Arch Rock Loop Trail

Overview

Details

Drive south on Hwy 95 to McCulloch Blvd at mile post 177. Turn right and drive for a mile to the second parking area on the right, across from the Desert Hawks entrance road (elev 860 ft).

• NOTE: For several days after a rain, water may block your passage through the crack! Check with returning hikers before you attempt to go through.
• Follow the trail straight out from the parking area which drops into SARA CANYON wash on the left.
• Continue down the wash through the crack or bypass it on the blue trail at mile post 0.8.
• If you chose the blue trail bypass, you can get back down to the yellow trail shortly after mile post 1.2.
• Otherwise, follow the yellow trail which eventually narrows to an arms width, tumbling down a series of dry falls through the crack.
• Except for a seven-foot dry fall, you can, with care, readily negotiate the drops.
• The seven-footer is smooth and can be slid down, like in a playground.
• Near mile marker 1.4 on the yellow trail (elev  567 ft), follow a burro trail up the left bank to the top.
• Go straight ahead over the mound and look for the trail heading directly towards the arch.
• When near two rock outcroppings on the left, leave the trail and walk between them, up to and into the rear of the arch (elev  805 ft).
• Come down from the arch towards the right. Look for rock cairns.
• Walk between the two big rocks and past the large boulder to a not-easy-to-see burro trail in the distance which crosses one mound, then another, and then turns left heading out over a ridge. The trail then descends steeply on the left side down into the Grand Wash or continues a short distance to a trail which descends steeply on the right side. Either way, be careful going down!
• Walk upstream just past Big Mountain where the ridge trail comes down from the right side and crosses the wash.
• Exit left on the ridge trail back to SARA CANYON wash and then turn right to the parking area.