Red Tanks Tinaja and Baker Mine AZ, AZ

Logistics/Getting there:
The trailhead is located on Puerto Blanco Drive a (mostly) one-way loop that starts at the visitor center, loops over to Quitobaquito, and then returns to the 85 by running parallel to the border. The road is dirt and the National Park Service recommends a high clearance vehicle but is in good repair (likely because it is often used and maintained by the border patrol). An ordinary car could easily navigate it if the weather is favorable. The trailhead is on the left-hand side and has a few parking spaces and information plaques.


Navigation:
The trail is well-marked, and well-maintained, but not popular. You will find signs at major intersections and landmarks along the way.Weather:
In the winter when we were there, the weather was perfect. Shorts were an option but long sleeves were still feasible without getting too hot. This trail would be unpleasant in the summer for those not accustomed to Arizona's heat.

Trail Conditions:
This trail did not have any technical terrain to overcome on the way. Most of it seems to be an old jeep trail and most of it is wide and very clear with little rocky terrain.

General Comments and Musings:
Of the hikes we did in Organ Pipe National Monument, this was the last and also had some of the best examples of the local flora. There was a section after Red Tanks that was a veritable forest of organ pipe cactus with the entire valley and hillside covered in dense accumulations of them and ocotillo. Saguaros were also present in large numbers in another section. The red tanks were quickly reached and were full from recent rains, but were an underwhelming feature for hiking landmarks (Dripping springs was more interesting). Baker Mine was similarly unimpressive (see triplog on Victoria Mine) and we elected not to continue to Milton Mine as a result (which we originally planned to include).

On the whole, this wasn't a bad hike but the best area wasn't what we were expecting and the mine trails continued to disappoint. As this was our last hike in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument our conclusion was to skip the mine-related trails and focus on natural features for the best experience.

2024-02-23 KingLeonidas