TrailsCinco Tinajas Trail and Leyva Escondido Loop Trail |
Brochure of the Cinco Tinajas Trail and Leyva Escondido Loop Trail in Big Bend Ranch State Park (SP) in Texas. Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
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The Cinco Tinajas Trailhead is located
approximately 1.3 miles west of Sauceda
Headquarters. In Spanish, “cinco tinajas”
loosely means “five pools” (technically, waterfilled rock basins). You will indeed find five
pools just a short hike from the trailhead.
These pools contain water most of the year
and as such are unusual features in the
otherwise dry desert. The pools and nearby
springs support many species of plants and
animals and have been an important resource
for people throughout history.
Cinco Tinajas and the surrounding terrain is
most suitable for hikers and equestrians.
Mountain biking is not recommended. Hiking
in the immediate vicinity of the trailhead and
overlook is considered easy with few physical
challenges. The Leyva Escondido Spring Loop
is considered moderate-to-difficult with deep
sand, steep climbs and unmaintained trail tread.
Be mindful of wildlife such as Javelina and
rattlesnakes and always bring water!
Cinco Tinajas
Trail and Leyva
Escondido
Loop Trail
© TPWD, Chris Hunt
This guide is made possible by the
Compadres del Rancho Grande (Friends
of Big Bend Ranch). Please recycle your
brochures at any of the BBRSP Visitor
Centers, Trailheads, or Ranger Stations.
Visit www.parkfriends.org to contribute
or get involved.
©2018 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
PWD BR P4501-0152Q (10/18)
In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas
State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.
TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis
of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state
and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative
format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TDD) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay
Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989. If you believe you have been discriminated against by
TPWD, please contact TPWD or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity
and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.
© Gary Nored
There are two options for scenic hiking in this
area. The first is a short, easy walk to the
tinajas. The second is a longer hike (Leyva
Escondido Spring Loop) that takes you
beyond the tinajas to Leyva Escondido Spring
via Leyva Creek (to the east), up to a vista
with 360-degree views, then southeast back
toward the tinajas and the trailhead (see map).
To Cinco Tinajas: From the trailhead, follow the trail (an old road)
to the top of the ridge. There, look for stacked rock cairns and a rock
alignment on the right (east) that mark the trail to the overlook.
Note the prominent landmarks known as La Mota Mesa (north),
Oso Peak (southwest) and Cerro Boludo (south). Oso Peak is the
highest point in the park.
To get to the upper tinajas, backtrack from the overlook a short
distance and follow the cairns left (south) down to the creek. There
follow the cairns to the left (north) over an historic rock wall to the
tinajas. To return, follow the same path back to the trail or follow the
creek to the southwest back to the road and trailhead.
To get to the lower tinajas and pour-off: From the overlook turnoff,
continue downhill (north-northeast) into the creek. Turn right (south)
at the creek and follow it until you reach the narrow canyon and
pools. Backtrack through the creek and up the same trail to return.
Use caution as the smooth rocks around the tinajas are very slippery
when wet and the pools can be difficult or impossible to get out of
alone. The tinajas are sensitive habitats for plants and animals;
swimming is not allowed.
To Escondido Spring Loop: Follow the same route as above, but when
you reach the trail marking the overlook, continue straight (northnortheast) downhill into the creek. On your way down you will pass
through two fence posts a short distance past the junction with the
overlook trail. From this vantage point you can see most of your
route to the spring and up to the vista.
Take note of the short jog at the confluence of two drainages in the
creek where you will trend to the right (east) toward a low rocky
hill on the north side of the creek and to the spring just beyond. An
archaeological site containing prehistoric pictographs (rock art) on
large boulders occupies the lower slopes of the hill. Photographs of
the rock art are okay, but please do not pick up any cultural materials
or touch the rock art. Removal of cultural or natural materials from
the park is illegal.
To continue the loop beyond the archaeological site, travel east in the
creek bed approximately 0.5 of a mile. Leyva Escondido Spring is
marked by dense vegetation and a stand of cottonwood trees. Just
beyond the spring, cairns mark the trail out of the creek on the left
(north) side of the creek. The trail ascends a steep hillside. It is faint
and eroded in places, but head towards the top of the hill and it will
pick up again. Continue traveling north-northwest approximately 1.2
miles to the junction with the trail that will return you to the creek to
the left (west). Look to the southwest and you can see the trail to the
trailhead, Cerro Boludo and Oso Peak. Keep those features in sight
and there’s no getting lost. Continue west-southwest approximately
0.6 of a mile. At the creek, turn left (south) and travel southwest
approximately 0.7 of a mile to return to the Cinco Tinajas Trailhead.