Sids Mountain Area, Utah

 

Mountain Lion Defense

•  The death of Kristen Kovatch near Estes Park, CO was the straw that broke the camel's back. At best, she had a nail file for defense. The two California men in 2024 jumped up and down and threw everything they had at a lion. And it kept coming. I went on Amazon to find a knife to be easily carried on a backpack strap. I had a million dollars worth of knives in my cart before I came upon the Cold Steel Mini Leatherneck at barely over 20 bucks.  The double edge blade is agnostic. It can rip in either direction. I would instinctively stab rapid fire in soft tissue, the neck if possible. A 3 or 4 inch blade isn't going to instantly kill a lion, but how many stabs can he take? I would only need one poke from that nasty little blade and I'm heading for the tall grass. I've had this on a couple of hikes and forgot is was there. It will be a permanent fixture except for some barren desert excursions. I have not seen any tests on it to see what it would take to break the blade.

Mojave National Preserve

 

Nest on Wild Horse Mesa. She can get away with that since cattle are gone.

Vulcan Mine

⦁ Mojave Washboard Preserve would be a more suitable name as visitors soon find out. The road to Hole in the Wall campground is paved from I-40. There is water at the entrance and I had 2 bars of Verizon there as well as freebie campsites along the way. Posted 2026

⦁ WILD HORSE MESA 5600 has 3 stock trails up but no cattle for years . I went up the north one then walked the mesa south to another one at peak 1398. The easy 4wd Wild Horse Rd departs the paved Black Canyon Rd at mp . Go 3 miles to a campsite at point 1368. Subaru types and ebikes can make it. Walk NW to point 1444 and go south generally along a faded road. It will shrink to a trail at 02886, 27485  and top out in the east saddle of peak 1653. Then it's easy to the east summit where the reg is. I walked from there on the easy ground to the south trail at peak 1398 reading N35 00105, W115 24345. Along the way a spotty trail at 00114, 25845 helps out. The south trail goes down and turns south where I left it and headed down to my bike that I stashed NE of peak 1178 around mp 7. Nearly 5 hours and 9 miles with 1000 noticeable gain. Easy walking on the mesa. Hikers just doing the summit and back can use the road turning off the Wild Horse Rd from another point 1444. There was no closure sign. ALTERNATE DESCENT - I went back a second time and skipped the high point. When I topped out on the trail I headed down thru a gap east of point 1563 at 02027, 27501 then on to the rim. I walked it for 3/4 mile and I could see the trail coming up out of Beecher Canyon. I then headed for the north rim of Borrego Canyon and stayed on center down into a saddle then up thru a cliff at 00951, 25760. I walked on nearly 2 miles to 01518, 24040 where I could get down thru a cliff. But I saw I might get down by going a few feet more just past point 1466. I resumed on the main ridge going SE and stayed left around a minor bump then down to a saddle then dropped right to the guzzler road where I was camped. That took nearly 5 hours and 9.4 miles. The Borrego rim has never had cattle but had the best flowers . Posted 2026

⦁ TABLE TOP el 6181 is approached from Black Canyon Rd. Point 1581 is at mp 15. Cars can park there then a mtn bike works on a high clearance road for half a mile toward the peak. Then walk to N35 06523, W115 23587 north of peak 1602 and then duck under a fence at 06567, 23244. Go on to a trail with cairns at 06629, 22780. The rest is obvious. It goes parabolic near the top but can be zigzagged. Nearly 3 hours with 700 noticeable gain. Posted 2026

⦁ WOODS MOUNTAINS - various loops can be done from a campsite at the south end at point 1230. I went over the high point and back by way of Tortoise Shell Mtn. The road in leaves the Black Rock Rd at point 1239. It's a mile of smooth high clearance and good for mtn bikes. I walked up Rustler Canyon using the left bank.  At  N35 03144, W115 22237 is where  I went left up a bedrock drainage to a cliff then switched up to the right to get on the rim. I walked left of peak 1577 on a game trail and it goes on left of peak 1616 then up to the north saddle. I went on to the right side of the high point el 1704 and up it and back down. Then on and over peak 1702 and followed the ridges down to peak 1462. I call it Little Table Top. A trail goes up it at 03909, 20579. I then headed for Tortoise Shell Mtn. A trail at 03462, 20805 goes along the west side of peak 1403 then I got on a ridge at 03126, 20837 and walked to Tortoise Shell. I then retraced back down a little to get on the easiest ridge down and crossed Burro Canyon at 02153, 20790 then headed for the last trail on the north side of peak 1247. 7 hours, 10.6 miles with 2000 noticeable gain. Rocks aren't a nuisance until peak 1462 with Tortoise Shell being the worst of it. I would skip that peak next time and come back on trails on the banks of Burro Canyon. Posted 2026

⦁ EAST WOODS MOUNTAINS - an easy 4wd road circles around to the north. At point 1362 on the Black Canyon RD is where it heads NE for a mile and a half then left to point 1459 then east to the end at point 1287 in Woods Wash. Posted 2026

⦁ PINTO MOUNTAIN el 6150 is a good rim walk loop. Go north from Hole In The Wall to point 1603 where there is an option to take a shortcut road. It goes a mile to Cedar Canyon Rd and on north but closed there. I walked up it to the end at a wash then up a trail at N35 10977, W115 23277 to circle around the north side of peak 1754. I then walked the rim skirting a couple of peaks with a trail helping out then up to Purdy BM. I went down a little to 10833, 22302 where I could see my way down the north side then strolled back. 3 hours with nearly 1000 noticeable gain. Posted 2026

• EDGAR PEAK el 7160 has an interesting route from the west with nothing harder than class 3. From Kelso, cross the tracks and get on a left side dirt road immediately that parallels the highway. At about a fifth mile from the tracks is a 4wd road going left to Cornfield Spring. Most will be stopped at a steep spot after 4 and a half miles of easy 4wd. As of 2013, jeeps with lockers and fat tires could still make it and that was still the case in 2026. Or ride an ebike from there. In another mile the road makes a hairpin turn close to an agave pit at N34 58512, W115 34283 el 3400 at wash level. Park here. Hike up the broad wash left of the pit. It swings right then gets bouldery and steep before reaching a saddle at 57526, 32688 el 6060. Go left and up slightly to a break at 57514, 32643 and on around the right of a peak to saddles just before the climb up to the peak which is at 57336, 32186. It's the one on the right. Go up a right chute just before the saddle between the twin summits or go to the saddle then up.  On the return, there's an agave pit at 57546, 32930 el 6100 at a saddle west of the 6060 saddle. I went down the fork to the north but it's tricky and harder than just returning the way you came. Near the bottom I went to a colorful saddle at 57786, 32845 on the left. Then thru and over to the left wall and  down to a broad steep drainage that drops right down to the fork with the canyon I came up. 8 hrs, 20 minutes and 8 miles with 3700 gain, take long pants for very light brush. Boulders in the canyon are easy to negotiate. Add 45 minutes for the side trip to the agave pit at el 6100 and I can't remember why I walked out there in 2013 or took that risky route down. Add 300 feet and 45 minutes round trip if starting from the steep spot on the road. I didn't check Cornfield Spring, but water was flowing downstream from it as far as 58476, 34941 in April 2013. Another pit is at an overhang at 58485,34622 el 3300. Posted 2013, 2026

Wonderstone Wash Indian Trail

Pothole at the 2500 level on the ascent

Ring at the head of Wonderstone

Puddle at the big drop el 2350

View down Wonderstone from the big drop

Ring at the saddle el 20250

Peak 649

Near the end

 ⦁ This trail goes from highway 22 and up over a ridge then down Wonderstone. It's mostly within the boundary of Anza Borrego State Park. It's the most dramatic I've ever done and doubt it can be surpassed. I put a track on peakbagger under Marble Peak 3320. This trip report would only be needed as backup. Take highway 86 to Brawley Rd and drive to a gravel plant. Go south along it on an easy 4wd power road for nearly a mile and leave a vehicle at N33 21629, W116 02188. Ebikes and cycles can turn right up a wash there for another half mile. Then drive to mp 32.55 on S22 and walk a tenth mile to a smooth channel at 17973, 11202. Follow that to the west side of a hill and walk the channel along the base. Upon reaching the north side of the hill, drift right a little to get in the main channel of Palo Verde Wash where you'll see a million footprints. Go on up the wash thru point 18536, 11111 then on to the start of the trail at 18873, 10748 el 1350. The trail goes up along the rim of a side canyon and be sure not to miss where it crosses to the left side of the creekbed at the 1550 level. It goes on up steeply to the top of the ridge el 2000 then down to the bed of Smoke Tree Canyon el 1900. Go up the main canyon 400 feet as the crow flies and the trail exits right at cairns. It gets fuzzy, but be sure to be on it where it levels off  at 19430, 09720 el 2250. It's easy to follow to a creekbed where it vanishes. A pothole there had several gallons. Go up the bed for 300 feet and it exits left. The reading there is 19838, 09605 el 2500. It goes on to a saddle on the main ridge el 3150 then runs toward Rosa BM. It gets fuzzy and I dropped off it and down a ridge at 20493, 09839 then picked it up again at 20758, 09607. A rock ring is along the way at 20699, 09685. The trail goes on to 20895, 09359 then runs left of center at 20933, 09041 el 2480. I took the option to drop down and check for water in the canyon. There were some puddles and wet sand then a big drop. I went back on the rim there then down to where it gets skinny at el 2050. Some rock rings are there and I could see water below. I went down the skinny rim and soon the trail drops right down an obvious slope and bends left and hits bottom where the wash goes over a drop. A flat top boulder there has a grinding hole. The trail runs on the right bank to get past the fall and there is a sand slide. I didn't think that to be risky with a good stick, but a likely option is to get in the main arm of the canyon at about 20911, 08495.  I came up canyon that far on a previous hike if my GPS was reading correct. It's a smooth wash on out to the mouth and I stayed in smooth channels near center to 20950, 05151 then cut over to another channel at 20905, 05037 that took me to the west saddle of peak 649. A trail runs down a wash there and goes up on the left bank at 20811, 04653 then on to higher ground. I then moved left to 20978, 04202 where I could walk the rim of a wash on down to 21404, 03068 and then obvious the rest of the way. That took 8 hours, 15 minutes and nearly 14 miles. Noticeable gain is 2000. The hike is over 15 miles for a party with 2 cars. That hiking time is for a 70 year old. Hikers half that age should do it in half the time. The water I saw was from rain 2 weeks before. Be careful around those rings. Posted 2026 

Indian Trails of Indio Hills

Pushawalla Palms

The trail out of Pushawalla. It likely goes to Stubbe Spring at Joshua Tree.

 1. PUSHAWALLA PALMS LOOP - These are the best palms.  I started out on an Indian trail going to the palms from Dollar Rd to the north then went on to Hidden Palms and back on more trails. Where the pavement ends on Dollar Rd it's another half mile on high clearance dirt to a closure sign. Bikes could be locked to it. I got on the trail just past that at N33 50547, W116 15849 and walked it into the canyon. I walked the right bank a few feet then had to drop into the creekbed but it soon smoothed out. At the main wash I got on a faint road on the left bank and walked it the palms and dropped down the steep bank at 49545, 16848. The palms run a half mile with a stream and there is a trail at 49361, 17005 that goes up a gully onto the rim then thru more palms and on to Hidden Palms. I walked a signed trail thru those then detoured on an Indian trail at 49443, 18233 that goes to the flat north of peak 833. I turned north to a surprise Indian trail at 49880, 18165 that goes up to a modern trail on a rim. I walked that to 49684, 17671 then dropped left down a trail and across a wash and along the right side of a point to a trail at 49849, 17500. It goes up on the rim and stays along the edge at first then on to 50415, 16844 and then fades in another third mile. There I veered right into a wash at 50651, 16325 and up that for a tenth mile then across the last wash at 50657, 16034.  3 hours, 42 minutes and nearly 8 miles with easy grades. If I just wanted to do all the palms I would just walk one way from Dollar Rd down to Washington St. Posted 2025

2. PUSHAWALLA PALMS EAST RIM - a modern trail goes up from the palms to the east rim then a spotty Indian trail runs out to peak 834 and back down. Where the pavement ends on Dollar Rd it's another half mile on high clearance dirt to a closure sign. Bikes could be locked to it. I got on the trail just past that at N33 50547, W116 15849 and walked it into the canyon. I walked the right bank a few feet then had to drop into the creekbed but it soon smoothed out. At the main wash I got on a faint road on the left bank and walked it almost to the palms where a modern trail crosses the road and goes to 49588, 16743 then up to the rim where topo lines look like a dog. It goes on to a canyon then down it to the palms. But there is no need to go past the dog's nose and just head for the rim that leads to peak 834. Along the way is another modern trail at 49006, 16337. It seems to go down a canyon. It only runs 200 feet on the rim and fades then comes some survey junk. At 49133, 16649  the Indian trail shows up running low left. It goes past peak 834 to a point. A trail is to the left but it's safer to go straight north down the point to 49400, 16833 on the edge of a big side canyon then down to the palms. Then either slog back up the soft wash or get on the bank at 49549,  16850 to walk the old road back. Nearly 4 hours, 7 miles with 600 noticeable gain. A lot of good pavement on that east rim. Posted 2025

3. INDIAN PALMS LOOP - this starts near the visitor center. A TH is a third mile south of the center next to Squaw Hill . Park there and walk the shoulder toward the center for a few feet to a gate that is the trail to the palms in a canyon. At the last grove the canyon turns rocky. Either get on the left rim there or go up canyon and go up left to the trail at N33 50518, W116 17863. It goes 2/3 mile and fades at a clearing. I moved left and walked a little more then headed for the return trail at 50605, 17224. It soon splinters but I stayed on the rim to the left and walked the trail on down. It fades in rocks but I had no trouble walking the rim to the end then walked a wash along the base back to the starting trail. 2 hours. Posted 2025

4. PEAK 833 is south of the visitor center. A trail runs across the north flat. It goes up the rim of Thousand Palms Canyon at N33 49763, W116 18567. I parked a third mile west of it then walked to it and up to the top of the rim. Then I went a couple hundred feet toward the peak  to get on it again. I walked it a fifth mile along a lot of rock piles then followed cairns up to the peak and down a faint trail on the west ridge. 90 minutes, 350 gain. Another option would be to walk the trail to Hidden Palms then down to pavement. Shuttle needed for that one and there is a paved shoulder for bikes. Posted 2025

5. PALMS BENCHMARK el 1386 is easiest from the north but I chose the more scenic south canyon. Moon Shadow Dr heads straight for the canyon but they are trying to close it. So I came in on Desert Moon Dr then left on Burr Oak Rd and went around the edge of houses and out to a fence at a T. A local told me everybody drives to the east around the fence and up into the canyon. I took a left fork at N33 51632, W116 21802 then stayed left at main forks to 51975, 21820 where I went right and then stayed left to a ridge at 52059, 21792 that goes to the main ridge. An Indian trail runs the ridge to the summit and keeps going but gets dangerous past the summit. Hiking in from the fence would be a 5 mile round trip with 300 noticeable gain. I could have rode an ebike past the fence most of the way in. Posted 2025

6. MACOMBER PALMS have a rough trail in from the north. Happy Valley Rd goes south from Dillon Rd and in just over a half mile I parked and walked up a ridge at N33 49615, W116 13979 then on to the trail at 49220, 14041. It goes to a saddle then down canyon to the palms. At 48838, 14292 el 1200 the trail runs on the left bank then down a point and stays on the left bank then fades but is easy sand on down to the palms. I followed the low ground to the right past more palms then on to a trail at 48639, 16257. It goes over the rim into the next canyon which is the one I returned in. I stayed right at the first main fork and followed the forks that go along the south side of the eastern 16 on the topo. At 49564, 14729 there is a trail that I used to get back to the start. 3 and a half hours, nearly 8 miles. The only noticeable gain is 150 at the start. Easy but rocky in places. ONE WAY VERSION - keep going the Pushawalla Palms then a trail goes on to the visitor center. That would need an 8 mile shuttle, all paved. Posted 2024

7. PEAK 712 is west of the Macomber Palms. A modern trail goes over it. It took Coyote Song Way to the end of pavement then along the left side of a row of stumps then left and parked a tenth mile from the trail which is at N33 48022, W116 16755. 1 hour, 500 gain. Posted 2025

8. HERMAN MOUNTAIN el 1300 is at the Coachella Valley Preserve. A trail can be used to go one way over it. I parked on the Thousand Palms Rd at N33 51220, W116 18513 then coasted on my bike for 3 miles to the Willis Palms TH which is at the 380 line on the Thousand Palms Rd. At the palms a right branch of the trail reading 49545, 19770 goes up to the summit then down and then turns toward the visitor center. I left it there and walked to a faint road at 51175, 18664 that took me to my cycle. That took 2 hours, 15 minute with 1000 gain. Ending the hike at the visitor center should work but the area around there was closed that day. ALTERNATE DESCENT - follow the trail over the summit and down to the 1200 line then leave it and head down the ridge toward the north saddle of peak 972 then down the wash back to the start. Before the saddle I saw a trail at 50770, 19558 and it goes along the bank of the wash then fades. That's the route I chose that day. That descent needs no shuttle.  I put tracks on peakbagger. Posted 2024, 2025