Itinerary
Day 1
Enter at Douglas Spring Trailhead, off Speedway Blvd.
- follow Douglas Spring Trail approx. .3 miles. Bear left when new trail enters.
- follow Douglas Spring Trail approx. .4 miles. Bear left when new trail enters.
- follow Douglas Spring Trail approx. .4 miles. Bear left when new trail enters.
- follow Douglas Spring Trail approx. 1.3 miles. Bear left when new trail enters.
- follow Douglas Spring Trail approx. .1 miles. Bridal Wreath Falls Trail enters from right.
- change trail to Bridal Wreath Falls Trail by bearing right.
- follow Bridal Wreath Falls Trail approx. .3 miles.
- turn around at Bridal Wreath Falls
- follow Bridal Wreath Falls Trail approx. .3 miles.
- Change trail to Douglas Spring Trail by bearing right.
- follow Douglas Spring Trail approx. 3.6 miles to Douglas Spring Campsite. Campsite on left.
- Camp for the night. Water just off right of the trail south of camp. Seasonal.
- 6.7 miles on day 1, mostly uphill, generally challenging.
Day 2
Begin heading south (uphill past spring) on Douglass Spring Trail.
- follow Douglas Spring Trail approx. 2.4 miles. Come to crossroads. Continue straight when new trail enters.
- follow Douglas Spring Trail approx. 1.5 miles. Bear left when new trail enters.
- Change trail to Camp Trail by bearing left
- follow Camp Trail approx. .6 miles. Pass Grass Shack Camp and Spring on left.
- follow camp trail approx. 3.5 miles to junction with Devil’s Bathtub Trail.
- Change trail to Devil’s Bathtub Trail by bearing right.
- follow Devil’s Bathtub Trail approx. 1.2 miles to crossroads. Seasonal water crosses trail before crossroads.
- Change trail to Fire Trail by bearing right. Descend into saddle.
- follow Fire Trail into saddle approx. .5 miles to junction with Deerhead Spring and Heartbreak Ridge Trails.
- Change trail to Heartbreak Ridge Trail by bearing right.
- follow Heartbreak Ridge Trail 3.5 miles to junction with Rincon Creek Trail.
- Change trail to Rincon Creek Trail by bearing right.
- follow Rincon Creek Trail approx. .5 miles to Happy Valley Saddle Camp
- Camp for the night. Water, seasonal, crosses trail just east of camp.
- 13.7 miles on day 2, mostly steep ascent, some ridge walking, some downhill.
Day 3
Begin heading south Rincon Peak Trail.
- follow Rincon Peak Trail approx. 3.3 miles to summit.
- Turn around.
- follow Rincon Peak Trail approx. 3.3 miles to Rincon Creek Trail.
- Change trail to Rincon Creek Trail by bearing right.
- follow Rincon Creek Trail approx. .5 miles to crossroad with Heartbreak Ridge Trail.
- Change trail to Heartbreak Ridge Trail by bearing right.
- follow Heartbreak Ridge Trail approx. 3.5 miles to junction with Fire and Deerhead Springs Trail.
- Change trail to Fire Trail by bearing left.
- follow Fire Trail approx. .5 miles to crossroad with Devil’s Bathtub Trail and East Slope Trail.
- Bear straight to stay on Fire Trail.
- follow Fire Trail approx. .5 miles to junction with Switchback Trail. Bear left when trail enters.
- follow Fire Trail approx. .7 miles. Bear left when trail enters.
- follow Fire Trail approx. .6 miles to trail junction. Bear left when trail enters.
- follow Fire Trail .1 miles to campsite. Manning Camp is on left.
- Camp for the night at Manning Camp. Water is seasonal in springs, but should be available year round. Spring just south of trail near camp.
- 13.0 miles on day 3, steep uphills and downhills, some ridge walking.
Day 4
Begin heading north Cow Head Saddle Trail.
- follow Cowhead Saddle Trail approx. .4 miles. Bear left when trail enters.
- follow Cowhead Saddle Trail approx. .2 miles. Bear left when trail enters.
- follow Cowhead Saddle Trail approx. 3.3 miles to Cow Head Saddle crossroads. Continue straight.
- Continuing straight puts you on Tanque Verde Ridge Trail.
- follow Tanque Verde Ridge Trail approx. 2.5 miles to Tanque Verde Peak.
- Summit Tanque Verde Peak.
- follow Tanque Verde Ridge Trail approx. 2.1 miles. Pass Juniper Basin Camp on left.
- Seasonal spring and stream cross trail here.
- follow Tanque Verde Ridge Trail approx. 6.9 miles to trailhead.
- Hopefully get picked up and collapse with a cold drink.
- 15.4 miles on day 4, almost entirely downhill at gradual pace. Moderate to steep uphill also for 2.5 miles.
Total Mileage: 48.8 Miles
