Wild Burro Loop Trail, AZ

Overview
This trail was completed in the 2014 time frame and connects the Wild Burro Trail to the Ridgeline Trail. If you want a connector trail to make a larger loop hike in Tortolita Mountain Park this is the trail. This trail overlooks the upper Wild Burro Canyon from the upper end. There are great views of Wild Burro Spring with its Windmill, water tank, and dam. The Goat corral can also be seen from this trail. There is no trailhead for this trail; access is from the Wild Burro Trailhead near the Ritz Carlton Hotel via the Wild Burro Trail or a combination of the Alamo Spring Trail and Ridgeline Trail.


Hike
The Wild Burro Loop Trail from the southern end starts where the Ridgeline Trail ends, at a saddle above the westernmost branch of Ruelas Canyon. From this saddle are the best and last views to the south of the Catalina Mountains.The trail heads gradually downhill on the west slope of a short north-south ridge. Views to the west are of the upper Wild Burro Canyon with Alamo Spring in the distance. The tip of Picacho Peak makes an appearance a few times along the upper portion of this trail. Picacho’s dark rock stands out behind the light-colored Tortolita Mountains.

At 0.5 miles from the start of this trail, it rounds the north end of the north-south ridge and starts descending the northwest slope down to Wild Burro Wash. Views of the windmill, tank, dam, and goat corral are good over most of the last mile of the trail. The grade of the trail does not change as it drops down into the Wild Burro Wash; it drops the last almost 300 feet with two ridiculously long switchbacks. I can tell one of the designers of this trail was a mountain biker. Anyway, it is a really good trail and allows one to hike and sightsee without stopping; just have to keep an eye open for the trail direction change at the end of each switchback.

Just before entering Wild Burro Wash leave the trail and head north about 100 feet to see the goat corral, which may or may not have corralled goats, this was only speculation. Once back on the trail you cross the wash just above a good-sized concrete dam that has since been backfilled with sand. The trail leaves the wash and heads up the bank just to drop back down into the wash at the windmill and water tank (now solar powered). The water tank was full when I was there and the wasps were happy campers.

Synopsis
This 1.5-mile trail with its 400 feet of elevation change was easy going down and probably fairly easy going up. While the rating on this trail is moderate to easy keep in mind that to do this 1.5 miles requires approximately a 13-mile loop hike with an AEG of over 2000 feet.

2018-12-23 markthurman53