Monument Wash - Saguaro NP, AZ

Overview: Monument Wash doesn't get nearly as much as attention as its neighbors the Douglas Spring Trailhead and Cactus Forest Trailhead. Monument Wash doesn't have bathrooms, picnic tables, or even its own parking lot. There are no fancy signs announcing the trail and the only parking is in the dirt easement along Speedway Blvd. However, this lack of amenities means that on the weekends when the Douglas Spring & Cactus Forest parking lots are overflowing with vehicles, you can often still find parking at Monument Wash!


Hike: From Speedway Blvd, step over the wire barricade and begin walking south. You are immediately greeted with a trail marker that announces the distances to several nearby trails. You can choose to follow Monument Wash 2.3 miles south to its terminus at Loma Verde Trail or take any of the four other trails it intersects with to create your own loop.The trail never leaves Monument Wash and route finding should not be much of an issue. You will encounter game trails that lead into the desert, but your goal is to stay in the wash. There is one particularly attractive side trail just south of the Pink Hill junction that leaves the west side of the wash. While this trail looks like it has been trodden on by more than one set of boots, the official trail follows continues to follow the course of the wash.

Cumulative Mileage From Speedway Blvd:

Shantz Trail	0.3 Miles
Vanover Trail	0.6 Miles
Deer Valley Wash	0.8 Miles
Pink Hill Trail	1.3 Miles
Loma Verde Trail	2.3 Miles

2012-06-16 keepmoving