THREE TANK TRAIL LOOP

PASS REQUIREMENT: US Forest Service (Golden Age)

HIKE LIMIT: 18

MOUNTAIN RANGE: Rincon                                HIKABLE MONTHS: NOV thru MAR

TRAVEL MILES: 90 ROAD CONDITION: 1 (paved)

TYPE OF HIKE: B – Moderate                               HIKE MILES: 8.1

TRAIL CONDITION: 1                                           ELEVATION GAIN/MAX.: 1,450/3,839 FT

ROUTE TO TRAILHEAD: Take I-19 north to Duval Mine Road.  Turn right and take Duval Mine Road/Old Nogales Highway to Sahuarita Road.  Turn right onto Sahuarita Road and head east to the stoplight at Houghton Road.  Turn left onto Houghton Road and head north to Speedway.  Turn right onto Speedway and take it to the end.

PARKING AT TRAILHEAD: Parking lot on the right at the end of Speedway.  Have your hikers carry their Golden Age Pass with them since the parking area is NOT a fee area, however most of the hike is.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: This is a loop hike.  Hike eastward on the Douglas Spring Trail 2.3 miles to a signed junction with the Three Tank Trail.  Follow Three Tank Trail southwest 1.5 miles to the junction with the Carrillo Trail.  You will pass the remains of Aguilla Tank (the dam has been breached), Mica Tank, which hopefully will be filled with water, and finally a metal tank named Red Steel Tank at the intersection of the Carrillo Trail.  Turn south on the Carrillo Trail and follow it 1.3 miles to the site of the Garwood Dam.  Continue past the dam to the intersection with the Garwood Trail.  This is where the Garwood Ranch House was located.  Turn north on the Garwood Trail 0.6 miles to the Wildhorse Trail.  Follow the Wildhorse Trail north 0.9 to the Stock by-pass and then turn east (right) to the Douglas Spring Trail.  Turn left on the Douglas Spring Trail and it is 0.2 miles back to the cars.

If the Leader decides that ALL hikers are capable and there is water at Bridal Wreath Falls (your scout will confirm water), an additional 135 feet of elevation and 1.2-mile round trip may be added to the hike by continuing on the Douglas Spring Trail 0.2 miles to the Bridal Wreath Falls Trail and then follow the Bridal Wreath Falls Trail 0.3 miles to the falls.  Retrace your trail from the falls to the intersection of the Douglas Spring Trail and the Three Tank Loop Trail and proceed as above.

COMMENTS: This is generally a maze of trails, but they are fortunately well signed.  It is recommended that you get the map of the Cactus Forest Trail System from the Park or download it from the Saguaro National Park website at https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/maps.htm.  Pictures of the Garwood Ranch may be borrowed from the Club Library.  There is no shade.  Be certain that your hikers have plenty of water.

BULLETIN DESCRIPTION: Hike the Douglas Spring Trail and follow a string of water tanks through a seldom seen west Rincon valley.  Open with no shade.  Bring plenty of water.

DATA SUPPLIED BY: Cameron Beckwith 11/1992; Updated by Vicki Mattox 10/2000, Tom Johnson 1/2003, Sandy Noreen 1/2014, George Higginson 4/2019

LIBRARY REFERENCE: Garwood Ranch