Dogs Leashed
Features
Birding · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife
Description
Wider, smoother, and easier to manage, Arroyo Loop is a mile-long sidetrack on the eastern side of
Tortugas Trail. On its southern end, it splits off from Tortugas right where the latter turns from a dirt road to singletrack. After a brief descent away from A Mountain, the trail turns left at a fork just before reaching an arroyo.
From here, it's an easy, mostly flat hike along the side of the arroyo, turning back to slowly merge into
Tortugas Trail after passing the intersection with
Turtleback Trail. The path is sandy and generally free of rocks, like the southwestern segments of Tortugas. Because of this, it's a much easier hike, though advanced hikers may be disappointed in the lack of a challenge. Nice views of the western foothills and Organ Mountains can be had along the way. The trail ends about a tenth of a mile from the connectors to the Monte Vista parking lot.
Flora & Fauna
Desert plant life is best seen in the spring and early summer when there's more precipitation, but the heat hasn't dried everything out yet. Animal life includes roadrunners, jackrabbits, lizards, hawks, and of course, snakes.
Contacts
Shared By:
Brendan Ross
with improvements
by Jean-Claude Linossi
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