O'Haco Tank

Trail Overview

This route runs to and past the O'Haco cattle tank. After a season of good winter storms, some water will be in it. If you're lucky, there may even be some cattle grazing around it. Take caution, as this is an open cattle range. Overall, the trail is easy as it winds through meadows of desert grass and fields of saguaro cacti. There are plenty of wash crossings and tight corners with deeper washouts near the end of the trail. It becomes pretty tight, and pain damage is almost guaranteed. Unfortunately, the trail ends at a new fence and a new road with no gate blocking access to exit the trail. There's a reroute trail just before the end; however, it's not for the faint of heart--off-camber with tight turns and dense forests of saguaro cacti. This is a better option as an out-and-back unless you're in a very narrow rig. Three bars of 3G Verizon cellular service fade to none by the trail's end. Be sure to download your offline maps before venturing out into this area. Use caution, as this is the desert and rattlesnake territory. Be sure to watch for them as you get in and out of your vehicle, and bring plenty of water and supplies in case of a mechanical breakdown.

Photos of O'Haco Tank

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Difficulty

The rating is for tight turns and sandy washouts. There's one steep hill climb at the tank, but it could be bypassed if necessary. The lower trail appears to loop around and connect. Narrow sections with sharp desert trees and shrubs are guaranteed to damage the paint of full-size vehicles.

History

This route is on Arizona State Trust Land. This land requires a yearly permit that can be purchased and printed online. The permits allow certain recreational activities, including camping, bicycling, bird watching, GPS-based recreational activities (geocaching), hiking, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle (OHV) usage, photography, picnicking, and sightseeing. There are a few permit options depending on your use type: An Individual Permit is $15 and grants a single person access to State Trust Land for the above-listed purposes. The permit is good for one year from the date of purchase. A Family Permit costs $20 and grants a family unit (two adults and their children under 18) access to State Trust Land for the above-listed activities. The permit is good for one year from the date of purchase. A Small-Group Permit costs $15 and grants up to 19 people access to State Trust Land locations for five consecutive days for certain types of non-commercial recreational activities, including the above-listed activities. The permit is good for one year from the date of purchase. A Large-group Permit is for a group larger than 20 people. You must apply for this size separately online and be approved for group activities of this size. Responsibilities: Permittee(s) shall respect the land and adhere to the terms and conditions of the permit at all times. Permittee(s) shall comply with all federal, state, county, and municipal laws and ordinances while on State Trust Land. The Permittee(s) shall have the permit with them at all times while recreating on State Trust Land and have it readily available if stopped by law enforcement or any State Land Department staff. The Permittee(s) shall not remove natural products from or visit archaeological sites on State Trust Land. The Permittee(s) shall not create or leave any trash on State Trust Land, except for geocaches placed according to ASLD. The Permittee(s) shall not discharge a firearm on State Trust Land except pursuant to lawful and licensed hunting. An ASLD Recreational Permit is not required for individuals with a valid hunting and fishing license who are actively pursuing game or fish. The Permittee(s) shall only participate in OHV usage on State Trust Land with an ASLD Recreational Permit and an OHV decal or license plate. The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is the issuing agency for the OHV decal, certificates of title, registrations, and license plates.

Technical Rating