Mule Ears Spring Trail

Mule Ears Spring Trail is a 3.8-mile out-and-back from the Mule Ears Overlook lot to an old stone corral and a small spring. Allow about two hours. The draw is the contrast: a rolling walk through open desert below the twin Mule Ears formations, ending in a shaded, greener pocket. Come for a varied desert outing and a trace of ranching history; the spring itself can be little more than a trickle. The 3.8 miles end at the spring. Continuing toward Smoky Creek or the viewpoint north of Mule Ears Peak makes a longer outing and is not included here.

From the lot, the path climbs a low hill for an early view, then traverses the south-facing slope of Trap Mountain. Around 0.3 mile it dips through a drainage; near 0.7 mile it drops into a wash and follows it briefly before climbing to a bench around 1.1 miles. Cottonwoods below the trail mark nearby Trap Springs. Another wash and several short climbs lead to the stone corral at roughly 1.9 miles. Take the short spring branch just beyond it, then return by the same route.

The surface is dirt and rock with loose gravel. The walk repeatedly drops into washes and climbs back over low divides; those short, sometimes steep climbs are the work here more than one long ascent. Most of the route is exposed, with shade at the spring. Heat is the main planning issue. The park recommends one liter of water per person per hiking hour; carry what you need for the full walk rather than relying on the spring for a refill. Pets are not allowed on park trails.

The stone corral is associated with an old Castolon Ranch property, and the spring supplied water in this dry landscape. The shaded slope supports maidenhair ferns and cattails, while cottonwoods mark nearby shallow water. Birds, leopard frogs and dragonflies may gather where it stays wet, but sightings and flow vary. Treat the spring as a small habitat pocket, not a large water feature: visitors have found anything from a trickle to nearly dry conditions.

The twin dark pillars stand above the open desert, and the path itself makes a strong foreground as the view opens. If you stop for a photo, frame the pale trail leading toward the peaks rather than cropping out the route. The paved Mule Ears Overlook lot also serves the roadside viewpoint and holds about 15 vehicles, so you can take in the formation before or after the hike.