The Maze

[Jammer]

There is a really big pothole in the bottom end of The Fins canyon (near where the trail intersects.) I used to swap notes with Daniel, so it's possible he is counting this. ??? That source is probably not reliable though during really dry seasons. Also... it's not that far from Clell's Spring (or Lou's) so it probably isn't that helpful.

 

[Dirkules]

Hi everyone.
We are considering a 4-day trip into The Maze via Spanish Bottom using a jetboat shuttle in June. Our biggest concerns are finding water and managing the heat. So this thread is already a great help concerning possible springs.
Do you have been to The Maze in summer yet? Will there be reliable springs during that time of the year?

Our research thus far resulted in differing results. Asking the jetboat operator about circumstances in The Maze in June he replied:
"I suspect that finding water away from the river might be all but impossible. I have worked (here) for 25 years and as I look back at our history of providing backpacker shuttle service I can find only 11 people who have hired us to provide shuttle service to The Maze in June or July. The trip you propose is almost never done at the time of year you propose to do it. I personally would not even consider the possibility. "

We also contacted the NPS and got that reply: "There are reliable water sources in the canyons of the Maze and in Water Canyon. but it is a long trek from Spanish Bottom to any of the water sources. Check with the ranger station a week or less before you head into the outback and we can update you on the current water source conditions. "

What is your opinion? Is it doable in June or is it to much of a risk?
We know June is probably not the best time of the year to go there, but as we are from Germany our time window is limited to those three weeks of the year visiting the southwest (and we got used to hike the desert in hot summer temperatures over the last years).
Looking forward to your feedback!

 

[slc_dan]

You'll really have to love the heat to do it in June. I'm one of those crazy people, but someone like @Nick wouldn't even consider it.

a couple tricks for managing the heat.
-Take Naps in the shade during the hottest times of the day. 12-2 can be pretty brutal. Hike Early in the morning, and into dusk.
-Take a handkerchief and soak it in water, to wrap around your neck.

The hike from Spanish Bottom to Water Canyon is very manageable.

It really comes down to your tolerance for heat.

 

[Nick]

You'll really have to love the heat to do it in June. I'm one of those crazy people, but someone like @Nick wouldn't even consider it.

To be fair, the last time I went was the last weekend in May, so almost June! Temps were hot - well into the 90's, and we spent plenty of time cooling off in the shade. It was nice. But yeah, I would definitely opt for canyons with more water in June. If it isn't a super dry year, I don't think the springs would all dry up and it sounds like the park service is basically confirming that in what they said.

 

[Midatlantic]

Would you guys mind sanity checking this itinerary?

Day 1 Flint Ridge Golden Stairs (cache water)-Range Canyon Lou's Spring
Day 2 Lou's Spring The Fins Spanish Bottom or dry camp Doll House
Day 3 Spanish Bottom or Doll House Confluence Overlook Water Canyon Spring
Day 4 Water Canyon Shot Canyon-Pete's Mesa Route Pictograph Confluence
Day 5 Pictograph Confluence Pictograph-Standing Rock-Chimney Rock-Harvest Scene (day hike) Maze Overlook Spring
Day 6 Maze Overlook Maze Overlook (top) South Fork Spring
Day 7 South Fork Horse Canyon Golden Stairs Flint Ridge

 

[Nick]

I would not want to run all the way down to Spanish Bottom just to get some silty Colorado River water. Better to plan to just head straight to Water Canyon.

I'm not sure what you have going on Days 4-6. You're going to hike from there up to Standing Rock and Chimney Rock and then back to below the Maze Overlook?

 

[Midatlantic]

I would not want to run all the way down to Spanish Bottom just to get some silty Colorado River water. Better to plan to just head straight to Water Canyon.

Agreed - this was included to convince myself there would be water if really needed. I've seen reports of potholes at Confluence Overlook, and camping there looks awesome with views to the Needles, so that could be an option instead of pushing on all the way to Water Canyon from Lou's Spring in one day.

I'm not sure what you have going on Days 4-6. You're going to hike from there up to Standing Rock and Chimney Rock and then back to below the Maze Overlook?

I think that wasn't clear because I've incorrectly named a couple of things:

• What I called Pete's Mesa Route is aka Jasper Ridge
• Pictograph Confluence is actually south (upstream) of the Harvest Scene (38.205917,-109.992687), not north where I had it (38.228307,-109.987939).

(Please correct me if I'm still wrong.)

So, a modified itinerary is
Day 1: Flint Ridge-Golden Stairs (cache water)-Range Canyon-camp at Lou's Spring
Day 2: The Fins-camp at Doll House, Confluence Overlook, or maybe Water Canyon spring
Day 3: Explore Water Canyon (to Green River time permitting)-camp at Water Canyon Spring
Day 4: Water Canyon-Chimney Rock-Jasper Ridge-camp at spring between Harvest Scene & bottom of Maze Overlook
Day 5: Day hike a loop up to the Plug, over to Chimney Rock, down to Pictograph Confluence-camp near Maze Overlook spring
Day 6: Climb up to Maze Overlook & back down-S Fork Horse Canyon-camp at spring in SFHC
Day 7: Out to Flint Ridge via Golden Stairs

Thanks for the help. The devil's in the detail.

 

[frahminator]

"We found a really nice spring here: 38.200761,-109.996265. Could totally dry up but it was flowing well in May 2012."

This location is corroborated by a video taken by Joey Coconato in 2015. We're hoping to find it next week when we visit.

 

[maperson543]

bumping this post up as it's one of the first google results when searching "Water" and "the maze". This was water status in Sep 2023. Spent quite a while in Ernie's, up Sweet Alice, and then bumping around the Maze.

Ernie's Country

• Contrary to some posts I saw here, Clell's Spring is not dry. The pipe drops water very slowly. In September the pipe stopped dripping early afternoon almost everyday unless there was some rain the day before. It would be back to dropping by the very early AM. The cow troughs Ned Chaffin installed collect a good amount of water and unless they collapse, I suspect they will keep water year round. There is algae and some bugs (worms, tadpoles, fairy shrimp etc), but you can get some good clean water. I would personally only use this for emergencies or if you are running short and don't think you can get water elsewhere, like walking the extra time to Lou's (which from pictures looks easier to filter with less bugs).
• Like in Craig Childs Secret Knowledge of Water, there is usually water to be found upwards. I try to always have a few liters on me during the day. Whenever I needed water, there was some to be found in potholes up and around Sweet Alice and Sandtank that are in the shade and will hold water. During a dry year they may be hard to find and hopefully rain comes in to fill them up, but even with a week of no rain and 90-degree heat, I was able to find good potholes tucked away from the sun with at least 20+ liters. Similar to Clell's, I would not rely on potholes as a sole water source, but it seems that if you can get to Lou's + potholes you should be ok while in Ernie's country. Picking up from Clell's would be an emergency supplement if you find yourself short. If you're of the daring type, you can try to spend the time to filter Clell's and use it as a daily, but I would caution that due to the low amount of clean water you can get in a day and the time it would take.

Maze

• In my experience, Maze overlook spring always has water year round. This year--Sep 2023--was the lowest I've seen it, but I also hit it when it had still been in the 90s with very little rain. It had been a hot Aug and Sep. Even during the most severe droughts--2020 and 2021 come to mind--this is a good spot to pick up water.
• Pictograph Fork and spring: Many maps and trip reports note quite a few different spots to find water up and down Pictobraph Fork, as well as at the NE intersection with Pete's Mesa route. I found no water at these spots. Whether they are labelled "springs" on older maps or just larger potholes on trip reports; there was no water. Again, I went during a particularly dry and hot period, but I was surprised and glad I cached water elsewhere.
• I did not check out water on the Plug unmaintained trail, but there is supposedly water along that route.
• I also did not risk it with Water Canyon as I heard if the Maze Overlook spring is low, then I may not be able to pick up water in Water Canyon. Instead, I went straight for my cache.
• Beehive Arch area also has potholes and water can be found. It's also an area where I saw the most animals, which leads me to believe that there are likely some good water sources in/around. They may be on the NE ridge over looking Spanish Bottom or the NW canyons spearting the trail with the pocket.

This is long, but I hope helpful. This forum has been a tremendous resource for sharing good routes, waypoints, etc, and thank you to everyone that shares their knowledge.

 

[Devin]

Bumping this again, with some outdated info, but figured I'd keep the embers warm on this thread.

This is actually my first addition to Backcountry Post, having watched from the wings for years, getting so much helpful info. Echoing the above poster to thank you all for your valuable insights.

Hoping to eventually put together my first Trip Report of a 7 day/6 night hike from the Golden Stairs down to Spanish Bottom, and then back via Picto Fork/S. Fork in the coming days.

In the meantime, in an extremely hot late Sept, early October 2024, I found the water situation in the Maze to be the following:

● Lou's was overflowing (maybe even a little more so than 2023)
● Clell's was, as the rangers had told me, magnificent. My first time there; walked right by it last trip. Tanks were full, pipe was dripping steadily. Water was not that murky or green to be honest. It made my day, having had a little trepidation about the place from some prior trip reports. And I found one single flat spot big enough for my tent around the corner in the trail canyon.
● Pretty big muddy pothole in Range just south of the E. Country Trail. It was chocolate milk though, and a short walk from Lou's so not really very useful.
● A few muddy potholes in the main E. Country Trail moving W to E.
● Tanks south of the Fins/Sand Tank were dry. (I did not venture north into either Sand Tank or Sweet Alice, so no pothole reports)
● Plug Spring was flowing slowly and had a big pool.
● A few standing pools in the wash in Picto Fork up to the S. Fork junction.
● Maze Overlook was abundant. (better/bigger than 2022)
● Quite a few little pools in S. Fork along the trail.
● The big S. Fork Spring (just north of the pouroff/bench) was flowing and full. You could have gone for a swim (I did not obviously).

Take care, everyone.

 

[napatony13]

Bumping this again, with some outdated info, but figured I'd keep the embers warm on this thread.

This is actually my first addition to Backcountry Post, having watched from the wings for years, getting so much helpful info. Echoing the above poster to thank you all for your valuable insights.

Hoping to eventually put together my first Trip Report of a 7 day/6 night hike from the Golden Stairs down to Spanish Bottom, and then back via Picto Fork/S. Fork in the coming days.

In the meantime, in an extremely hot late Sept, early October 2024, I found the water situation in the Maze to be the following:

● Lou's was overflowing (maybe even a little more so than 2023)
● Clell's was, as the rangers had told me, magnificent. My first time there; walked right by it last trip. Tanks were full, pipe was dripping steadily. Water was not that murky or green to be honest. It made my day, having had a little trepidation about the place from some prior trip reports. And I found one single flat spot big enough for my tent around the corner in the trail canyon.
● Pretty big muddy pothole in Range just south of the E. Country Trail. It was chocolate milk though, and a short walk from Lou's so not really very useful.
● A few muddy potholes in the main E. Country Trail moving W to E.
● Tanks south of the Fins/Sand Tank were dry. (I did not venture north into either Sand Tank or Sweet Alice, so no pothole reports)
● Plug Spring was flowing slowly and had a big pool.
● A few standing pools in the wash in Picto Fork up to the S. Fork junction.
● Maze Overlook was abundant. (better/bigger than 2022)
● Quite a few little pools in S. Fork along the trail.
● The big S. Fork Spring (just north of the pouroff/bench) was flowing and full. You could have gone for a swim (I did not obviously).

Take care, everyone.

Thanks for chiming in Devin. I've got a trip for this October planned and still working out the logistics. Plan is to hike up from Spanish Bottom and then loop Pete's Mesa Trail and South Fork. I have a few springs marked on my GAIA map but they're not named, so I'm hoping to match them up with your observations. Do you have coordinates for the water sources you referenced along this stretch or suggestions for a better map?

 

[Stan the Man]

Here is some more recent Maze water information from a late May 2025 trip. I was doing day hikes from Maze Overlook including one down Horse Canyon, another to Harvest Scene and another up to the Chocolate Drops from Pictograph Fork , along the ridge to the Wall and then down the length of South Fork Of Horse Canyon. Here is what I observed:

• May 27, 2025 Maze Overlook Spring, lots o' water. This spring was also flowing well in early May 2024.
• May 27, 2025 Horse Canyon Spring, midway between confluence of South Fork/PIctograph Fork and South Fork/Main Fork Horse Canyon. This spring was also flowing well in early May 2024.
• May 29, 2025 Head of South Fork of Horse Canyon has some large potholes next to the trail. One has a natural arch which may provide shade and reduce evaporative loss. These potholes had quite a bit of slightly murky water which I drank.
• May 29, 2025 38.189450°, -110.027889° ~ 1/3 travel distance down South Fork between head and Maze Overlook Spring is a section of bedrock with a dry pour over into a pool with running water exiting the pool. Looking at Google Earth Imagery over time, this looks to be a fairly reliable pothole/spring.
• May 29, 2025 38.223849°, -110.002530°, about 3/4 mile hike upstream from the Maze Overlook Spring in South Fork of Horse Canyon. This spring was running well on this trip and in early May 2024. It is so close to Maze Overlook Spring that it is of limited use, but might be helpful if someone is wanting to camp near water, but avoid the busier Maze Overlook Spring area. However thanks to the NPS backcountry permit system, hiking in the Maze has never felt very crowded to me. On my two, three day trips truck camping at the Maze Overlook, none of the other parties camping at the Maze Overlook campsites hiked into the Maze which I found surprising, but nice.

As a reminder, the Maze has a lot of super fun, scrambly, 3rd and 2nd class routes in and out of the canyons. They are some of my favorite parts of hiking in the Maze, but some folks might not feel comfortable with the exposure and climbing. These aren't your typical signed NPS trails. On my last trip, I used 50 feet of webbing and a meat anchor (me), to provide a handline for some hiking partners on the Maze Overlook route, which I think is more exposed and with more challenging scrambling than the Pete's Mesa, Chimney Rock, South Fork Of Horse Canyon and Chocolate Drops routes. I have yet to do the Plug Route. Webbing or cord, would also be handy for lowering/raising backpacks for some folks.

I've never been in the Maze in the Fall, so won't be much help with fall conditions.

Cheers,

Stan

 

[napatony13]

Here is some more recent Maze water information from a late May 2025 trip. I was doing day hikes from Maze Overlook including one down Horse Canyon, another to Harvest Scene and another up to the Chocolate Drops from Pictograph Fork , along the ridge to the Wall and then down the length of South Fork Of Horse Canyon. Here is what I observed:

• May 27, 2025 Maze Overlook Spring, lots o' water. This spring was also flowing well in early May 2024.
• May 27, 2025 Horse Canyon Spring, midway between confluence of South Fork/PIctograph Fork and South Fork/Main Fork Horse Canyon. This spring was also flowing well in early May 2024.
• May 29, 2025 Head of South Fork of Horse Canyon has some large potholes next to the trail. One has a natural arch which may provide shade and reduce evaporative loss. These potholes had quite a bit of slightly murky water which I drank.
• May 29, 2025 38.189450°, -110.027889° ~ 1/3 travel distance down South Fork between head and Maze Overlook Spring is a section of bedrock with a dry pour over into a pool with running water exiting the pool. Looking at Google Earth Imagery over time, this looks to be a fairly reliable pothole/spring.
• May 29, 2025 38.223849°, -110.002530°, about 3/4 mile hike upstream from the Maze Overlook Spring in South Fork of Horse Canyon. This spring was running well on this trip and in early May 2024. It is so close to Maze Overlook Spring that it is of limited use, but might be helpful if someone is wanting to camp near water, but avoid the busier Maze Overlook Spring area. However thanks to the NPS backcountry permit system, hiking in the Maze has never felt very crowded to me. On my two, three day trips truck camping at the Maze Overlook, none of the other parties camping at the Maze Overlook campsites hiked into the Maze which I found surprising, but nice.

As a reminder, the Maze has a lot of super fun, scrambly, 3rd and 2nd class routes in and out of the canyons. They are some of my favorite parts of hiking in the Maze, but some folks might not feel comfortable with the exposure and climbing. These aren't your typical signed NPS trails. On my last trip, I used 50 feet of webbing and a meat anchor (me), to provide a handline for some hiking partners on the Maze Overlook route, which I think is more exposed and with more challenging scrambling than the Pete's Mesa, Chimney Rock, South Fork Of Horse Canyon and Chocolate Drops routes. I have yet to do the Plug Route. Webbing or cord, would also be handy for lowering/raising backpacks for some folks.

I've never been in the Maze in the Fall, so won't be much help with fall conditions.

Cheers,

Stan

Thanks for that info, it confirms some of what shows on my map. It shows 2 springs in South Horse, the one you mention that's about 1/3 of the way down, and another just upstream of where the overlook trail enters the wash. I'm assuming that's the one you're calling Maze Overlook Spring. I'll call the ranger station and try to verify fall conditions

 

[Devin]

Thanks for chiming in Devin. I've got a trip for this October planned and still working out the logistics. Plan is to hike up from Spanish Bottom and then loop Pete's Mesa Trail and South Fork. I have a few springs marked on my GAIA map but they're not named, so I'm hoping to match them up with your observations. Do you have coordinates for the water sources you referenced along this stretch or suggestions for a better map?

Hey there,

The biggest spring in South Fork is @ N 38.189367° W 110.027844°
It's impossible to miss, it's a sizable pour-off that you have to bushwhack through these tall reeds on the E side of the wash to get around.
It is about a quarter of the way up the trail from the Doll House Road to the Maze Overlook. It was a pond when we were there.

There were some other pools though around the half-way point, and closer to the Maze Overlook.
Hans Flat has three S Fork springs listed on their whiteboard; lower, mid, and upper. All were flowing when I was there in Sept/Oct '24.

The Plug Spring is @ N 38.188907° W110.003746° and is somewhat near (SW of) the junction with the Chimney Rock route.
It's a boggy seep coming out of the wall on the W side of the trail. The ranger at HF called it a "little hanging garden," and it was a perfect description.

I have been working on my maps for so long, I can't remember where I found them, but both of those are baked into the topo layer on Gaia GPS as "springs." Generally though, S Fork has/had notably more water than Picto Fork, though I think there is supposedly at least one source in Picto F in a little side canyon that I've never tried to find.

A Spanish Bottom>Pete's Mesa Ridge>Picto>S Fork> and then back down to the River via Doll House Rd would be a fantastic trip. Even better if you had time for Ernie's Co. heading back to Sp. Bottom.
We contemplated camping on Pete's Mesa ridge [the trail overlooking Jasper and Picto, not further towards the actual mesa] on night #1 but opted for getting to the Plug Spring to get water. If you stayed up on the ridge, which would be absolutely epic, you'd be just a quick drop down to either the water at the Picto Fork T intersection, if it's there, or just a bit farther to the Maze Overlook, which is always reliable.

For what it's worth, and speaking of Gaia, I wouldn't recommend taking the old, abandoned jeep road through North Flat (now an unmaintained trail on a lot of topos) to shave off time on the Doll House Rd. walk. The wheel tracks disappear almost completely, and you'll probably end up spending more time avoiding crypto than you would just walking down the main road, which is also much more scenic, in hindsight. Just my two cents.

One last note: The Plug Trail was full-on pucker town; much sketchier than either the Chimney Rock, S. Fork, or Pete's Mesa entry/exit trails.
It lived up to the hype. Easy to follow, but there are a couple parts where you have to traverse these really steep (seemed like 45+ degree) angled sections right next to some huge drop-offs. Shoe friction only. I am admittedly scared of heights, and definitely not a technical climber, and it put the fear in me. hahaha. The ranger at HF said to follow the top cairns on one of those stretches, as some (possibly insane) person had put a lower set of cairns right in the middle of a particularly steep part, and that ended up being extremely helpful info; as always from the fine folks at Hans Flat.

 

[Devin]

And just to add that if you're boating in, definitely check in w Hans Flat by phone for a spring/water report.

 

[napatony13]

Hey there,

The biggest spring in South Fork is @ N 38.189367° W 110.027844°
It's impossible to miss, it's a sizable pour-off that you have to bushwhack through these tall reeds on the E side of the wash to get around.
It is about a quarter of the way up the trail from the Doll House Road to the Maze Overlook. It was a pond when we were there.

There were some other pools though around the half-way point, and closer to the Maze Overlook.
Hans Flat has three S Fork springs listed on their whiteboard; lower, mid, and upper. All were flowing when I was there in Sept/Oct '24.

The Plug Spring is @ N 38.188907° W110.003746° and is somewhat near (SW of) the junction with the Chimney Rock route.
It's a boggy seep coming out of the wall on the W side of the trail. The ranger at HF called it a "little hanging garden," and it was a perfect description.

I have been working on my maps for so long, I can't remember where I found them, but both of those are baked into the topo layer on Gaia GPS as "springs." Generally though, S Fork has/had notably more water than Picto Fork, though I think there is supposedly at least one source in Picto F in a little side canyon that I've never tried to find.

A Spanish Bottom>Pete's Mesa Ridge>Picto>S Fork> and then back down to the River via Doll House Rd would be a fantastic trip. Even better if you had time for Ernie's Co. heading back to Sp. Bottom.
We contemplated camping on Pete's Mesa ridge [the trail overlooking Jasper and Picto, not further towards the actual mesa] on night #1 but opted for getting to the Plug Spring to get water. If you stayed up on the ridge, which would be absolutely epic, you'd be just a quick drop down to either the water at the Picto Fork T intersection, if it's there, or just a bit farther to the Maze Overlook, which is always reliable.

For what it's worth, and speaking of Gaia, I wouldn't recommend taking the old, abandoned jeep road through North Flat (now an unmaintained trail on a lot of topos) to shave off time on the Doll House Rd. walk. The wheel tracks disappear almost completely, and you'll probably end up spending more time avoiding crypto than you would just walking down the main road, which is also much more scenic, in hindsight. Just my two cents.

One last note: The Plug Trail was full-on pucker town; much sketchier than either the Chimney Rock, S. Fork, or Pete's Mesa entry/exit trails.
It lived up to the hype. Easy to follow, but there are a couple parts where you have to traverse these really steep (seemed like 45+ degree) angled sections right next to some huge drop-offs. Shoe friction only. I am admittedly scared of heights, and definitely not a technical climber, and it put the fear in me. hahaha. The ranger at HF said to follow the top cairns on one of those stretches, as some (possibly insane) person had put a lower set of cairns right in the middle of a particularly steep part, and that ended up being extremely helpful info; as always from the fine folks at Hans Flat.

Thanks so much Devin, I really appreciate you taking the time and sharing this info, it's very helpful. It confirms and clarifies a few things I already knew, but also gives me some valuable new tips. I was definitely eyeing that trail thru North Flat as we have a lot of miles to cover on day 2, so good to know staying on the main road is the better choice. Like you I'll need to make a call on camping on Pete's Mesa...we too may choose to get to water that night. That would cut off a few day 2 miles and also save time by filtering water that night instead of having to do it the next day. I agree, a trip into Ernie's Country (my dad's name) would have been nice, I've got a tinge of regret I opted for such a quick trip! Definitely planning to call the rangers to check on conditions before we leave. glad to hear they're helpful and have a good grasp of things out there. Thanks again!