Wild Burro Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Views

This trail begins at the Wild Burro Trailhead near the Ritz Carlton in Dove Mountain, which does have bathroom facilities. There are maps typically available at the trailhead and the route is largely very well signed. Head down the slope just to the left of the Ramada and you'll meander about for a couple tenths before coming to an intersection of the Wild Burro Trail. Head left up towards the Ritz Carlton and follow the trail as it crosses over the sandy wash a couple of times. There is a spur off to your left that leads to the hotel, allowing any guests to easily access the trail system too.

Up at about two thirds of a mile you'll come to a sign with a log book entry. Here other trails split off of the Wild Burro Trail. Head left, crossing the wash again, and follow the purple Wild Burro Trail signs once across the wash. For another mile or so the trail winds its way through the desert but you'll be steadily climbing and slogging through a bit of soft sand. Once the trail heads up into the hillside on the left you're greeted with a pretty good climb. It's not only the elevation gain but rocky nature of this section that will slow things down as a good rhythm is hard to come by with the boulders and large step ups. There are some pretty steep grades during this climbing section.

After topping out on this section, you'll have some great inner canyon views and will descend a short way back down into the wash and cross it to the other side for a bit. After a little bit more climbing you come back down into the wash area at about mile 2.8 and here the signage is a little less clear but visible. Keep heading pretty much straight up the canyon, and you'll see the path in front of you. There is another trail splitting off to the right and the appearance of one to the left, but head straight. This will take you up a nice hard packed dirt path before coming to the Wild Mustang Trail junction. At this point, Wild Burro heads to the right continuing up the canyon. This section is nice hard packed singletrack with some rocky spots.

At the end of the trail, you'll come to a windmill and water tank. You can turn around and head back down the Wild Burro Trail, continue onto the Wild Burro Loop, or head up and over the Tortolitas on the Tortolita Traverse Trail.

Typical desert wildlife has been spotted out here ranging from snakes, to bobcats, javelina, and mountain lion.