Oak Spring Trail

Oak Spring Trail is a 7.2-mile out-and-back from Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to the Window Trail junction, about five hours. That total includes walking the gravel approach to the remote parking area and continuing over the high ridge before descending to the junction. This is the independent west-side approach; it turns around at the junction rather than going down to the Window pour-off. Shorter turnarounds reach Windows View at 4.8 miles round-trip from the drive or the high point at 6.4 miles.

Start at the Sam Nail Ranch pullout, just south of the unmarked Oak Springs Road entrance. The gravel road climbs gently through open desert toward the Chisos, then enters the Oak Creek drainage about 1.8 miles from the drive. At the signed Cattail Falls junction, keep left for Oak Spring; the right branch is a different hike. The wash can hold water. The road continues uphill to a fenced spring and water tank, where hikers cannot enter the facility; the signed footpath leaves to the left.

Beyond the tank, the path climbs steeply along the north side of Oak Creek Canyon. Windows View, about 2.4 miles from the drive, looks toward the pour-off below the V between Vernon Bailey Peak and Carter Peak. The waterfall flows only in wet periods, and this is a good shorter turnaround. Higher up, switchbacks pass a jagged tower and reach a rugged cliff-top high point about 3.2 miles from the drive. The open ridge looks down Oak Spring Canyon, across Burro Mesa and toward the Christmas Mountains. Beyond the high point, the path crosses a ridge and descends steeply to an overlook above the Window Trail; turn around at the junction. A further half-mile round-trip down the Window Trail reaches the pour-off, but is outside this route. At Windows View, frame the gap between the rounded Vernon Bailey Peak and triangular Carter Peak to show the shape of the opening.

Oak Spring is a perennial source that supplies the Basin through a three-mile pipeline, but the fenced tank is off limits and is not a water stop. No toilets or food were found along the walk, so bring water for the long desert outing. The climb and descent are steep, the overlook has a sharp drop, and the Oak Creek wash can hold water. Keep back from the edge. Pets are not allowed on park trails.