Question on water availability at Dominguez Springs

[dubeaux]

I will be part of a group of seven who will hike into Dominguez Springs from the Dominguez Springs trailhead on the River Road, on February 24th (if all goes as planned!).  I've not been in the southern Chisos during that month before, and I've never been to Dominguez Springs, so I'd like to know what the chances are of finding water in the springs, and in nearby tinajas.  I've always found abundant water on the Elephant Tusk and Smokey Creek trails, but don't really know what to expect in the area immediately around Dominguez.

I would appreciate hearing from any veterans of this area. 

[mule ears]

The last time I was there was after seven years of drought and the springs were running enough to pump water.  I would assume that after this wet year they should be fine.  I always check with the rangers to see if there are any new spring reports though.

[dubeaux]

Thanks for that info.  I will check with the rangers, but as you know it's hard to get a straight answer from them, which is why I came here.  Appreciate it!

[TheWildWestGuy]

I have been to Dominquez Springs in much drier times than this year and it has always been running at least a trickle over the old dam and slightly above it.  You shouldn't have any problems but I am 90% confident the rangers will tell you that you can't rely on it and should carry 1 gal/person/day.
There are also reliable springs up Fisk Canyon which is the main drainage next to Dominquez Springs - about 1-2 miles upstream from the Dominquez ruins.  Often this is a flowing stream for hundreds or thousands of yards.  You can keep going up Fisk Canyon to intersect the Smokey Creek Trail near Sugarloaf Mtn or you can branch-off and head around Dominquez Mtn to Elephant Tusk or go across "Jacks Pass" to Smokey Spring.  Lots of sidetrips, dayhikes, and x-country routes in this area and most of them have flowing springs.  Let me know if you want more details or suggestions.  This is a really great area of the Park and has several good camping spots with great views and easy water.

    NOTE:   BE CAREFUL to note the location of the trail where it leaves the old roadbed and enters the dry arroyo wash - this seems easy & obvious hiking uphill but when you come back a few hours or days later it is easy to miss it and get lost.   Happened to me and I was pretty confused and a bit worried for a few miles.... TWWG

[dubeaux]

Wild West Guy,

This is exactly what I want; thanks!  I and most of the people I'll be with have hiked Dodson, Smokey Creek and Elephant Tusk, but have not explored off-trail nor been in the area west of ET, south of Dodson, and east of Smokey Creek (in other words, the heart of the Sierra Quemada).  This is only a brief recon (one night camp) at the end of a trip based mostly on the River Road. So I'm eager to hear any suggestions about side-trips, day-hikes, for this trip and future use.  I'm hoping to persuade my group, once we've made camp near Dominguez, to dayhike over to or towards Elephant Tusk, or climb up Dominguez Mtn.  I looked over the thread in which folks were discussing this (to see what routes were best), as well as going over "Jack's Pass," which I'm assuming is the saddle west and slightly north of Dominguez Springs.  But I'm not sure.  I've got all the maps, so could you give me a map feature/elevation or other reference so I can identify "Jack's Pass?"

¡Muchas gracias!

[Robert]

Funny thing is that I've been to Dominguez twice and never seen the spring. I usually do the cooking and my hiking buddy does most of the water filtering. The first year we hiked over Jack's pass and by the time we set up camp it started raining and it lasted until we went to bed. The second time we came over from the Elephant Tusk side and arrived just as the sun went down so I never had the time to go look at them.

I have seen the springs in Fisk canyon that WWG talks about.

Here's an older reference that I copied from the old board posted by "Alex".

Forgot to mention the spring. Nothing is ever like Mule Ears but I have been in that area in '92, an El Nino year, and the water was running down the washes all over the Sierra and in '98 after 6 years of drought and the water was trickling for about 100 yds above the dam at Dominquez Spring, deep enough to filter from. Both times around the first of March

Jack's Pass in Topozone
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=29.13486&lon=-103.32761&size=l&u=4&datum=nad83&layer=DRG

[dubeaux]

Robert,

That's it!  Thanks!  I'll be sending this to my hiking buddies as we discuss what we'll do after arriving at DS.

[TheWildWestGuy]

The best, most scenic, and easiest dayhike to make from Dominquez Springs is right up Fisk Canyon to the cutoff around Dominquez Mtn to ETusk (~a 1-2 hour hike up from Dom. Springs - each way).   Here are some landmarks:
1- start at the main dry arroyo next to Dom Springs - the one you hike up on to the ruins.
2- after about ~2/3 mile you will climb over a very large boulder and see the first scattered pools of water.
3- after ~1 mile you will start to see intermittent flowing water and scattered tree's, grape vines, wildflowers, and some contact metamorphism with local calcite veins and mercury ore - look for it on the East side of the canyon.
4- from 1-2 miles the water becomes more frequent and flowing and the rock becomes banded and colorful especially on the West side of the Canyon.  There are many small waterfalls and the water may be running 1-3' wide and 1-3" deep towards the 2 mile mark.
5- about 2.2 miles you will come to the cutoff canyon that leads around the North flank of Dominquez Mtn.   You can't miss it because this is the main source of the springs/water you have been following.  At this point you can either:
5a - turn around and hike back to Dom Springs and enjoy a frosty beverage.
5b - keep going up Fisk canyon (more tree's and springs and side-canyons)
5c - keep going down the cutoff canyon towards E. Tusk.

Kind of depends how much daylight you have and what your friends feel like.  It gets dark early and fast in these canyons during the winter so don't push it too late  but much of this route is easy and fast walking.  Perhaps bring a headlamp or flashlight just to be safe.  Watch for Bear and Cougar scat/signs and enjoy.  Don't let your friends wimp out and stay in camp - this may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance and Fisk Canyon is the best part of the entire hike... TWWG

[dubeaux]

You're getting me really excited!  I'll be sending all this to the team, which will get us all juiced up for the adventure!  We will definitely take headlights and all the other safety gear.

Thanks again!

[sleepy]

Thanks as well from me TWWG.  I am leaving tomorrow and plan on camping near Dominguez Springs for a couple of nights.  Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.