Quail Springs Wash / Derailment Site
On this spur trail, head west from Agua Caliente Road along the rail line. You’ll pass the old siding of Harqua before making it to Quail Springs Wash. After a few miles in the wash, you’ll arrive at the remote site of the 1995 Amtrak Derailment.
Where to go:
This trail begins about 9 miles into Agua Caliente Road, just north of the railroad crossing. From Arlington and the Old US Highway 80, head west on Agua Caliente Road. After around half a mile, stay right as the road turns to dirt. Proceed 9 miles west along the wide, smooth road to the rail crossing at 33.286898° -112.937333°. The trail begins to the west on the north side of the tracks, between the power lines and the rail line.
Trail Description:
From Agua Caliente Road, cross over the Southern Pacific Railroad and make an IMMEDIATE left turn off the main road. Head west between the railroad tracks and an underground pipeline. You should not be underneath the main power lines. Almost immediately, the trail will dip into a wash and reach a gate. Open the gate and close it behind you. As the trail emerges from the wash, it parallels the rail line and remains easy. Things slowly climb as the road passes some scenic hills off to the right. The trail crosses several more washes, which vary in width, where you will be able to see a number of different sized railroad trestles on your left.
After 3.7 miles from the start, the trail will veer right away from the tracks and cross underneath power lines. Continue to follow the power lines as the trail climbs briefly and then reaches another gate at 4.0 miles. Continue to the southwest as the trail weaves back and forth near the tracks. The trail heads to the left of the power lines and returns close to the tracks at 4.7 miles. There is a small clearing here and on the other side of the tracks are the ruins of Harqua — a former railroad siding. Not much is left other than foundations and a few walls, but it is neat to check out if you have the time. There may or may not be railcars on the track here. This line, while not active, is still used for storage so always use caution.
Continue to the southwest. The trail passes between the rail line and some small hills as the road heads downhill. Stay straight at 5.0 miles where a power line road goes right. The road twists & turns as it returns back underneath the high-voltage lines. At this point, the tracks curve off to the left out of sight. Things get rougher along this section as the road drops downhill and enters a wash at 5.9 miles. This is Quail Springs Wash and marks an important turn on the trail. Make a sharp left to head due south in the wash bottom. As always, if it has rained recently or a flash flood warning is active, you may not want to complete this section. Conditions in the wash are varied. Most sections are smooth and sandy, but there are also a few narrower and rockier areas. Remain in the wash bottom as it heads south. Stay right at 6.7 miles as the trail makes a long curve to the right and passes a windmill. The trail passes some scenic sections where the wash walls are steep and cut out from flood waters. Things soon straighten out and get easy as the trail passes underneath a large railroad bridge at 7.7 miles. The trail ends here at the derailment site. You can park in the wash or on either bank where a faint trail continues on. Most of the visible damage is on the south side of the bridge. There are extra supports installed after the derailment and the west embankment has some pieces missing from the impact. You can read a full depiction of the derailment incident here. When you are done, return the 7.7 miles back the way you came to Agua Caliente Road.
Notes & Trail Ratings:
Overall, this trail is moderately easy. There are a few sections with minor washouts, and the section along Quail Springs Wash can vary. Only attempt the trail if the wash is dry. Do not attempt when it has recently rained or there is a flash flood warning. It is best to avoid this trail in summer time due to high temperatures. We’ve rated the trail a ‘4’ out of ‘10’. High clearance is required and 4WD is recommended to do the full trail. Allow for a solid 1-2 hours to complete the trail round trip. You’ll want to spend some time walking around the derailment site. There are numerous additional trails in the area, visit our ‘SW Phoenix/Gila Bend Trails’ for more trails to extend your trip.