From the parking area, carefully cross the road and head west.
Cross the gate and follow the South Boundary Fire Road.
At the Blue Ribbon sign, head downhill on a hiking/horse trail.
This is chaparral and later the route follows a creek.
Follow the Merigan Fire Road (some maps call this the Japache Fire Road).
A fairly wide dirt road that's much more open.
A possible detour to a water catchment (often dry).
Take the Sweetwater Trail, a narrow trail uphill.
Complete the loop by following South Boundary Fire Road east.
The trail climbs a bit steeper and levels out at the Blue Ribbon junction.
The connector takes about 20 minutes one way.
How to get here:
Free: Park along the CA-79 at East Mesa trail head.
Without the connector park at the Japache/Meridan Fire Road.