DINOSAUR WASH
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| A slot canyon in Dinosaur Wash |
If you stay alert
on this hike, it’s easy to spot the Stegosaurus. But you’ll have to navigate a convoluted
trail system to get to it; and that’s not so easy.
The Stegosaurus-shaped
rock outcropping looms above Dinosaur Wash with its head twisted back
over a scaled spine frozen in a posture that looks like the losing side of a Jurassic
joust. This signature basaltic formation
is the only “dinosaur” you’ll see while trudging through the eponymous wash
that’s a part of the Sophie’s Flat Trail system north of Wickenburg. What you will see though, is a mix of
spectacular desert vistas, hardscrabble gullies, volcanic peaks and a matrix of
sandy washes.
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| Dinosaur Wash |
Although it’s
just a few miles north of town, the trail system has a pure wild west, middle-of-nowhere
feel. The looped trails are blandly named A,B,C,D and E, but they’re anything
but boring. The core A Trail begins at
the Sophie’s Flat trailhead where there’s ample parking, a horse staging area
and restrooms.
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| View from the pass |
A map kiosk shows the trail layout that belies a confusing
start, missing signs and several tricky turns.
The trek to Dinosaur Wash involves linking the A, B, C and D trails for
a 9.5-mile out-and-back hike.
The most
difficult route-finding happens near the start where after descending to a
sprawling arroyo, the A Trail gets swallowed up in shifting sands. Although there are signs in the wash, they
are tough to find. However, once at the point where the A Trail begins its
first uphill ascent, signage becomes clearer.
From beginning to end, it’s a challenging hike with continual dips, climbs
and calf-burning slogs through beachy washes.
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| It's a tough hike with lots of ups and downs, |
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| The dinosaur rock |
After 3 miles,
the best views of the hike come at a mountain pass between Creighton Peak and
Red Top where the serpentine course of the Hassayampa River and tendril
drainages whittle through a desert of ragged peaks and chiseled canyons. From the pass, the route dives down toward
the destination. Watch carefully for another befuddling junction where the
trail meets two A Trail sign posts near a giant boulder. Look for an unsigned
path that heads north between the two signs. This is the D Trail that leads to
the wash. As you trudge downhill among ocotillos and hedgehog cacti, keep an
eye out for the stegosaurus rock formation looming out from the cliffs. Some argue
that it looks more like a bear, lizard, hawk or a boa constrictor. Regardless
of what one might see in the lithic form, it’s an entertaining point of
contention and a great photo opp.
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| Geological stew in Dinosaur Wash |
Hang a
left where the path dead ends at the wash.
You might want to tie a bandana here
(take it with you when you return) because beyond this point, there are no
trail signs and this junction is easy to miss on the way back. The next mile of hiking is the icing on the
cake for those who have managed to get through the maze. Dinosaur Wash expands and contracts as it wiggles
through sections of a broad dry river course, stony corridors and box canyons
built of churned and jostled lava flows, sculpted sediments and fossil stream
beds.
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| Uninspiring names for inspiring trails |
Look for chunks of blue basalt tossed with red sandstones, an old mining
claim and rock pockets dripping with pack rat middens.
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| Hikers on the A Trail |
Other
than the pain of hiking through sand and a few minor down climbs, reasonably
fit hikers should be able to get to the 4.97-mile point where a slick rock drop
off would require more serious scrambling to continue another mile to the
Hassayampa River, Mistake Mine Ruins and the Box Canyon. The drop off makes for
a good spot to take a break and discuss (or argue) over whether the dino rock
is a bird, reptile or mammal before heading back the way you came.
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| On the B Trail |
HIKE DIRECTIONS:
From the trailhead, follow A Trail 1.1-mile to B Trail.
Follow B Trail to the 1.88-mile point, veer right and follow C Trail to the
2.39-mile point and turn left on the A Trail. Follow A Trail to the 2.91-mile
point and connect with D Trail. Follow D
Trail less than a mile, drop into the obvious course of Dinosaur Wash and head
northwest (left). Hike to the 4.97-mile
point and turn around at a slick rock drop off.
LENGTH: 9.5 miles roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 2337’- 2789’ (1100’ cumulative gain)
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| Overlooking the Hassayampa River basin |
FACILITIES: restroom, map kiosk
GETTING THERE: Sophie's Flat Trailhead:
From Phoenix go north on Interstate 17 to Carefree Hwy/State
Route 74 (exit 223). Go 30 miles west on SR 74 toward Wickenburg, turn right at
US60 and continue to just before the Hassayampa River Bridge traffic circle in
Wickenburg. Turn right on El Recreo, go
0.25 mile and veer right onto Constellation Road. Continue 2.7 miles, turn left
onto Blue Tank Road and drive 1.3 miles to the trailhead on the right. The last
4 miles are on undulating dirt roads suitable for sedans.
INFO:
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