Deborah Wall/Special to ViewA large tinaja, or tank, serves as a natural watering hole for wildlife on the Calico Tanks Trail in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
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The Calico Tanks Trail in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a moderate, 2.5-mile round-trip hike that takes you through a vegetated canyon within a white-and-red sandstone landscape. The entire hike is interesting, but the main attraction is the large natural tank or tinaja, a critical watering hole for bighorn sheep and other area wildlife.
The hike starts at the Sandstone Quarry parking area in the Calico Hills segment of the park, along the 13-mile Scenic Drive. Unless you arrive first thing in the morning, you probably will find dozens of cars in the parking area. Although the hike is one of the most popular in the park, be assured all those cars are not full of visitors to the tank. The parking lot also serves as the trailhead for Turtlehead Peak, and this is a popular area for rock climbers, as well. It also is a favorite for those who come to just take a short and easy stroll around the colorful formations and to see the remnants of a historic sandstone quarry and an agave-roasting pit minutes away.
From the parking area, head in a northerly direction along the wide and obvious trail. After about 100 yards or so, you will want to head left across a wash, but first it's worth a look about 20 yards ahead at the large, square blocks of sandstone, said to weigh 10 tons each. These are remnants from the stone quarry that operated here from 1905 to 1912.
After examining the blocks, backtrack and resume the main trail, swinging to the left of the blocks, which will take you down and over a usually dry wash. Start looking on your left for the Bureau of Land Management sign that marks an agave-roasting pit just a few yards off the trail. Continue north until you see the sign marking the right-hand turn for the Calico Tanks Trail.
Follow this spur trail, which will take you up a small drainage surrounded by a plant community consisting of scrub oak, manzanita and pinyon pines. If you take this hike in the next week, you will be treated to the showy, bright pink bloom of the Western redbud, a small tree that is a member of the pea family. There are only a handful or so in the canyon, but they are a spectacular sight to see.
This hike is a good one for all ages except for young children. There is cliff exposure in a few areas, while uneven terrain and a 450-foot elevation gain make it too strenuous for little ones. Most of the trail is exposed to the sun, so this can be a warm walk, but there is shade to be found along the route, except at the tank itself. Along the way, look off to the side of the trail for areas with fine sand that make them good places to look for chipmunks and lizard tracks.
As you continue up the canyon in the steeper sections, you will find hand-placed sandstone steps. There are a few areas you will need to do some route finding, but it would be hard to get lost, as you always continue up the main canyon.
Although the water level in the tank can fluctuate greatly depending on rainfall, I have never found it completely dry. However, I have not visited in summer. Two weeks ago, I estimated the triangular-shaped tinaja's water surface measured about 75 feet on each of the two shorter sides. With the surrounding landscape so dry, it is always a delight to visit the tank. At the current level, there is plenty of room to walk around the sandstone shoreline to the left, which affords a comfortable place to sit by the water's edge. Be careful traversing the slope, though, for I have seen people lose their footing and slide in.
This waterhole is critical to the survival of the park's wildlife. Never enter the pond or drink the water. Watch where you step, especially on the south side of the tank, because the water-loving vegetation this time of year is shooting up easily damaged new sprouts.
The scenic loop is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. through September. A vehicle entrance fee is required.
Deborah Wall is the author of "Great Hikes, A Cerca Country Guide," published by Stephens Press. She can be reached at Deborabus@aol.com.
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