Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE TOP OF A CRISTATE SAGUARO
Continue climbing generally east from the dam along the Carrillo Trail, passing
the intersection with the north and south arms of the Wildhorse Trail, 0.6 mile away,
and continuing up to a round steel tank, 0.8 mile beyond the intersection. Several
tanks are marked on park maps. Originally, most of these were natural rock pools
that were deep and shaded enough to hold water year-round; they were also important
places for the original Native American inhabitants and later for cattle ranchers who
used to lease these lands. Today they are of historical interest—the last grazing lease
in the park expired in 1979.
The steel tank is unusual in that it's not a natural formation: It was constructed
to hold water from nearby Rock Spring. About 8 feet high and 20 feet across, it's
quite an impressive structure, albeit no longer in use. Tanks would often get stagnant
and covered with green algae, hence the ubiquitous name Tanque Verde, Spanish for
“green tank.” To solve the algae problem, ranchers used to stock the tanks with gold-
fish to eat the algae.
Four trails converge at the tank, which you need to walk around and behind to
find the continuation of the Carrillo Trail, now climbing north. Ahead of you is a
