| |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 15.50 Miles |
2,181 AEG |
| | Hiking | 15.50 Miles | 7 Hrs 52 Mns | | 2.22 mph |
| 2,181 ft AEG | 54 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | First time doing this loop as a day hike! To add something new, we checked out the major springs along the way!  My previous visit was full of water. This time everything was dry except for a few pot holes of water here and there due to the bit of rain we had a couple of days last week.
My favorite section of this loop is red tanks. The views are expansive. The red rock formations are majestic. The views on whiskey are also beautiful.
La Barge spring was a real treat. Completely surrounded by vines, the spring is hidden in its own secret lair!  There is a trail carved through the vines to get there. The trail itself is a muddy slip N slide, as the spring box is overflowing and water is running down the trail like a small creek. It is quite magical!!  🩵🩵 The water rains down into the spring box from above. There were 2 backpackers camping at the campsite closest to the spring, and another two filled up water before heading down red tanks.
Next stop was bluff springs, which I have been by so many times and never stopped to see! From the main campsite just off the trail, follow the main trail back towards the canyon and into the trees. There are lots of game trails, but there is still one main large trail going back. Just before entering the trees, there is a large piece of sheet metal. The water is coming directly out of a pipe and splashes down onto a large rock. The flow was a consistent small stream, but you would need to catch it in something to filter.
After bluff spring, we were in the home stretch. We noted the exact location of the Ely Anderson trail for a future trip. The trail is noticeable and cairned. There was no water in bluff spring canyon. Just a few small puddles near the giant rock in the wash.
Jason pointed out the Peralta rock in Barks canyon. I don't think I have seen it before. It is hiding in plain sight!
Before you know it, we were down cardiac hill and back at the car! Another beautiful winter day in the desert full of sunshine!    In addition to the 2 groups of backpackers we saw at La Barge, we saw another 2 groups of backpackers heading in on bluff springs. It is certainly a fine weekend for it! We saw 4 day hikers when we were starting out on Dutchman. Not too bad crowding wise. The parking lot was a zoo when we arrived at 840a. Of course, thankfully all those people confine themselves to Peralta, leaving the rest of the wilderness relatively unscathed! I normally like to get an earlier start, but had some commitments in the early morning. The drive in was also a bit of a zoo. And there were unsurprisingly 30 cars at the carney springs TH at least. Craziness! |
  |
Bluff Spring |
Quart per minute |
Quart per minute |
| | | Water coming out of the pipe onto a large rock |
|
LaBarge Spring |
Gallon per minute |
Gallon per minute |
| | | Lots of water. Spring box full and overflowing creating a mini creek of the trail leading up to the spring box. Spring is surrounded by vines. |
 |
Whiskey Spring |
Dry |
Dry |
| | | Didn't see anything in this exact area. There were some potholes of water here and there. And there was one area with some actively running water into a tiny pool in the creek bed. | | _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
My previous visit was full of water. This time everything was dry except for a few pot holes of water here and there due to the bit of rain we had a couple of days last week.
🩵
In addition to the 2 groups of backpackers we saw at La Barge, we saw another 2 groups of backpackers heading in on bluff springs. It is certainly a fine weekend for it! We saw 4 day hikers when we were starting out on Dutchman. Not too bad crowding wise. The parking lot was a zoo when we arrived at 840a. Of course, thankfully all those people confine themselves to Peralta, leaving the rest of the wilderness relatively unscathed! 
