Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
destination for an easier family hike; the second set of star ratings for Children, Diffi-
culty, and Solitude refers to this trip. For an all-day hike, go as far as Douglas Spring,
where there is a small backcountry campground (see Nearby Attractions). Hardy, fit
hikers can go even farther.
Route Details
From the trailhead, the flat, wide, comfortable trail heads east, passing a trail register
after 0.1 mile. Pass a turnoff to your right for the
Garwood Dam Loop
after 0.2 mile,
and then the trail becomes increasingly narrow as it crosses a dry wash and meanders
through a mesquite forest. At 0.6 mile, a sign indicates the Converse Trail (shown on
some maps as the Wentworth Trail) to your right. Now you start climbing, aided in
places by shallow stairs with log or stone risers designed to prevent erosion.
As you climb, glance over your shoulder to your left for fine views of the salmon-
colored buildings of the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch below and the Santa Catalinas on
the north horizon. The trail swings southeast, briefly follows the right bank of a steep,
rocky little canyon, and comes to a junction at mile 1.1, with the Carrillo Trail bearing
off to the right (south). Continue southeast to admire a strangely knobby peak on the
horizon at 120° southeast—this is Tanque Verde Peak, reached by its namesake trail
(see
Hike 5
).
About 0.5 mile later, the trail flattens briefly, and another landmark appears on
the horizon. Helens Dome, a blocky, oblong peak at 80° east, will frequently appear
in front of you for the rest of the ascent. You'll drop across a sandy wash that is usu-
ally dry and then continue your ascent up the left side of the increasingly steep and
rocky drainage, which may have occasional pools of water in it. You'll top out at a
point where a pair of aspen trees have decided to spend their lives together, rooted in
the middle of the sand, searching deeply for whatever moisture they can find.
The trail flattens and enters an open area of grasses interspersed with cacti, but
with few trees or saguaros. In 1989, most of this area was burned by the Chiva
Fire, which raged over 9,500 acres high into the Rincon Mountains beyond Douglas
Spring. A quarter-century later, it's hard to see where the damage was done.
A sign indicates the turnoff to the Three Tank Trail, on the right at the 2.3-mile
mark—our trail continues east and fairly flat for another 0.2 mile to the junction with
the Bridal Wreath Falls Trail. The falls trail goes right, slightly south of east, and the
