Hike the Big Wash Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
This trail crosses exposed terrain with zero shade for miles at a stretch — afternoon temperatures in July and August regularly push past ninety degrees at the lower elevations, and heat exhaustion is a real risk for anyone underestimating the distance.
The route is poorly marked through several wash sections where flash flooding can obliterate the trail; check weather forecasts obsessively before heading out, and never enter a narrow wash if thunderstorms are building over the Snake Range.
Cell service is nonexistent for the entire route — file a detailed itinerary with someone who will actually call for help if you're overdue, and carry a PLB or satellite communicator.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start from the Snake Creek side if you want the slightly longer but better-marked approach; the North Fork Lexington Creek route shaves off a few miles but the trail becomes faint and demands solid navigation skills through the wash sections.
Cache water at the midpoint if you're doing this as an out-and-back — there are no reliable water sources along the route in late summer, and you'll burn through three to four liters before you even realize it in that high-desert heat.
Lexington Arch is the crown jewel of this route — budget at least thirty minutes there to explore the base and catch the way afternoon light turns the limestone gold. Most people drive to it from the south; arriving on foot from the north feels like discovering it yourself.
Photos
E. Lippitt