Spanish Wash
The Spanish Wash trail is primarily a connector that links the Prospector, Cottonwood Hills, and Coachwhip trails. It allows visitors to create loop hikes and rides involving all of the above trails in addition to the Cottonwood Canyon, Bracken’s Loop, and Church Rocks trails. Popular with equestrians, Spanish Wash is comprised of a wide, relatively flat wash bottom comprised of deep, soft sand that can be wearisome to many hikers and is extremely hard on bikers. Only 0.6 miles long, the trail is best hiked during wet seasons and shortly after rains when the sand provides a firmer substrate. Unless signed otherwise, user trails that take visitors out of the wash bottom onto upland areas are unauthorized and should not be used to trespass on protected habitat inside the lowland zone of the Reserve. The trail lies across lands owned by SITLA.
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- Spanish Wash trail map with key linkages.
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- The Spanish Wash trail starts at its north end at this junction with the Coachwhip trail.
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- Beautiful rock formations are found adjacent to this junction with the Cottonwood Hills trail.
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- For most of its length, the trail consists of a broad sandy wash that’s impossible for bikers, trying for hikers, but generally excellent for equestrians.
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- At this point in the mid part of the trail, the substrate becomes rocky and difficult for horses.
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- This little slot can be enjoyed by hikers in the rocky section of the trail.
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- An authorized go-around trail is provided at this point for hikers, bikers and equestrians.
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- Observant visitors may find evidence of historic Spanish carvings such as this grouping in the mid-section of the trail.
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- At this point, the go-around trail re-enters the wash bottom.
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- From the south end of the trail, this view looking north gives visitors some nice views of the distant Pine Valley mountains.
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- At its very south end, the trail is crossed by the popular Prospector trail which runs uphill to the left.
