Trail Overview
SS1137 is a point-to-point trail that begins off SS1050 and ends at the San Simon Dam Drop Structure. The trail follows an easy sand 2-track, makes a hard right at the fence, climbs over a small hill, then makes a hard left before reaching a gate. Keep the gate closed. Beyond the gate, the trail becomes narrower and more overgrown, with tight sections surrounded by desert vegetation. Pinstriping should be expected.
The trail surface is primarily sand and follows through typical San Simon Desert terrain dominated by creosote and desert shrubs. The route ends at the San Simon Dam Drop Structure, part of the area's historic water-control system designed to slow and manage runoff through the valley.
Difficulty
The beginning of the trail has few ruts, mostly a wide, smooth sand two-track; after the gate, the trail gets tight, with pinstripes expected. Nothing technical; no obstacles found.
History
Built in 1953 by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, the San Simon Dam Drop Structure—known as “The Fan”—was designed to control severe erosion and flooding in the San Simon watershed. The original structure was destroyed by a major flood in 1954 and rebuilt in 1955. The structure slowed floodwater, reduced erosion, and trapped an estimated 19 million tons of sediment over the years. Its effects extended more than 8 miles upstream, making it an important example of large-scale desert erosion control and watershed restoration.
