After some alternative hiking plans fell through, I decided to try out a stretch of frontcountry I’d been eying for a few months: The Arroyo Burro Trail.
The hike started at Stevens Park in San Roque and was right around 6 miles to the top at East Camino Cielo. And if it were divided into fifths, the first and fourth segments were my favorite with the others being mediocre to poor.
There are some nice views to be had, but many of them come at the beginning as you’re passing through private property, walking on asphalt road, or heading up and down utility roads. Arroyo Burro Trail didn’t really seem like a hike until I had already put a couple miles behind me.
The most negative experience of the hike was battling what seemed like a half-mile of overgrown brush once the trail leveled out before heading into Barger Canyon and coming to San Antonio Creek.
San Antonio Creek was definitely the highlight of the trek. The first crossing had no visible water beyond what was pouring out of a broken water pipe. But a little before the Spring Box at ~4.2 miles I was able to veer over to the creek and find some running water and beautiful pools.
Based on the wear on the rocks and erosion on the creek sides, it looked as if it can have an impressive and vigorous flow during times of heavy rains. We’re obviously in a drought so the low water levels gave me the opportunity to take a refreshing dip.
With the trail conditions being what they were and the creek being a ways to get to, I’m not totally sure when I’ll be heading back up the Arroyo Burro Trail. Perhaps a season of good rain will entice me to get back out there.
