Bathtub tank (spring)
April 19, 2025
This hike is a fine example of how all the maps and guidebooks are becoming almost useless. The USGS Topo doesn't show most of the roads. The GAIA gps app doesn't mark Bathtub Tank with a name. The Green Trails map is the best, but doesn't show the recent new alignment of the Arizona Trail.
Drive I-10 to 83 and head south to Sonoita. Turn right and drive towards Patagonia about 5 miles. When you see milepost 28, watch closely on the right. The first small sign you see will be the sign for Adobe Canyon where you turn right and almost immediately go over a cattle guard.
Tomasi's guide says to go left and follow the old fence. This may have been true in 2013, but absolutely is not at this time. Nobody has gone this way for a long time and the road is dangerous where it has been undercut by stream erosion. Forget it.
Go right! A small sign says "designated route", which is somewhat cryptic, but apparently indicates that although you are on private land, this is a deisgnated and legal route of access to Forest Service land. The road is excellent and in short order will take you to a gate at the Forest boundary. From here you are on FSR-234. This gate may actually be a mile from the highway, but it didn't seem that far.
Before getting here, you may be intimidated by a variety of Private Property signs, but you are within your rights to drive the road to the Forest boundary.
I zeroed my Odometer at this gate. At 0.4 miles I was at a junction with FSR-4088 branching off to the right. We took this turn. I have no idea what the condition of FSR-234 is beyond here, but I am optimistic that it is better than in 2013 when Tomasi described it.
The road now goes steeply uphill (we had a good 4x4 vehicle) and gets up on top of the ridge which becomes an expansive mesa. We drove 3.6 miles from the junction (4.0 from the gate) and parked. This placed us at a saddle with easy access to the AZT.
We hiked the AZT (this is the new alignment) as it drops nicely down into Adobe Canyon. It crosses the wash, then heads up again and shortly you can see "El Pilar" below and to you left -- a big rock pinnacle. We never did visit El Pilar (something for another trip). It would involve some easy off trail hiking. We continued as the trail dropped into another branch of Adobe Canyon. Here we left the AZT and bushwacked down the canyon. This led to to Bathtub Spring.
Bathtub Spring was much nicer and more interesting than I expected. This is a very dry year and it held a good amount of water. It might be much nicer when overflowing and with a pool below. There is also a 20 foot drop beyond the spring, but we were surprised to find a steel ladder anchored to a tree by a stout cable. Some care is required to get on the ladder, then it is an easy descent to the sand below. We then ate lunch and watched a Hermit Thrush prowling the dam for insects.
Tomasi tells us that the dam itself, as well as a dam at El Pilar, was constructed by the CCC. The CCC also placed the ladder, probably almost 100 years ago!
From here a short walk downstream places you at FSR-234 and a big campsite. FSR-234 continues about 0.2 miles upstream and this short branch canyon ends and you go up and over a saddle to the north. You could drop down from here and visit El Pilar, but we hiked cross country, contouring to the north to join the AZT and return to our vehicle. Our hiking distance was just under 3 miles, with over half of it off-trail.
We then continued (now in our vehicle) on FSR-4088 heading east into Hog Canyon. At mile 5.7 we found outselves at the end of 4088 where it joins FSR-627 -- which goes both left and right. FSR-627 goes right and towards the highway (this is the way we went as it was 5:00 PM). Going left takes you up Hog Canyon about a mile to a dead end.
At mile 6.3 you come at another junction. FSR-4111 goes left, climbs up onto the ridge and takes you to Gardner Canyon. The sign at this junction says that continuing on FSR-627 is a dead end, but this is not true. Maybe it was at one time due to locked gates, but this is now a "designated route" and good manners will take you through some private land and on to the highway (state 82).
At mile 7.6 you pass through a curious area with 2 gates and unusual gate latches, then at 8.9 miles (from the FSR boundary gate in Adobe Canyon) you will find yourself back at Arizona State Highway 82.
In Martins book, this is hike 32 on page 74.
In Tomasis book, this is on page 163
Don't confuse Bathtub tank in Adobe Canyon with Bathtub Water in Big Casa Blanca Canyon. They are about 1.5 miles apart and in different canyons.
You may be able to drive as much as 4.3 miles from the highway up FS234 with a good 4x4 vehicle, but this entirely depends on road conditions. Tomasi simply says that FSR-234 is in "miserable condition" and gives no estimate as to how far you may be able to drive. He says you should expect plenty of contact between your vehicle and brush and branches. The alternative is walking, and may well be a good idea anyway as you may be able to walk as fast as you can drive.
If you make it the full 4.3 miles you will almost be at Bathtub Tank. Tomasi gives the hiking mileage as 0.5 miles, but this may be the mileage if you continue on to El Pilar.
Tomasi suggests a loop hike going clockwise and starting up the left arm of upper Adobe Canyon. This will go to Bathtub tank, then over and beyond it. Another concrete dam is at El Pilar. El Pilar is a 50 foot high rock pilar. Doing this as a loop involves crossing east to the other arm of upper Adobe Canyon.
Note that it is also possible to reach this area from above, starting at the Tunnel Spring trailhead and hiking down what Tomasi calls "Gravesite Ridge".
If you see any "black mountain lions" you may have sighted a panther (jaguar?). There have been such sightings in this area. Try to get a photo if you should be so lucky. Look for a long tail if you think you are seeing a mountain lion.
Tom's hiking pages / tom@mmto.org