Little Picacho Wilderness Area

Mission Wash

Slot canyon at Unnamed Wash

Indian trail at Unnamed Wash

⦁ The southern part around Mission Wash is all that could pass for a wilderness. OHVs are in charge of the rest. The graded Picacho Road runs north from the All American Canal (AAC) along the west side. The first 3 miles are on tribal land and need a permit for camping, but not for day use. The graded canal road runs along the south side accessing Unnamed Wash and Mission Wash. The Feguson Lake Road is easy 4wd and runs along the east side. Google maps shows all. Posted 2022.

⦁ RIDGE BENCHMARK el 1523 has a trail running up canyon from the Hess Mine to the SE saddle el 1250. The paved Senator Wash Rd runs along the east side of the range. Follow it north from the All American Canal for 2.3 miles then turn left into the South Mesa LTVA. Go 1.1 miles on the main road then go left at a fork heading toward the huge mine area. Stay on the main road and don't take any left forks.  After a mile and a half there is a crossing where 4wd is needed and then a half mile more there is crossing where the main road is washed out el 550 but there is a trail up it. There is a detour road to the right and 4wds can get to el 800 but I walked from there. The trail goes up on the west bank then I stayed left on a road that goes south around a hill and into the canyon at the Hess Mine. The road peters out and the trail goes on to the saddle el 1250 then it's rocky to the BM at N32 53797, W114 33813. I retraced from the summit for a third mile then took a decent ridge directly down to the road. That took 2 and a half hours with 1000 gain. Next time I'll ride my cycle to el 800. Posted 2022.

⦁ FERGUSON LAKE ROAD - this road forms the eastern boundary of the wilderness. Take the paved Senator Wash Rd north from the All American Canal for 2.3 miles then turn left into the South Mesa LTVA. Follow the signs for the lake for 11 miles to the end at a palm grove on the shore. It's easy 4wd and firm enough for ebikes but bumpy and hilly but you only have to ride 8 miles on dirt to get to the lake shore. About 9 and a half miles in there is a mega wash with a big sign for a hunting club. I call that Hunter Wash and there is a good gorge upstream. It's a smooth wash up to a main burro trail on the left bank at N32 58496, W114 31090. But that's the way I returned. I stayed in the main wash to a 70 foot fall. A gully goes up to the left then a sheep route goes level a ways then back down a hidden gully. Then comes 2 more falls, 10 feet or so high and one is class 4 but good holds. It then opens up and that burro trail took me back. One hour. LOOP VERSION - a good loop is to go up canyon to a fork at 59045, 32489 and go right to a trail on the right bank at 59157, 32563. Walk that to a saddle at 59494, 32521 and go thru on a trail down to a canyon floor which drains back to the road. A minor fall stops burros then there is a nice shit free section on down to a narrows with a 6 foot overhanging drop. I found no way around it on the north rim then I saw there is a trail on the south side of the fall that leads down a scree chute to the creekbed and then it opens up. Then a trail cuts thru a saddle on the right and on to the road. It's a 25 minute walk back on the road. 3 or 4 hours, no strenuous gain. Loop possibilities around here are endless. Posted 2022.

⦁ FERGUSON CANYONS RAPPELS -  a gorge at the mouth of Ferguson Wash has one drop Another gorge, which I call Hunter Wash, is just to the north on the south side of peak 851 and has 2 drops. I rode from the Senator Wash Rd on the Ferguson Lake road for 7 miles to a hard right on the rim. I walked to a gully at N32 57848, W114 30910 and went down it into the gorge. At the drop, I used a boulder far right and rapped straight down 30 or 40 feet then strolled out. A trail at 57977, 30129 is a good way back up to the road. That took 90 minutes. Then I rode a mile and a third past Ferguson Wash to Hunter. It has a big sign for a hunting  club. I walked up the main channel and got on the left bank then another 400 feet to a trail at at 58496, 31090. That took me along the south wall of the gorge then down to the creekbed. I went down to a 12 foot slanting fall with water at the bottom, but I stayed dry. An ibis or gator hook works. Then there are a few short class 3 drops and an escape route on the right. Then comes the last and biggest, 70 or 80 feet and slanting with a convenient boulder at the lip. I rapped into a big dry hole with an easy stairway out. That would be a swimmer after a major storm. That took 100 minutes. I used a 200 foot rope doubled over for both gorges and 20 feet of webbing, but a shorter rope would work in Ferguson. Good practice canyons. I wasn't worried about going solo because I couldn't be trapped. Posted 2022.

⦁ MISSION WASH LOOP - I walked to the head of the wash to peak 812 and crossed west to the next major wash which I call Mala Pais Wash then came back in that. York Rd can be used to get to the canal road or for smoother driving get on where the canal dips south and almost touches the Imperial Dam Rd then go west to the bridge for Mission Wash. Google maps shows all. Cross the canal and go east 100 feet then left to power lines. Go left there on BLM road #725 which is a bumpy high clearance road. At a hill, stay left to the end at a large smooth area. I walked the bank on a trail from there for a fifth mile then cut across to a trail at N32 51216, W114 32811 then to 51520, 32945 then 51697,33104 then 51944, 33224 where a trail drops into the wash. The wash makes a left bend and a trail is far left. It's obvious how to go bank to bank. A trail on the right bank is easy to miss at 52506, 33454 then there is a trail on the left bank at 52651, 33511. In another tenth mile the trail is far left then comes a narrower section with no banks. It opens up then a trail is on the left bank and I went bank to bank to a smooth channel at 53502, 34807. I followed that to the left to a fork at 53559, 35096. That bends right to a smooth flat with giant ocotillo then left to another flat with a trail at the far end. I weaved on to 53260, 35409 where I could drop into Mala Pais Wash. That has trails on the right bank to a hard left turn into goosenecks. But I bypassed that by staying straight thru a saddle to a spotty trail at 52671, 35118 and on .4 mile to a trail on the left bank. Next, there is a trail on the far right bank at 52033, 34848 then on to 51782,34693 then 51479, 34578. A trail on the left bank at 51022, 34250 is what I needed to connect to. At a third mile from it, I cut over to it and walked it around the point. It fades then I was nearly home. That took 5 hours, 40 min with no strenuous gain. The app had it at 11.3 miles.  It's best on a sunny day when blue skies contrast with all that black. It's rocky but rarely pure rocks with no dirt at all. Without the rocks it would be covered with tire tracks. This is the only area that could pass as a wilderness. I'll do it again. Posted 2022.

⦁ MISSION WASH SHORT LOOP - start out hiking the same as the long loop but at N32 51944, W114 33224 cross to the west rim and walk it up to 52526, 33951 el 800. Level off there and merge into a drainage then go up the other side to 52308, 34144 el 820 where there is a view of a lake bed and smooth channel running south. Drop to it then stay left of hill 795 to a minor drainage at 51764, 34327 el 700. Go straight down to the floor and there is a channel on the east edge that leads to a trail at 51022, 34250. I walked the right bank for the last fifth mile to it. It bends around the point and fades then another point must be passed to get back. 4 hours, hardly any strenuous gain. Rocks get dense on the high ground but they are usually one layer deep and not loose. PEAK 818 is a good hike from the same parking area. I walked west to the next major wash then up to 51490, 33609 where I went left up a canyon to a flat north of the peak. I went up a slope at 51457, 34088 that leads to a saddle where the rest is in veiw. The summit has some wire and a cleared spot.  I retraced from the summit a little then down the NW ridge because I could see the rocks are thin. 2 and a half hours with 300 noticeable gain, all easy. To go up the NW ridge, start up at 50951, 33734 and stay left of center. Posted 2022.

⦁ DELTA BENCHMARK el 976 has an Indian trail running thru the south saddle el 720. From the canal bridge at Mission Wash, go east on the north side road for half a mile then turn left and go under power lines then stay left at a fork to the end along a wash. The high left bank has a road so just walk that to the end then the trail runs along the right bank of a drainage to the south saddle. It looks like pure rocks to the summit, but there is dirt. Walk to N32 50383, W114 31518 then angle up left in a minor drainage where dirt has washed down. It's a quarter mile to the summit with a cairn 10 feet wide. The trail goes up south from the saddle to Indian sites scattered over peak 892. 2 hours, 600 noticeable gain. Posted 2022.

⦁ MALA PAIS BENCHMARK el 1474 has a good route up the west canyon into the south saddle. Take the Pichacho Rd for 6 and a half miles north from the AAC to an easy 4wd road at N32 53013, W114 38843. Take that for 2 miles to Unnamed Wash then go up that for a third mile and park. Climb out and walk to a point at 52668, 37149. Walk north along the right side of it for half a mile then use a trail on the right bank that bends into a fork heading toward the peak. Stay in that fork along the west side of the peak and south saddle comes into view with a decent route up. Then go up the ridge to the reg staying right of a bump. I made a loop back by walking a few feet from the summit to 52771, 36012 where I could drop down a decent route to the north ridge and walk that out to a smooth saddle at 53351,36281 el 950. I went down there to a canyon and walked it out to the road. One fall is in the way but there is a trail down the left side. It's rocky but only the last tenth mile to the peak had pure rocks with no dirt at all. 3 hours, 42 minutes with 500 noticeable gain. Posted 2022.

⦁ INDIAN TRAIL - a major trail runs along the west bank of Unnamed Wash. I made an easy loop using an east fork of it. Take the Pichacho Rd for 6 and a half miles north from the AAC to an easy 4wd road at N32 53013, W114 38843. Take that for 2 miles to Unnamed Wash then go up that for nearly a  mile and park at a canyon on the right at 53133, 37363. Go up that then take the first left fork and there are ways to climb up on the right. The east trail is on top with some arrows scraped in. It goes into a canyon on the north side of peak 1098 and gets spotty. It emerges on the right bank and on to 54014, 36775 then 54234, 36402 then 54383, 36137 and down to a major wash south of peak 914. Burro trails there make it hard to see so I bailed and crossed a minor ridge at 54746,35457 and went NW up a fork to a jeep road and west on that and kept going west along the north side of peak 774 to the south bank of a slot canyon at 54783, 37749. There are more places to enter the slot to the north but not south. I walked it down to the road in Unnamed Wash then went left for a fifth mile to a slot on the right. I went up that but had to climb a 6 foot fall, easier for 2 hikers. At the top of the rim is the west fork of the Indian trail. It has been run over but it soon crosses minor gullies and is in near pristine condition. There is an option to drop left into a slot at 53693, 37682 and walk it down to the road and then it's nearly half a mile to the start, or stay on the trail to a slot at 53209, 37465 that leads to the start. That took 4 and a half hours with maybe 300 noticeable gain. The app has it at 9.2 miles. This is one of the better hikes. Posted 2022.

⦁ UNNAMED WASH SLOTS - several short slot canyons are of interest. Take the Pichacho Rd for nearly 10 miles north from the AAC to an easy 4wd road running down Unnamed Wash. Large pickups might not fit. In a tenth mile there is a crack on the right. It soon forks and those open up. 350 feet on down the wash is a short shallow slot on the left. At .6 mile down from the Pichacho Rd there is one on the left. It soon forks. Left is dull but right is good. It soon opens up so make a U-turn because you're done.  Just past that on the right is a short, dark one. Then at .9 mile there is a long shallow one with a tree in the mouth. Another third mile down the wash is another on the left. It soon has fork. Take the very narrow left fork and it tops out then walk to N32 54684, W114 37811 to drop into the right fork and walk it back. At about 2 miles in there is a fork on the left feeding in from the north, but that's a return route. Go a little more to the next one at 53871, 37609 and go up that until it opens up. I got on the right bank and walked a game trail to where it's easy to get in the next canyon west. I walked the west rim to 54128, 37567 and dropped in and hit some minor catclaw, not a problem with pruners. The next canyon west looks to be clear and would make an easier return. It had footprints. The next point of interest is a gully at 53521, 37501 that goes up to an Indian trail and access to peak 1098. The last slot I did is at 53457, 37513 on the right. It opens up and it's easy to go out on the left to an Indian trail running high then down to a slot at 53209, 37465 that leads back to the road. Then it's a third mile back to the start. At 3.5 miles a road comes into view going up the west bank. It soon forks and the right one goes to the Pichacho Rd. Jeeps can stay in Unnamed Wash all the way to the AAC but it's way too soft for cycles and dull anyway. It's good to have pruners in these canyons. Posted 2022.

⦁ BRIDGE CANYON is south of the Pichacho Mine. I made a loop to peak 1280+ at the head of it. Take the Pichacho Rd for nearly 10 miles north from the AAC to Unnamed Wash then keep going a third mile to a jeep road dropping left into a wash. There is a good slot a tenth mile down that wash. I rode up the wash on the jeep road for .6 mile and parked where it climbs out on the right. I walked up the wash thru a shallow narrows then got on the left bank and went on up to a bridge at N32 56440, W114 39041. A fifth mile on up there is a trail on the left bank then comes 3 forks. The middle one is correct and soon there is an obvious trail on the right bank. I went on to a right fork at 56924, 39089 and up that then some tricky forks start at a quarter mile before the peak. I stayed left at those in the main drainage to get to the main saddle el 1180. Then I went up left of center on safe class 3 to the summit at 57539, 39224. I could look SE down the main ridge and see a bedrock peak el 1160+ with a cliff. I was able to walk trails to it. I descended from the summit to the main saddle and walked a trail level out of it then a crag is in the way. The trail drops along the right base of it then up and over to the next drainage where a trail at 57356, 38975 leads up to that peak. I went south off that peak down a canyon and that goes back to the bridge. Just before the bridge I went left on a jeep road then a trail to get back. That took 3 hours, 15 minutes with about 500 noticeable gain. Take a clothespin. The washes are covered with burro shit. Posted 2022.

⦁ DIVIDE BENCHMARK el 1135 is a long way from legal roads. I made a loop starting at peak 1068 on the Pichacho Rd and came back by Senator Wash. Drive north on that road for a dozen miles from the All American Canal and turn up a wash at N32 57280, W114 37856. Go a third mile then right at a fork then a fifth mile to another fork. Driving more might backfire. I walked the left fork and into a saddle at 57354, 37070 then down to a wide drainage at 57361, 36901 and up the left side of that to a saddle then down a wash and thru a saddle at 57323, 36598 and on another tenth mile then right to a wash at 57319, 36391. I stayed in that past some water holes then it opens up and I took a direct line to the peak but I think it's better to circle north of peak 1047 along a jeep road on the flats. It's easy to the SW saddle el 850 of the BM. Then I went up a drainage right of center to the summit at 57368, 33933. I could find no reg or BM disc. I then walked south on the main ridge for nearly half a mile where the ridge splits. I took the right ridge but it might be faster to go down the drainage between the ridges. Then I walked over a ridge at 56374, 34052 but I it might be better to cross a half mile north where burro trails appear on the sat image. Then I headed for Senator Wash at 56007, 35296 and up that  thru a gap where a trail on the right bank goes all the way to 55920, 36795 and up the north fork. In a third mile I went left at a fork using a trail on the left bank then to a trail on the left bank of a fork at 56243, 37186. I could see the main saddle at the head of that fork and went thru it and down to the start. 6 hours with maybe 600 strenuous gain. Good scenery but not wilderness due to OHV use and stinky burro shit. Go on weekdays to avoid OHVs. If I only want the peak, I drive in to the north side like everybody else. There is no enforcement whatsoever. Posted 2022.

⦁ PEAK 1365 has some colorful formations on the east side, the best scenery I saw in the area. I started in the same left fork as the Divide BM hike and shortly up that is a washed out road at N32 57316, W114 37464. That leads toward the peak and it's obvious how to go up to the west side of the summit block then to the south side and up to survey junk at 56948, 36796. I dropped south down a ridge and could have cut thru a saddle to the formations, but stayed in the main wash to a ridge at 56400, 36755 el 900 that took me over the world's easiest peak el 1040+. I walked to a point at 56168, 36304 el 900 then down that to a wash. I used a trail on the far bank that took me downstream and into the next left fork. I went up that until I could see peak 1365 then cut across low ground toward it and to 56687, 36490 where I had a good view of a bright peak el 1020+ that is prominent on the east ridge of peak 1365. I could see a route up the gully on the left of it. I went up to that peak  then down a north gully and up a fork at 56980, 36553 el 900 that goes to a bright saddle el 1000. I then walked level on a sheep trail across minor gullies until I reached an uncrossable gully and followed a trail down along it back to the start. That took 4 hours with 600 feet of strenuous gain. I'll be back again for this or a variation thereof. Posted 2022.

⦁ PICACHO PEAK el 1920+ is class 3 all the way to the main summit ridge, as long as the 2 ladders are in place. Then a false summit has to be passed using ropes for the last little bit. Use the graded Pichacho Road on the east side and turn off into Little Picacho Wash at N32 58702, W114 38196. It's nearly a mile on easy 4wd to the end of the road. Keep going up the wash on foot thru a boulder jam. After that, it opens up and a jeep  road appears on the right. But stay in or along the wash around a right bend then the main hiker trail climbs out at a side wash. The trail goes right up into the SW gully and tops out in a V notch. Climb up to the right and back a little thru a keyhole then it's obvious how to zigzag up to the first ladder, a short wooden one. Right after that is a crack, like a short slot canyon. Some jump across but we climbed down in to get across. Next comes a tall aluminum ladder then it's smooth sailing to the false summit on top. Some go over it, but we're not climbers so we rapped down the left side of it (east) from a boulder. It's 15 feet or so straight down to a shelf then an easy walk on to the real summit. We came back and used Tiblocs to ascend the ropes to get back up. It took us 5 hours total. We were over prepared. Next time we would take two 50 foot ropes ( or a 100 foot rope to double over), a 15 foot sling, ascenders, helmet, knee pads, and the usual harness gear. An ibis hook would help if the ladders start getting iffy. We might go back and just do the class 3 part to the false summit. It's practically on top. The Picacho Rd is the real obstacle here. It's miles and miles of washboard hell. Posted 2017. LITTLE PICACHO WASH has the biggest keeper pothole I've seen in the SE California desert. Start out the same as the peak thru the boulder jam then stay left in the main wash. Soon comes second gorge with a small pothole which explains all the burro shit. A sheep trail goes up along the right side to the keeper pothole just above, 15 or 20 feet wide. Keep going up canyon then turn into a fork at 57690, 39461. Go a fifth air mile up that then left thru a low saddle. It's smartest to stay in that drainage back, but I took a shortcut to the right down a steeper canyon with tricky falls. 100 minutes, easy. Posted 2022.