 205-206 (1999 edition)
Pages 209-211 (2005 edition)

Since the older editions of the birdfinding guides were published, there are some important changes that should be noted before making the trip (see below). The changes do not affect the basic directions from the Ruby Road turnoff to the north end of the gulch. The following information should help you find the turnoff to California Gulch Road. Use the directions in the birdfinding guides to navigate down California Gulch Road from the entrance on Ruby Road to California Gulch proper, a distance of about 4 miles.

How long does it take to get to the gulch?
First time visitors routinely underestimate how long it takes to get to California Gulch. Miles are not the problem, just the type of miles. Don't get caught out, allow plenty of time. For example, I allow 3 hours from Sierra Vista. The final stretch from Peña Blanca Lake (where the blacktop ends) takes 1.5 non-birding hours -- about an hour to travel the ~16 miles to the start of the gulch road and 25-30 minutes to travel ~4 miles to the parking area at the north end of the gulch. It's possible to improve on these times a little by driving faster but your passengers won't appreciate the ride.

Finding the turnoff for California Gulch Road
If coming from Arivaca, start looking for the turn on your right a little less than 11 miles from where Ruby Road starts in Arivaca. Caution: take the second FR 217 road that you see. The first one leads to Warsaw Canyon, keep going to the second FR 217 turnoff about 1.4 miles further east. This turnoff is prominently marked by a Forest Service "CALIF. GULCH" sign on Ruby Rd.

When approaching from Nogales (on SR 289 from I-10 via Peña Blanca Lake), the sign is located opposite a large open area (a few yards before the turn for the gulch) and is potentially misleading. About 15 miles after you start the unpaved section of the road near Peña Blanca Lake, you'll pass by the gated entrance to the ghost town of Ruby. Start looking for the CALIF. GULCH sign about 0.7 miles after you pass the Ruby entrance. However, don't turn immediately at the sign, continue a few more yards to the turn on the left that is just before a wash that crosses the Ruby Rd.

Closure of California Gulch proper to vehicles
The old section of FR 217 that previously passed through California Gulch is now closed to vehicles at both north and south ends of the gulch. At the north end, the road is closed at the "parking area" at the top of the gulch. The parking area is on the left just after crossing a cattle guard. You can still walk down "heartbreak hill" about 1/2 mile to the sparrow area. However, the steep walk out in summer heat will be a test of your stamina for sure (be sure to take plenty to drink in the warmer months). At the south end, the road is closed near the entrance to "Ralph’s Place" -- a trailer and various junky structures.

Accessing the south end of California Gulch by vehicle
There is a "new" road that heads south from the parking area (at the north end of the gulch) and bypasses the gulch entirely. This road is actually the completion of Forest Road (FR) 217 that links up with a formerly separate section of FR 217 and heads north again to the Ruby Rd via Warsaw Canyon. By using this road and the access road to "Ralph's Place", you can loop back to the south end of the gulch where the walk in is much easier than heartbreak hill at the north end.

Directions to reach the south end of CA gulch in your vehicle: After crossing the cattle guard at the top of the gulch, bear right on a "new road". Proceed approximately 1.2 miles on this rough, gravel road then take a left turn marked "dead end". Continue for another 1/2 mile or so -- you'll wind around a few switchbacks, uphill at first and then down to creek level. As the road bottoms out and bears right over the stream bed, continue straight instead for about 50 yards on a grassed over track and park. From here you can walk north into the gulch about 1/2 mile through a riparian area. Do not attempt to drive beyond this point -- it is private property (currently unoccupied). Note: During the monsoon season, you may have to wade through deep water (one foot or more) in any of the southern stream crossings, so be prepared.

Notes for 2010 (added 4/29/10):
The section of Ruby Road from Peña Blanca Lake to the California Gulch turn is currently well graded and remains in very good condition (relatively speaking). It's still a bumpy ride though. California Gulch Road is also in good condition (not quite as good as 2009 but an order of magnitude better than a few years ago). In terms of the basic condition, the road should be passable to small vehicles to the north end of the gulch. However, standing water was present in 3 locations on 4/29/10 and one of those locations would prevent a small vehicle from passing through. As usual, in the monsoon season, small vehicles would not make it. My policy remains the same as always -- I won't go in a low clearance non 4x4 vehicle.

Five-striped Sparrows were first reported on 4/21 and I detected at least 3 on 4/29.

Notes for 2009 (added 5/08/09):
Ruby Road is in very good condition from where the unpaved section begins at Peña Blanca Lake all the way to where the blacktop resumes near Arivaca Lake. California Gulch road is also in very condition (relatively, of course) -- much better than, for example, Carr Canyon Road and upper Garden Canyon Road. There is absolutely no comparison between the current condition and the condition in any year that I have been driving it since 1994. Currently, from a clearance standpoint, all but the dinkiest of rental cars should be able to drive all the way from Ruby Road to the top of the gulch. However, the road is very dry and dusty and there may be a traction issue on loose gravel in a few locations (likely only an issue for small or lightly loaded vehicles). When the monsoon rains begin, standing water may be an issue for low clearance vehicles as is normally the case.

Notes for 2008:
The road into California Gulch and the Ruby Road have seen some serious work and both roads are in the best condition that I have seen over the past 15 years. However, the road into the gulch is still not suitable for a small rental vehicle since a decent amount of clearance is required in several places. Those areas with large dips at several of the stream crossings (where large pools form) are still present and will require high clearance during the monsoon season. Also, several steep areas will almost certainly require four wheel drive during the monsoon season.

Notes for 2007:
No significant changes to the road but only the mentally challenged (PC for idiot) should try using a low clearance vehicle. I routinely see people in non suitable vehicles -- what part of "seriously damaged vehicle" and "getting stranded" (or worse) don't they understand? Five striped Sparrows were first reported on April 10. Buff-collared Nightjar was first reported on May 3 at the nearby old Oro Blanco site.

Notes for 2006:
No significant changes but the extremely dry conditions and loose surface material can make traction difficult in the steep sections (more of an issue getting out, not driving in). Very wet and potentially treacherous conditions prevailed in July and August. Five-striped Sparrows were reliable since at least early May. Buff-collared Nightjars were difficult early, more reliable later.

Notes for 2005:
No significant changes since 2004. Note that the rainy season may produce puddles preventing low clearance vehicles from making much progress at all.

Notes for 2004:
The access road to the gulch is in about the same condition as last year. I first noted Five-striped Sparrows on April 30, although they were present at least a couple of days before this date. A total of  ten visits through August have all produced sparrows.

Notes for 2003:
The sign for California Gulch on the Ruby Road has been removed from the eastern (Nogales) side.  The road into the gulch continues to be in fairly good condition (it's all relative of course!). Until the monsoon rains bring deep puddles, a small rental vehicle will be able to drive in as far as the dam (1.2 miles). It is roughly a round trip walk of 5.6 miles from the dam to the closest sparrow location.

Notes for 2002:
By California Gulch standards the road is in excellent condition but is extremely dry and dusty in some of the gravelly sections. Regular vehicles will likely have problems and high clearance is definitely recommended. A new sign has been added at the entrance "not maintained for passenger vehicles" (no shit). Despite the dry conditions, six trips from May 7 through May 26 all produced Five-striped Sparrows. Added July 20 -- standing and flowing water in the usual places. Nine trips from July 5 to September 18 all produced Five-striped Sparrows.

Notes for 2001:
The road remains in about the same condition as last year and is quite reasonable (by CA Gulch standards). Signs have been added on the Ruby Road to mark the entrance to the gulch. During the rainy season, standing water may perhaps prevent regular vehicles from making it the first few miles.

Notes for 2000:
The road to California Gulch has been improved somewhat and a regular passenger car can perhaps make it a few miles into the gulch from the Ruby Road, certainly as far as the dam at 1.2 miles. However, that still leaves a long walk.