Outlaw Trail #1885

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

The Picture Canyon Picnic ground is open to camping (3 sites). There is a pit toilet but no water. Bring your own water, although there are springs and stock tanks where water can be filtered nearby.

While this trail is mostly doubletrack, don't let that fool you. It presents many challenges of which sand is probably the hardest. Although access to the trail is relatively easy from the Picture Canyon picnic area (and campground), there is a steep rocky climb where the trail connects to Holt Ridge Road. The trail climbs and drops for about 4 miles until it drops steeply into Sand Canyon. As soon as the trail reaches the bottom of the downhill, Sand Canyon lives up to its name. There is about 1/2 mile of deep sand (ankle deep) to cross. There is a road that continues into the canyon (right turn) but the sand at that corner is closer to knee deep.

Once past the sand...empty your shoes...the doubletrack continues up a canyon to a sign post that points to a steep rocky hill that is the way out of the canyon. Once out of the canyon, the trail is simply marked by posts across the prairie. Some of the posts are hidden by junipers that have grown since the posts were placed. The "trail" eventually crosses a doubletrack (Holt Ridge Road). Turning right will return you to connections with Homestead Trail or to the road back to the picnic ground.

Turning left will take you to Cave Spring, although the trail is again poorly marked.