From the parking area, the trailhead is readily apparent, and the trail to the Calico Tanks is a relatively simple out-and-back route. From the parking lot, the trail heads across the desert, and across a wash, where it forks toward Turtleback Peak, and also toward the “tanks” themselves. From this point, the trail winds through the wash and into a canyon. At the start of the canyon, the trail is quite wide, and provides great views of the Calico Hills to the South, and the Turtleback Peak region to the North. However, as you head up the trail, the canyon narrows, and eventually begins to ascend a series of steps cut into the slickrock.