Overview

Calico Hills Loop Trail is 6.5-mile hike that circumnavigates the Calico Hills. The hike can be considered a series of trail segments that start and stop at any of 6 trailheads (3 along the Scenic Loop Road and 3 in Calico Basin). Most of the loop runs on easy, gently sloping trails, but there are a few steep parts, some off-trail in a wash, and the Ash Canyon segment requires a fair bit of Class-2 and Class 3 scrambling getting down and around boulders and pour-overs.

Views from many parts of the loop are grand, with those on the west side of the hills spreading out across all of Red Rock Canyon, and those on the east side looking southeast across Calico Basin and points south. For hikers who have only driven along the Scenic Loop Road, this hike offers an up-close and personal encounter with the Calico Hills that is quite different from the road-side perspective.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is fairly safe and usually not far from a road or trailhead. Ash Canyon requires a bit of Class 3 scrambling, so be extra careful when high enough to fall and get hurt.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and please try to Leave No Trace of your passage. This is a long hike, so be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. The Ash Canyon segment of the loop goes into the La Madre Mountain Wilderness Area, so pay particular attention to respecting the land.

The Hike - Ash Canyon to Red Spring

From Ash Spring at the mouth of Ash Canyon, the Calico Hills Loop Trail returns to the main wash and continues southeast down the wash. There is a plethora of use-trails in this area, but the Loop Trail stays right along the base of the towering sandstone cliffs.

After running down the wash, the trail exits the wash to the right and runs along the grassy Ash Meadow area. When the broad trail forks (Wpt. 27) at what appears to be the south end of the meadow, the Loop Trail stays right under towering cliffs.

From the junction (Wpt. 27), the Calico Hills Loop Trail climbs a low hill to arrive at an abandoned homesite, then continues south past the house foundation. The trail begins to bend left on what was the driveway and arrives at a trail junction (Wpt. 28) with the Girl Scout Trail. To the left, the Girl Scout Trail follows the old driveway east to the Sandstone Road Trailhead, while the Loop Trail stays right and heads uphill following the Girl Scout Trail.

Heading south on the Girl Scout Trail, the trail climbs for about 30 yards, then bends left to traverse across the hillside, still following beneath the towering red-sandstone cliffs.

A plethora of trails fan out along the hillside, but staying up under the sandstone cliffs, the trail runs south towards Red Spring, which can be seem from this area.

Staying more of less under the cliffs, the Loop Trail dips to cross a gully where a bit of water flows during late winter and spring. During summer, the Ash trees here provide a bit of shade.

Beyond the gully, the Loop Trail climbs to regain broad views, then descends and bends right under the cliffs into the base of Guardian Angel Canyon where the Girl Scout Trail ends at a trailhead sign (Wpt. 29).

From the Girl Scout Trailhead sign (Wpt. 29), the Calico Hills Loop Trail turns hard to the left and starts heading down the Calico Basin Trail.

Initially, the trail follows along the north side of Guardian Angel Creek, which also has shady Ash trees, but then crosses the creek and climbs onto the sandstone slickrock. A couple of large trail markers help guide hikers southwest across this area.

The trail runs south on slickrock towards Cannibal Crag, a popular rock-climbing crag, and stays left at a fork with another large trail marker. Shortly, the trail reaches another fork (Wpt. 30). This time the trail stays right; the trail left leads down to the Assisi Road Trailhead.

Continuing southward, the trail forks yet again, but this time the parking lot and picnic tables of Red Spring are spread out below. The left fork drops towards the vault toilet at the parking lot (Wpt. 31), while the right fork runs down towards the picnic tables. Hikers can choose either fork and finish the loop.