Thursday, August 28, 2025

Marble, CO




 1. HUNTSMAN RIDGE, HUNTSMAN MOUNTAIN can be done as a long loop. A paved road goes up Coal Creek from Redstone to the TH at private land but hikers and bikers are allowed thru. The trail is a road that goes 1.2 miles to a fork with buildings and a spring near point 8535. I went right up to the peaks then came back on the left fork. But it would be easier to walk the left fork up all the way to the crest west of peak 11298 and on to the peaks then down. I put a track on peakbagger under Huntsman Ridge that makes it obvious.  8 hours, 15 miles with 4350 gain but rarely steep. Riding a bike the first 1.2 miles on the smooth road would help. The USFS topo shows these roads best. All the roads have mtn bike trails or cow trails and hardly any deadfall. I saw dirt bike tracks nearly up to the crest at peak 11298. Domestic sheep graze the high peak so there must be a decent way up from the west. Posted 2025
2. PEAK 11035 can be reached from McClure Pass using a steep but not eroded ATV trail.  It starts just east of the pass and ends at el 10500 then a trail goes on to the summit. From the summit I followed a trail down the east ridge to the east saddle of peak 10377 where I lost it. I kept going down the ridge to the trail east of point 9250 but that's fake. I used game trails along the route of the trail and hit a real trail at el 8600 and walked it out to the Coal Basin TH. That took me 6 hours, 11 miles with 3000 gain from the pass. I got lucky on the descent route but that's for crazy people. I only had some light brush and deadfall didn't show up until I got on the lower trail at el 8600 and it wasn't bad. A better plan is to drop north around peak 10377 to the logging roads and walk those to the lower TH. I can see cow trails or some such on those roads. The USFS topo shows everything best. I put a track on peakbagger under Huntsman Mtn because it would be a route for that peak but only for hikers with ATV. Posted 2025
3. MARBLE has a paved road to it from highway 133. A good dirt road goes up from town to a marble mine. Along the way are THs for Raspberry Creek and Yule Creek. There is a 4wd road that leaves town and goes to the town of Crystal where there is a historic mill. It's 5 miles of 4wd to reach it and will be clogged on weekends . I saw mtn bikers riding the road but it's out of my league. Some restaurants in town but nearest gas is Carbondale. Posted 2025
4. CHAIR MOUNTAIN can't be reached from McClure Pass. The road that goes up from the pass turns private at the 9800 line. A gate can be seen there on the topo. But there are campsites to that point. Posted 2025

Gypsum, CO


 1. Gypsum has a Family Dollar and a supermarket. Eagle has a City Market. One sunny camp area with Verizon is on the Cottonwood Pass Rd at the edge of town. FR412 is a  good road that goes up Gypsum Creek to campsites but they are miles up. Posted 2025
2. HARDSCRABBLE MOUNTAIN el 11166 has roads most of the way that Subaru types can make. I followed FR412 to FR413 then at FR441 there is a campsite where a trail runs NE up a clearing to the summits. The east summit has the best view. The main road goes on down to Eagle but I didn't ride it. Posted 2025
3. HOOSIER BENCHMARK el 11503 has an easy 4wd road most of the way. The Cottonwood Pass Rd leaves town and goes over a lower pass then across a creek and up to an OHV TH. Just before that is where FR514 goes left and up to the crest next to the peak. The road gets very rocky beyond there and I didn't last long. Posted 2025
4. RED HILL el 8164 is a loop ride that ebikers make. The paved Cottonwood Pass Rd tops out just past mp 5. Then a rutted road goes right and there is a cell signal to navigate the roads that go to the peak and also peak 8410. The main road goes back to the camp area on the Cottonwood Pass Rd which is where I started on my 125. 16 miles, few rocks. Only go clockwise. Posted 2025
5. BIG RED HILL el 8446 is north of town. Trail Gulch Rd goes north from the freeway exit to road #50. That road goes east to a fork NE of point 7784. I went left there and stopped at a steep hill west of point 7807 but could have gone on then walked the easy looking SW ridge of the peak. The east side of the peak is blocked by private land. Easy 4wd as far as I went and ebikers go out there. Posted 2025

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Kremmling to Silverthorne, CO

This shows what is still open in the Piney Peak area.

One way around that is to stay up all night.

It's the life of Riley on Buffalo Mtn. Just lay around all day and do nothing.







  Kremmling has a Dollar General and high priced supermarket. Frisco has a Walmart. There is plenty of BLM land around Kremmling to camp on with cell signal and I never had a signal again but for hikes. Forest roads at Elliott Ridge and over into the Piney Peak area have spots and then the turnoff for Williams Peak has some. FR141 and FR142 at Bills Peak have some. The closest to I-70 is the Rock Creek Rd at mp 109.2 on highway 9. There are designated sites in there on a left fork but bad for trailers and cars though I saw cars in there. Posted 2025
1. WOLFORD PEAK el 9182 near Kremmling has a road all the way but is gated at el 8485. Paved county 22 goes north at the east end of town for about a mile to road 224 as the sat image shows. That,s a maintained road to a fork just before point 8035. I could have drove a car that far. A 4wd road goes west to the gate near point 8485 then it's a 20 minute walk up. The cell tower on the summit saturates campsites in the area with a Verizon signal. 5 bars, baby. Posted 2025
2. JUNCTION BUTTE el 8764 is south of Kremmling. Graded county 33 runs along the north side then at mp 2.5 a high clearance road goes south along the east side. Soon a fork goes right and heads straight for the south ridge. Or stay left on a better road to point 7716 then go north to el 7850 where the road meets with the other fork and is closed beyond there. But it can be walked up to the south ridge where it fades in rocks but easy to walk to the summit. I took a direct line back down. 90 minutes, 900 gain. The roads are good for 2 wheelers. Posted 2025
3. MERIDIAN PEAK el 12426 is at the north end of the Eagles Nest Wilderness. A trail goes the whole way on an old road on Elliott Ridge. Turn off highway 9 at mp 128.5 and follow the paved then graded Spring Creek Rd to the forest boundary in about 6 miles. Subaru types can make the remaining 6 or 7 miles to the TH at Blue Lake el 11150. The topo is correct on the roads. The trail is on tundra most of the way and there is one big dip in the ridge of 250 feet. 5 and a half hours, 12 miles with nearly 2000 gain and all easy. Posted 2025
4. PINEY PEAK el 11573 -  FR401 comes in from the north and is graded to Slough Grass Lake. I came down from Elliott Ridge on FR202 which is easy 4wd. Subaru types can keep going on FR401 to FR442 at George Lake. Then it's a rocky mess on FR442 to FR784 and up to McCord Pass. I parked my 125 at FR784 and walked it to the pass but could have rode as I found out. From the pass I walked a closed road past a barrier and saw a way thru the trees to get on the ridge and up to the peak. I ran the ridge to peak 11385 then came back until I was .15 mile from a logging road at N39 48444, W106 29180. I took a gentle angle down to it and on to Piney Peak Spring. Just a dry trough there. I followed the logging roads back to the pass. I rode out on the road down 3 Licks Creek but that's a disaster. I saw God turn back on that. GRAND LOOP VERSION - walk the road up 3 Licks Creek to the pass then run the ridge to peak 11385. I saw a way off it to the old road past Chimney Rock then keep going to the eastern leg of FR441 which is still open as a map posted at a kiosk indicates. Walk that leg back to FR401 with an ebike waiting. I measured that on the computer as 14 miles for the hiking part.
5. WILLIAMS PEAK el 11617 has a rocky 4wd road most of the way. Turn off highway 9 at mp 127.5 and the road goes up to the crest and runs for miles like the topo shows. I parked at the south saddle of the peak and had no trouble to the summit. The road smooths out on to Williams BM and it has a better view. I parked at the NW saddle and walked right of center on tundra to the summit. Then kept going on the easy crest to peak 11145 at N39 50367, W106 08643 and then down to the road at 50495, 08887. A trail goes on from the end of the road maybe to Ute Pass. I walked the road back. The spring on the topo had a good flow and was the only water I saw. The Williams  Peak Trail had a sign saying 6.7 miles to the lower TH. That hike took 3 hours and 7 miles. Easy one. I saw jeep tracks near the end of the road but there are long segments with no turnaround. Posted 2025
6. GREEN MOUNTAIN el 9418 has a faint road going high up the south ridge as the topo shows. Turn off highway 9 at mp 127.4 and go south on easy 4wd for about a mile then go right to logs blocking the road at just over 8000. The road goes up and fades but reappears again next to point 8525 reading N39 53802, W106 19556. It goes on to 53593, 19431 and on to the south ridge then it's easy to the summit. 2 hours, 1300 gain. Ebikes work here. Posted 2025
7. UPPER CATARACT LAKE is a scenic one. The paved Heeney Rd runs along the south side of Green Mtn Reservoir. At mp 5.5 a good road runs to the Surprise Lake TH. The trails leading to Surprise Lake and on to Upper Cataract are about like the topo shows and signs were up. 6 hours, 12 miles with 2600 gain, not steep. The first 3 miles are smooth. The only camping near the TH is a high priced campground. But if you're a cow you camp for free and when you gotta go you don't have to use the restroom. Posted 2025
8. UTE PEAK el 12303 - a one way hike can be done on a trail from Ute Pass over the summit  then down the Acorn Creek Trail to a second vehicle. Turn off highway 9 onto Ute Park Rd at about mp 112.1 and stay left at the first fork then right at the second to the Acorn TH. I left my truck there then rode my cycle 8 and a half miles to the pass and walked the trail. There is only one trail up. All the others on the topo are fake. At the summit I just kept going down the main ridge to the Acorn trail at N39 46232, W106 04277 el 11300  then walked it down to my truck. 6 and a half hours, 10.4 miles with 3300 gain.  Highway 9 has a wide shoulder for ebikes and the Ute Pass road has light traffic and is paved. Posted 2025
9. BILLS PEAK el 12703 can be done as a loop up the trail along Kinney Creek then down to Horshoe Lake and back on that trail. Drive over Ute Pass then past a huge mine to mp 9 then follow signs to the Kinney TH. Cars have trouble with the last 3 miles but could ebike it. Subaru types make it all the way. The trail goes roughly like the topo shows. The trail forks south of point 10785 which is where the loop begins. Left goes up to the peak. I stayed on the trail until I could get on the south ridge of the summit then went up. I resumed on the trail to N39 50933, W105 57973 el 12400 and leveled off to get on the ridge that circles the lake. An obvious elk trail SW of the lake is the way down. It reads 50545, 59056. I picked up the main trail on the east shore of the lake and walked it out. 6 and a half hours, 11 miles with a bit over 3000 gain. The first 2 miles are in a burn area that ends just before the fork. The main road goes on under a mine conveyor then FR142 is a good one lane road that  goes over 4 miles to a TH with campsites along the way. It's a good road for two wheelers. Posted 2025
10. BUFFALO MOUNTAIN el 12777 is west of Silverthorne. The TH is at the end of Ryan Gulch Rd but the two dozen spaces fill up every day. So start crazy early or ride an ebike from Target. A bike path runs along Ryan Gulch Rd. The trail goes steep and rocky for 3 miles to the summit. The important thing is where the talus starts the real trail goes right and fake trails go left. A family of goats resides here. 5 hours, 6 miles with 3000 gain. Two cars were waiting to take my space when I returned. They had to shoot it out. Posted 2025

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Rabbit Ears Range, Never Summer Range

Bearpaws Peaks

Parika Peak

Bowen Mtn

Arapaho Ridge




 1. The peaks in the area are easy tundra hikes. Granby has a City Market and Dollar General.
2. BOWEN, FAIRVIEW, PARIKA - these peaks can be done as a loop. FR750 is a good road to the TH for trail #1141. I walked it to Bowen Pass. The last water is a big spring below the pass at the junction with the CDT. I went up the ridge from the pass to a faint trail at N40 21918, W105 56248 el 12200. It drops a little then goes along the right side of crags then the rest is obvious. One narrow ledge beyond there will worry some but a route 20 feet lower can be used then back up a chute. Take a 20 foot handline for the squeamish. I didn't think the ledge to be risky. I came back and walked the ridge and then under peak 12442 to an elk trail at  22370, 56381 el 12200 and then on over Fairview and up to Parika. I came back to the trail that goes over the shoulder of Fairview and then went straight down tundra to the saddle el 11396 and on to 22328, 57217 and soon hit the trail again then on back. 7 and a half hours, 9.3 miles with 3600 gain and mostly on tundra. Nothing harder than class 2.  It would only add 250 to go over peak 12442. The USFS topo shows the trails best. Posted 2025
3. CASCADE MOUNTAIN el 12303 has trails nearly the whole way from FR750. A logging road works well for the return. I walked trail #1141 from FR750 to Bowen Pass then took a trail up the ridge. It runs to the right of peaks including Ruby then almost to the top of Cascade. I then dropped to the saddle east of peak 11550 and went down a trail on the left. Once on the floor I moved far right and walked meadows to a passage at N40 21395, W105 57951 and then on to the logging road at 21639, 57906 el 10640. I went on to a fork at 21708, 57884 and went right to another fork at 21954, 57861 and right again and walked left of the creek down to FR750.  6 hours, 8.7 miles with 2800 gain. Easy tundra and meadows. Posted 2025
4. MOUNT CINDY el 12047 can be done as a loop including Bearpaws Peaks. FR740  is maintained as far as Teller City. Some cars might make it another half mile to good campsites along FR758. Then it's 3 miles of rocky 4wd road to a fork at FR7581A. That's the last parking spot for 4wds. I rode my cycle a little more and parked at N40 23994, W105 58148 el 10100. Then I walked the road to the Jack Creek TH. At the 11000 line I went straight up a clearing to cut a switchback and hit the trail running on a closed road. I should have tried going straight on up to the ridge but I walked the trail up. At 24035, 55657 el 11200 I came to the last good stream. I kept going up to the ridge and walked a fading road on it to peak 11740. The road seems to drop to the Michigan River but I went up an elk trail to el 11680 then skirted left of the summit and on up the ridge. A crag is in the way so I took an elk trail at 24777, 56123 el 11700 to get around it on the left. From the summit of Cindy I walked the ridge to Bearpaws. An elk trail runs left of center into the east saddle of peak 11570. A camera was attached to a tree there. I skirted left around the peak then up to the ridge that leads to Bearpaws. I took a trip out to the high peak then came back to the ridge out to peak 11590. I skirted that one on the right then went over the left shoulder of the next peak then down to a wide tundra drainage at 24327, 58299 el 11040. I went down the center then moved left at a steeper part then on down tundra and came to some deadfall. I went left around that then hit the road at my cycle. 6 hours, 9 miles with 2400 gain. All easy terrain. One compromise on that rocky road is to drive halfway to a campsite at the 9560 line along Jack Creek. That would make it a 12 mile hike. An ebike might work for a mile past Teller City. Posted 2025
5. CDT LOOP - one hike I thought about but skipped is to start at the Illinois River TH and walk to the CDT then on to trail #1141 near Bowen Pass then back on that trail to a bike waiting at that TH. It might be 10 miles of hiking. 
6. TELLER CITY was a late 19th mining town. A loop trail with displays leads past log cabin ruins. Cars can get there. Posted 2025
7. RADIAL MOUNTAIN el 11241 - a trail goes up from Willow Creek Pass to a T at el 10000 where a dirt bike trail crosses. Then there is deadfall on up the ridge but I could weave or step over all of it. It clears up at el 10700 and it's a clean ridge to the summit. 3 and a half hours, 1700 gain. Posted 2025
8. PARKVIEW MOUNTAIN el 12296 - an easy 4wd road goes to 11050 from BM 9485 at mp 21 on highway 125. Near timberline there is a fork so stay left across a dip to a parking area. ATVs can go on to el 11300 then a rocky trail leads to tundra and then it's just pick an angle to get on the SE ridge and up to the lookout. It took me an hour to the top from el 11050. I wouldn't take any rig wider than a jeep on that road. My 125 made it easily. EBIKE VERSION - FR730 is mostly smooth to el 10300. I would ride that far then walk FR751 over the ridge to the other road and go up then back down the NE ridge. Cars have to park at the pass and use a trail from there but could do the same loop.  Posted2025
9. SHEEP MTN and HYANNIS PEAK -  a one way hike is the best in the range. I started at Grassy Run TH and walked the trail up to Arapaho Ridge then kept going to the CDT. I took a 2 hour side trip to Hyannis then went on over Sheep to trail #1187 but that trail is gone. I made it to my bike at Longs Lake anyway. The best version is to start on the CDT at FR107 el 10600 and it's an all trail walk of about a 11 miles to Grassy Run TH. Some deadfall on the descent slows things down by 15 minutes. The version I did took 7 hours. Next time I'll start on the CDT and skip Hyannis and include Red Hill. That would be a 5 mile side trip total. The USFS topo shows the trails. FR106 and FR715 are good roads for cars and the others are good high clearance roads and all ebikeable. Posted 2025
10. SHEEP MOUNTAIN el 11819 has a trail most of the way. FR106 is a good road to the T at FR730. Then go right to FR107 and up to the crest on easy high clearance roads that are ebikeable. The CDT runs along the crest to the peak like the USFS topo shows. 3 hours, 40 minutes and 7.5 miles with 2000 gain. The other SHEEP MOUNTAIN el 11361 has a road up to the top but is closed at el 10700. OHVs don't have to obey that and go all the way up. Posted 2025
11. HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN el 11495 has a fairly easy NE ridge. FR106 is a good road to the T at FR730. Then go left on FR730 which is easy 4wd and ebikeable. In 2 miles park and there is a trail going up to the NE saddle of the peak where the CDT crosses. Just before the CDT there is a clearing in view on the right. That leads up the ridge to the summit. It took one hour with 1100 gain to get to the summit. Then I dropped back to the CDT and walked it up to peak 11466 and then walked a tundra ridge north to peak 10972. That's the best part. I took a left turn at that peak and on down tundra to the road. I ran out of tundra and walked the forest for 4 minutes to hit the road and walked it back. That leg of the hike took 2 and a half hours with 1300 gain.  FR730 goes on a dozen miles to the highway but gets narrow and rocky. Posted 2025
12. GRAVEL MOUNTAIN el 11769 - FR123 departs highway 125 at mp 17 and goes up Willow Creek. After a bit over 10 miles the road tops out in the west saddle el 10600 of peak 10724. I parked there and took a bad right fork then right at the next fork and on to 3 forks. I stayed far right to a meadow then straight up to a saddle el 11200 on the NE ridge then up. 2 hours, 1100 gain. Cars can go several miles up FR123 then ebike it. High clearance can make it all the way to the saddle. The hike is not in the burn area. Posted 2025
13. ELK MOUNTAIN, CORRAL PEAKS - these are easy ones. Turn off highway 40 at mp 194.6 and take county 21 into the forest as FR112.6. It's a good road to FR111 el 9990. That's a good high clearance road to a fork el 10560. The right fork is gated and the left fork is rough for a short way to a grassy road at N40 09525, W106 08375 el 10700. I could have drove a jeep on up to the summit of Elk. Back on FR112.6, keep going to 11875, 08335 el 10500 and turn left on easy 4wd for a third mile to a closure. Walk on up the closed road to the saddle between the Corral Peaks then it's easy to climb each one. The USFS topo shows roads the best. I saw a low clearance car almost at the Corral Peaks and still going. The first campsite is 3 and a half miles in on county 21. Posted 2025

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Eastern Uinta Mountains

Leidy Peak

Something peculiar on Leidy

Elk near Leidy

Rock ring near Leidy

Marsh Peak



The cave at Big Brush Creek





 1. Highway 191 out of Vernal is the easiest way to get to the national forest. At mp 376 is a huge camp area with restrooms. 2500W and 3500W are roads out of Vernal that go into the forest and become good graded roads. The road to Paradise Lake is old pavement to the forest boundary and then FR104 is very bumpy on to the lake. Cars go in there. FR117 out of Elkhorn is the road to Chepeta Lake and it is extremely bumpy but improves some when it tops out. Cars might get to the lake. Uinta is the Indian word for rocks, rocks, and more rocks that go on forever. Posted 2025
2. LEIDY PEAK el 12028 is an easy one. FR43 goes to the TH el 10920  just short of what the topo shows. Some cars could make it. The spring near the 10400 line had good water. I followed trail #25 to the east ridge then it's mostly tundra to the summit. I had to detour around snow by way of good springs at N40 45877, W109 49383 el 11120. I came back down and strolled out to peak 11139. The last saddle has a large rock ring at 45239, 48256 el 10800. Be careful around that. It's hard to find Indian relics at that elevation. A herd of elk was out there. 5 hours, 8.5 miles, 2000 gain. There is good camping at the TH and it was deserted on a Saturday. Posted 2025
3. MOUNT UNTERMANN el 12074 has a spotty trail going to it from Hacking Lake around  the north side of Leidy. Then there is the option to loop back on trail #39 or come back over Leidy. I did the former.  The trail on the topo is off in places but not enough to get you lost. Near the start are decoy cairns running too low. The correct trail is at N40 46289, W109 50446 then fades and shows up again at 45889, 51060 and then it drops to a lower level at 45834, 51367. And there I saw that Gabbro Pass was snowed in so I merged onto the ridge and up a talus point. I stayed left of center and it only took 5 minutes to get up then I had tundra nearly to the summit. I then went over to peak 12011 and saw a rock ring with a zigzag line on the summit at 45480, 53073. Be careful there as it might be Indian. I then headed down trail #39 and the map is off so it's best to head down tundra to the trail at 45481, 52137 then on to a sign for trail #41 that leads back. 6 hours, 15 minutes and 12.3 miles with 2800 gain. Just to Untermann and back the same way would be 9 miles and less than 5 hours. Posted 2025
4. MARSH PEAK el 12240 has a trail on the east ridge like the topo shows but the last 3 miles of FR27 is rocky. Expect an hour for that.  I went to the summit then north on the ridge to trail #51 and back along the lakes. I followed the trail then zigzagged up the east ridge to N40 42612, W109 49325 el 11800 where I leveled off around to the north side then up. I kept going on the main ridge to the south saddle of peak 11951 then dropped left on tundra to 43927, 50956 and went straight on down to a rim el 11200 and walked tundra all the way to trail #51 at 44946, 52288 el 11200. That hits bottom and fades but ignore fake cairns and stay on the right like the topo shows. I filled up at a spring along there reading 45105, 51852 and then went on to trail #39 at 45229, 51529 el 10800 and it gets heavy use. It follows close to the topo but one meadow is tricky but I picked it up at 44646, 49397. 8 hours, 13.3 miles with 3000 gain. Some talus has to be dealt with but stable. I would wait until July when bogs are easier. I nearly had to wade the creek in late June. ALTERNATE - coming in from the TH above Hacking Lake would add 5 or 6 miles to the total but a base camp could be set up at the junction with trail #39. I could have drove a car to that TH. Trail #26 might work too but I never saw it. Posted 2025
5. TROUT CREEK PEAK el 10519 is along FR43 to Hacking Lake and Leidy. FR38 is a decent high clearance road but then there is a locked gate at the 9800 line. But there was no sign against riding an ebike. As the road passes under the north saddle I left it and then at the saddle is a trail that goes nearly to the summit and some survey junk. Mosquitoes were bad. Posted 2025
6. GRIZZLY BENCHMARK el 9968 is 2 miles west of highway 191. A 4wd road goes all the way up. FR181 leaves the highway at mp 375.8 and goes to a ski hut el 9200 then on to the summit. It's not worth taking a 4wd past a campsite at N40 44948, W109 30674 el 9750. Posted 2025
7. DYER MOUNTAIN el 10248 has a 4wd most of the way. FR249 goes up along the east side then into the north saddle el 10100. I don't think it's worth it to take a 4wd past the Dyer Mines el 9800. I had no trouble riding my 125 to the saddle. Posted 2025
8. RED PINE TRAIL - this one goes down into Ashley Gorge and shows on the topo. Cars can make it to FR237 then it's nearly 3 miles of easy 4wd to the rim at N40 41047, W109 38878. Ebikes could make it.  It took half an hour to get down to the creek. One good campsite is there. In September of 2004 I was here and my notes read " The trail goes to a cable crossing the creek. In Sept the creek was hard to cross. I went upstream to cross and then went downstream to a sink where the whole creek goes underground at 40574, 39338. From the sink, it's an hour of boulder hopping down to a canyon on the right where a large stream enters. A half hour after that on the left a larger volume of water enters at 39193, 38319. This is from a diversion canal. Now there is a river. I turned back here and went directly up the slope above the sink to the trail. 6 hrs,1500 gain. " This trip I saw no cable. Posted June, 2025.
9. BIG BRUSH ICE CAVE - this is on the floor of Big Brush Creek near some mines below the 8300 line. The topo shows it as a depression and the creek goes underground in this cave but it's normally dry. FR18 is a good road running north of it and the main trail down starts at a pullout at a sharp bend in the road. Park there but ignore the main trail and walk 200 feet to a closed road at N40 42026, W109 35113 that shows on the topo going to the mines. The cave will come into sight then there are fixed ropes to get down the last steep slope. The ice formation in the cave is 15 feet tall or so. From the cave, I walked up the dry canyon for half a mile to where the oncoming creek sinks. It sinks all at once. Along the way there is a left bend in the creekbed where the left bank has ruins. Just past the sink there is a lean-to on the left  bank. A few feet past that I could see a way up the slope to the road then walked 5 minutes back to the start. That loop takes less than 2  hours with barely more than 100 strenuous gain. The main trail hikers use for the cave is steeper with trickier rope work and needs to be closed off. Posted 2025
10. LIMBER FLAG el 9510 has a 4wd road most of the way. FR254 goes up the south ridge then at the last tenth mile there are blocks in the way. A faint trail goes along the right side then it's a guess which block is highest. LIMESTONE MOUNTAIN is nearby and also has a 4wd most of the way. FR257 goes up the south ridge to a bump el 9150 then it's an easy stroll on up. There are rocks on these roads that make 2 wheelers no fun but the roads up Pothole Creek and East Draw are good. Posted 2025
11. ASHLEY GORGE WEST RIM - FR30 goes south from FR18 to the edge of a rim.  A car could make it that far. Then FR435 runs rocky to a rim and smooths out and ends south of peak 8441. I walked to N40 36336, W109 38711 to get down to a clearing and on across the canyon to peak 8441 for a view. An elk trail goes up the last bit. That hike took 85 minutes with 500 gain. The ride in on the 3.3 miles of 4wd road took 35 minutes. An ebike could make most of that. I had a cell signal and there's good camping with a view on that rim. Posted 2025
12. LAKE MOUNTAIN, MIDDLE MOUNTAIN - these two can be done from the top down on trails and roads. I parked on FR104 just inside the forest boundary el 8100. Then I rode my cycle to Logger Cabins Park el 9450 and walked down FR115 to a stock trail at N40 36896, W109 51414 and then walked that to Middle Mtn. On that there is a tricky fence that I crossed at 37198, 49823 but a gate is to the right of that and easier. I kept going to Lake Mtn then took a trail at 36158, 48598 that goes down past Chenab Spring and to a good pipe spring at el 8500 and then on down to my truck. 3 hours, 7 miles and hardly any noticeable gain. Hikers who prefer to go uphill can reverse this. Posted 2025
13. ICE CAVE PEAK el 10036 is a short walk from FR298. It has no view but has some peculiar benchmarks. The end of the road has a good view. I didn't visit the ice cave but was told it is a crevice just south of Ice Cave Spring.  FR441 has a trail at the end that goes to point 9527 and also a closed road that goes to bald peak 9359. On the return from that easy peak I made it harder by taking a wrong fork and going up steeper. What a dope. These roads are good for two wheelers but not the closed one. Posted 2025
14. PEAK 11529 is NW of Marsh Peak. The easiest route is to take trail #75 then up into the north saddle. FR296 is 3 miles of easy 4wd to trail #51 then rocks get bigger to Blanchett Park where the road ends. Trail #75 starts where the topo shows then fades in grass so just pick it up again at N40 42623, W109 54951. A spring at the 10320 line is a good one. At 44577, 54906 leave the trail and head for the north saddle thru an easy forest.  The saddle is defended by a talus slope. I went up it at 44633, 53765 and took 10 minutes to get up to tundra then had an easy stroll to the summit. Then I had two ways to descend. Either the south ridge or go back to the saddle then east to Red Belly Lake and walk the that trail back. And the latter was my original plan but I got suckered by how easy the south ridge looked so I went down it but it gets too tedious near bottom. So stick with the Red Belly route or back the same way. I had a 6 mile hike to the summit from my parking spot near trail #51 with 1000 noticeable gain. Next time I'll try the loop back on trail #51. Posted 2025
15. LITTLE MOUNTAIN el 8620  has a bumpy high clearance road to the top. It leaves highway 121 at mp 32.5 and goes a dozen miles. Cars can make the first 3 miles or so then try an ebike. It's bumpy due to embedded rocks, not so much loose ones. Posted 2025
16. PEAK 12062 is NE of Cliff Lake. Two loops are possible by going up the main south ridge then back by way of the lake road or trail #75.  I did the former. I parked on FR459 where it tops out and walked a logging road that soon fades. I went on along the south side of Johnson Lake then up to the north saddle of Mesa. I went up the ridge and dodged the worst talus by staying far right of point 11497 at N40 42770, W109 57127. I went on to the summit then down the west ridge to 44510, 58650 el 11160 where I had an easy route down to trees. I went on down a ridge at 44411, 58868 el 10800 then thru an easy forest to a meadow at 44240, 59030. I then walked elk trails and hit trail #49 then the road that leads back. 7 and a half hours, 13 miles with 2700 gain and mostly easy. Lots of talus but stable and not too big. FR459 is easy 4wd but gets worse beyond where I parked. Returning on trail #75 would be the better hike and a car and ebike would work. I saw a way down off the main ridge that leads down to the south side of the lake at the head of Reynolds Creek. For that one I would just park on FR104 and go around Mesa. Posted 2025
17. WHITEROCKS RIVER CANYON has a good dirt road running for 9 miles up it. About halfway is where campsites under the pines start and the remaining road makes a good bike ride. I didn't see anything else to do. Posted 2025
18. BUCK RIDGE el 10001 - FR282 runs for 3 miles and ends just before the peak. A trail goes on like the topo shows making for a 10 minute walk to the summit.  The road has lots of embedded little rocks but I think I could have rode an ebike on it. It would be groovy to walk the trail on down the mountain. It's a pretty area with no cattle. Posted 2025
19. CLOVER BENCHMARK el 12335 is an easy one up the south ridge. FR305 is a good road until the last fifth mile before a closed road at N40 40316, W110 05776 el 10550. I walked that road to 40813, 05845 then in another tenth mile I left the road and went up along the right side of rock fields to 41168, 05574. I turned left there and up a slope to get on the south ridge. At 11500 I moved right some and on up to the BM at 43004, 05518. 4 and a half hours, 10 miles with 2100 gain and not steep. I was on tundra strips most of the way. It looked OK to go on to peak 12425 but I wasn't looking for a hike that long. I put a track on peakbagger under that peak. Posted 2025
20. PEAK 12666 is west of Chepeta Lake and has a rocky trail most of the way. It starts at the dam and runs close to the topo and then near the summit it's an easy walk to the top. I descended to the east saddle and took a nap on a handy slab at N40 48464, W110 06051 el 12500 then down from the saddle to the trail at 48076, 05913 el 11900 and on back. 7 and a half hours, 14 miles with 2500 gain, not steep. Posted 2025 

Goose Lakes


Marsh Peak
Peak 11139

Rock ring and zigzag line on peak 12011




Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Mexican Mountain Wilderness

Ruins at Shadscale Mesa







 1. COTTONWOOD WASH ROAD - this forms the east boundary of the wilderness. The best way in is the Smith Camp Rd that leaves highway 191 south of Seleratus BM. It's a graded road to point 4418 where another graded road goes north to the Cottonwood road and a car might make it the whole way. The Cottonwood road is easy 4wd because of sand and chalk dust. Going south is a dead end and going north leads to the graded Green River Cut Off Rd. Posted 2025
2. COTTONWOOD WASH NORTH RIM - I was able to get to Horse Heaven walking the rim and some forks thru point 6184 then came back on the next rim to the north.   There is a parking area at the mouth for the rock art hikers. I just went up the rim to the first fork cutting thru. I went down there but hit a drop at the bottom. I came back up and looked at a route at N39 05179, W110 27514 that would work if I had a gator hook and 20 feet of line. There is one more just past that that might go but I stayed on the rim past point 5318 to 05839, 28221 then dropped down at some potholes with water. I walked that fork along the north side of point 5715 to a narrows blocked by falls just before the 5600 line. I came back to a gap east of point 5715 and went thru to the next fork then up that a short way to a minor class 3 fall, the hardest thing on this hike. I went up OK but easier for two and likely bypassable anyway. I kept going up the easy canyon to 05731, 29043 where a sheep route goes up the rim. I went on up to a neck at 05737, 29287 and on up the rim past peak 6015 then just past point 6184 there is a saddle where I thought I was toast. But straight across the saddle is a class 2 crack where sheep go up. Then all I had to do was skirt around the head of the forks then down the rim to past point 6015 and down to a rim at 06186, 29163 el 5850. I walked the rim down to a drainage at 05935, 27992 which comes back to the rim at some potholes with water. I needed that so I filled up. I kept going down toward point 4925 and hit a trail there at 05460, 26516 that took me down a canyon and to the road with a short walk back to the start. That took me 9 hours, 15 miles with nearly 2000 gain. Rarely steep. This could be shortened a lot by heading directly up to point 5318 on the rim and also skipping the side trip to the narrows. Posted 2025
3. COTTONWOOD WASH SOUTH RIM - there are ways up the rim and over to the rim of Spring Canyon. One way is to start at the mouth and go up a trail at N39 04758, W110 26018. It goes along the left side of a drainage and finally fades then it's easy on up the ridges. The second way is to go up Cottonwood to a class 3 route at 04694, 27037. It goes up to the left to the next level then it's easy to 04565, 27234 then it's a straight shot up the drainage to the rim. I then walked up the rim to 04151, 27483 to get down a  cliff and on down to Nates Canyon. Going up canyon are cottonwoods and potholes, some had water. I came to a minor fall and past that it's easy to go to the rim of Spring Canyon. Someone glued a dirt bike ornament on the rim at 03525, 28578 just east of point 5950. I then went NE down a fork that leads to the big drop in Nates. At a minor drop I went left to 03879, 27613 to get down then on to the drop. There I went north up a drainage that shows green on the topo reading 03949, 27284. I walked that a third mile to a large cairn and exited there and leveled off then made a hard right to 04339, 26910 to get on the descent ridge. I had a deep canyon on my left and just followed it down to the start. 5 hours, 8 miles with 1600 gain.
4. POINT 5948 is on the rim east of the Lower Black Box. The road down Tidwell Draw is easy 4wd. I parked and walked to a saddle south of point 4290 at N38 58112, W110 23703 then on up a ridge at 58146, 23962. I dropped off the rim at 58221, 24609 el 4800 and down into a canyon on the right. It has another little rim and the last spot to drop down it is at 58251, 24835 then it's a short walk to the main rim of the river. The rim is lined with domes so I went right around them into a drainage at 58248, 24820 then up that to 58525, 25072 and then to 58678, 25366 where I dropped into another drainage. I went on to 58804, 25583 then to smooth rock at 58949, 25759. There I just followed the forks that lead to the rim north of peak 6001. Along the way are potholes with 2 feet of water that day at 59177, 26241. At the rim I just walked it to 58938, 27190 and crossed a drainage to get to the summit. No sign of humanity there. 6 hours, 10 miles with 2200 gain. 200 of that is on the return. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 6001. Posted 2025.
5. SMITH CAMP LOOP - a trail goes to the rim from the camp then it's easy to loop north back. The camp is at the 4-way at BM 4548 on the Cottonwood Wash Rd. First I stashed a bike 1.2 miles north at a fork near BM 4606 on the Cottonwood road then came back to the 4-way and turned west to the camp. A trail goes up canyon on the left bank and will bend south. I got off there to smooth rock at N39 01634, W110 24787 then up to a trail at 01618, 25002. It goes on to 01608, 25659 then in another fifth mile it bends left to the rim. I could see  that I could walk the rim south to a point at the 5600 line. But I walked north on the rim until domes got in the way. But there are obvious passages to the right of the domes. I went on to 02214, 26300 and turned right down a canyon. At a drop, I cut over the left bank to 02484, 25928 and dropped down. At the next drop I bypassed on the left then up a ramp at 02734, 25702 to get on the rim. I went on to 02801, 25573 then walked down the rim staying with the canyon on my right. Nearly 4 hours with 1000 easy gain. Cars might make it to the camp from the south or at least get close enough to ebike it. SOUTH LOOP - I returned later and took the same route to the rim but then went south to the point at the 5600 line, north of point 5370. Then I went to a rim at 01114, 25788 and then to 01083, 25452. At 01036, 25212 I went south across a wash then down to the starting trail at 01108, 24660. It took me north back to the start. 3 hours, 1200 gain, all easy. Posted 2025
6. PEAK 5035 is east of Cottonwood Wash. The colorful east canyons are the main attraction. I took the graded road along Cottonwood Wash and turned north on the road going past Trail Spring. I had 3 miles of easy 4wd and ebikeable to a fence. I parked there and walked to a canyon at N34 04022, W110 20637. I went up that to a fork at 04378, 21371 and then up the ridge between the forks to point 4730 and on to the summit. There are ways to drop south off the summit, the easiest being by way of the east saddle and then down canyon and past a fence at the mouth. I left the wash and thru a saddle on the left at 03579, 20734 and headed back. 2 and a half hours with 400 noticeable gain. Posted 2025
7. JOE HOLE WASH is SE of Cedar Mountain running parallel to the main road. A one way hike is too easy to pass up. I parked at a crook in the road east of BM 5473 then rode 3 miles west to the road turning south to Lews Hole. That's a minor drop with a pothole. A trail goes along the right rim for a tenth mile then drops down at a fence. I strolled on down canyon and then for the last third mile turned north up a draw to get to my truck. 100 minutes, 4 and a half miles. Cattle impact is light. Posted 2025
8. UPPER COTTONWOOD WASH - a sheep trail goes out of Big Hole Wash and over into the main fork of Cottonwood. The Big Flat Rd turns to 4wd at peak 6215 and then shortly comes a fork. Go left for 2/3 mile to a big fall. A mtn bike would work on that road. Walk to the trail at N39 05959, W110 31704. It goes up onto a point then go another tenth mile up the point then left up a draw to a rim then to 05944, 31437. Drop down there then thru a gap to 05923, 31248 where it's easy to drop into Cottonwood. At the 6040 line there is a drop, the first of many. I just walked level to the right and dropped to a flat and walked a sheep trail at that level to a 1933 marker at 05744, 30732 el 6000. I went on a bit more to a point then turned back. I spent less than 3 hours. Easy hike. It looks likely that the hike could be extended to Moonshine Waterhole for a loop.  Posted 2025
9. MOONSHINE WATERHOLE - it's a one hour hike to that but I kept going down the rim then back on the rim of Nates Canyon. I parked at the end of the jeep road in Box Flat and walked the easy ground around to Moonshine then walked the north rim down to N39 04667, W110 28938 on the south side of peak 5995 where I could walk down to the creekbed. I went down to the big drop passing cottonwoods and more waterholes, one as big as Moonshine. Then I came back and up a ridge at 04626, 28627 to get on the rim of Nates. I walked on up along the south side of Nates BM. A slope there at 04138, 31510 goes up and around to the north side of the summit block where I chickened out on a crumbly class 3 step about 8 feet high. It's best to have 2 people and a hand line. I walked on around the peak back to the start on a hiker trail. 6 hours, 20 minutes, and 10.7 miles with 1800 gain. Rarely steep. I put a track on peakbagger. There appears to be a stock trail to Moonshine that starts near the end of the road and goes thru Jackass Flat but no cattle for decades. Posted 2025 
10. UPPER SPRING CANYON - for this I started at the end of the road in Box Flat and walked past Nates BM to a gully  SE of peak 6702 at N39 03717, W110 31541. I went down that to bottom and walked downstream to the big drop with many deep potholes along the way and cottonwoods. At the drop, I went left on the rim a  few feet then up to smooth rock at 03333, 29959 el 6000. I walked upstream along the 6000 line for a tenth mile then up a drainage to the rim then walked it back. 5 hours and 1500 gain. The only steep gain is the 400 at the exit gully. Nothing harder than class 2. Posted 2025
11. HORSE HEAVEN JEEP ROAD - this starts on the Cottonwood Wash Rd just north of BM 5073. It goes up to el 6200 on the rim of the north fork of Cottonwood Wash and soon ends. No tricky spots on the road. Posted 2025
12. THE SKYWALK is what I call the skinniest of ridges on the south rim of Pine Canyon north of peak 6630. The 4wd road in from the Box Flat Rd starts at Dry Pond and goes west for nearly 5 miles to a rock art site at peak 6632. There's only one main road to follow and it circles west of peak 6522. Just before the end there is a gully at N39 06022, W110 37992 where I went up and on to 05607, 38017 to get up to the last level then on to the ridge. I walked it out and back then on to the ridge running NW from peak 6645. I could see the canyon on the north side of it was passable so I dropped in at 05925, 38170 and on down to a drop. There I stayed on the right bank around a corner then walked a rim to 06702, 38555 where I could walk up along the west side of peak 6495 to get on the high rim then out to point 6485. I went back around the north side of peak 6495 to get back to Prickly Pear Flat then headed down a canyon at 06295, 37812 to get back to the start. 6 hours and 10.3 miles. Rarely steep. This is one of the great rim hikes of all time. No sign of humanity on those rims but for one cairn. I could see that point 6540 is hopeless. There are ponderosa pines in the bottoms west of peak 6765. Posted 2025
13. GRADE BENCHMARK el 5510 has an easy east slope. Turn off highway 191 at about mp 289.9 and go in on easy 4wd and stay left at main forks to get to the road going up Lost Spring Wash. That leads to the east slope then just pick a route up. I went up at N39 06874, W110 23863 then from the summit I went north across a drainage then down the rim of it to 07143, 24703 where I could get thru a cliff then weaved on down to the road. 2 hours, 800 gain, all easy and very pleasant terrain in a juniper forest. I wouldn't reverse this loop as the downhill leg is softer and steeper. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2025
14. SHADSCALE MESA is along the river just south of I-70. It's a short hike to the high point but a traverse is a lot more interesting. There is a low budget interchange on I-70 at mp 147. There is an underpass and gates on both sides of the highway. A half mile south on a crude dirt road there is a sign to lock a bike to. Then drive to mp 156.4 on highway 24 and turn and park at N38 52287, W110 23158 where a steep road goes up the mesa. Walk the road up then walk the rim to a canyon at 52928, 25123 and go up and over the high point. Then keep going on the rim to 54736, 4977 where a sheep trail goes down to a saddle and follows an ancient road down to the flats where the sign is. It took me an hour to pedal my bike around to the south side where the hike starts and there is a paved shoulder the whole way. The hike takes 3 or 4 hours, easy. I put a track on peakbagger. LITTLE SHADSCALE is what I call the small mesa to the south. I parked at a sand slide at the south end next to the pavement. Then I walked north on the road for a quarter mile then west up a valley to a canyon at 51541, 23745. I went up that to the top then north to the block that looks to be the high point. I went left around it and saw a possible route up but would have some tricky walking above a cliff. So I put it off until I can bring a friend and let them go first. I walked the mesa to the south end at 51261, 22910 and down the slide to the start. 2 and a half hours, easy. No cattle. Posted 2025
15. BENTONITE HILLS - the best hike in bentonite I ever took is in the area south of I-70 and east of highway 24. Turn off 24 at mp 155.9 and go straight thru a 4-way then stay left at main forks to a wash at N38 50989, W110 19764. Go 3/4 mile up that then walk the main wash to 51027, 18831 where it bends right then on to a washed out road at 50956, 18464. That goes up to the rim then go east over mesa 4606 then down to a lower rim and drop off it at 51201, 17058 and down to the flats. Go on to 50812, 17248 then thru a gap at 50364, 18442 then walk most directly back to the start. 3 or 4 hours, easy. All roads easy 4wd. Ebikes make all but the last 3/4 mile of the 4 miles of dirt roads. Posted 2025

Saturday, March 1, 2025

Table of Contents

Arizona 

  1. Eagletail Mtns
  2. Gibraltar Mtn Wilderness 2012
  3.  Harcuvar Mtns 2012
  4. KOFA 2011
  5. Kofa Indian Trails 2020
  6. Lake Havasu City 2023
  7. Little Horn Mtns 2012
  8. Little Picacho Wilderness 2022
  9. Mount Nutt Wilderness 2011
  10. Muggins Mtns, Gila Mtns 2017
  11. Oatman Wildflowers 2017
  12. Oatman Poppies 2023
  13. New Water Mtns 2012
  14. Plomosa Mtns 2013
  15. Quartzsite 2017
  16. Saddle Mtn 2012
  17. Trigo Mtns 2019
  18. Warm Springs Wilderness 2018

 California 

  1.  Anza Borrego Indian Trails 2025
  2. Anza Borrego State Park 2016
  3. Avawatz Mtns 2020
  4. Big Maria Mtns 2018
  5. Blythe
  6. Cargo Muchacho Mtns 2017
  7. Carson Iceberg Wilderness 2019
  8.  Central Sierra Peaks 2012
  9. Chuckwalla Mtns 2012
  10. Clipper Mtns 2016
  11. Coyote Mtns Indian Trails 2024
  12. Dead Mtns 2018
  13. Death Valley, east side 2018
  14. 2005 Death Valley, Utah Flowers 2019
  15. Desolation Wilderness 2011
  16. Granite Chief Wilderness 2011
  17. Indian Pass Wilderness 2017
  18. Joshua Tree South 2025
  19. Kelso Dunes Wilderness 2022
  20. Kingson Range 2019
  21. Mammoth Lakes 2019
  22. McCoy Mtns 2019
  23. Mecca Hills, Joshua Tree  2024
  24. Mopah Spring Indian Trails 2019
  25.  Mopah Range, Turtle 2015
  26. Mopah Range Flowers 2019
  27. Needles Flower Show 2020
  28. Nopah Range 2017
  29. North Turtle Mountains Indian trails 2019
  30. Old Woman Mtns 2017
  31. Palen McCoy Wilderness 2021
  32. Palo Verde Mtns 2017
  33. Pinto Mtns 2024
  34. Piute Mtns 2017
  35. Resting Spring Range 2017
  36. Riverside Mtns 2016
  37. Sacramento Mtns 2017
  38. Saline Valley  2011
  39. Sierra Buttes 2011
  40. Silurian Hills  2016
  41. Soda Mtns 2024
  42. Stepladder Mtns, Chemehuevi 2020
  43. Sweetwater Mtns 2019
  44. Tecopa & Amargosa Canyon Indian Trails 2017
  45. Tecopa Wildflowers 2024
  46. Trilobite Wilderness, Bristol Mtns 2017
  47. Turtle Mtns Indian Trail Backpack 2019
  48. Warner Mtns 2011
  49. Whipple Mtns 2015
  50. White Mtns 2013
Colorado 
  1.  Arco 2016
  2. Lemhi Range, Beaverhead Mtns 2017
  3. Lemhi Range, Lost River Range 2017
  4. Lewis and Clark Adventure Road 2018
  5.  Mackay 2016
  6. Pahsimeroi Mtns 2018
  7. Southern Idaho 2016
Montana  
  1.  

New Mexico          

Nevada                                                                                                                                                                    

  1. Anchorite Hills, Excelsior Mtns 2020
  2. Arc Dome Wilderness 2020
  3. Arrow Canyon Range 2017
  4. Austin, Nevada 2020
  5. Charleston Peak Wilderness 2017
  6.  Currant Mtn Wilderness 2011
  7. Desatoya Mtns 2020
  8. Desert NWR 2015
  9. Devils Hole Hills 2018
  10. East Range 2019
  11. Ely and Eureka 2011
  12. Fortification Range 2016
  13. Hawthorne 2013
  14. Golden Gate Range 2019
  15. Granite Range 2014
  16. Hot Creek Range 2018
  17. Humboldt Range 2019
  18. Independence Mtns 2015
  19. Jackson Mtns 2014
  20. Jarbidge Wilderness 2017
  21. Lunar Crater Peaks 2018
  22. McKinney Mtns, Monitor Range 2018
  23. Meadow Valley Mtns 2024
  24. Mormon Mtns 2017
  25. Mount Moriah Area 2011
  26. Northeast Nevada Peaks 2015
  27.  Northwest Nevada
  28. Pahranagat Valley 2015
  29.  Pahrump and Beatty 
  30. Pinon, Whistler, Sulphur Spring Ranges 2018
  31. Quinn Canyon Range, Grant Range
  32. Reveille Range 2019
  33. Santa Rosa Range 2014
  34. Schell Creek Range 2015
  35. Seaman Range 2015
  36. Shoshone Mtns 2011 
  37. Sheldon NWR 2014
  38. Silver Peak Range 2013
  39. Snake Mtns, Jarbidge Wilderness SE 2018
  40. Southeast Nevada Peaks 2015
  41. Stillwater Range 2019
  42. Stillwater Range, east side 2020
  43. Sylvania Mtns 2020
  44. Toiyabe Range 
  45. Trinity, Seven Troughs Ranges 2019
  46. West Humboldt Range 2019
  47. West Nevada Peaks 2012
  48. White Mtns 2013
  49. White Mtns South 2019
  50. Worthington Mtns, Tempahute Range 2017

 Oregon  

  1.    Gearhart Mtn Area 2014
  2.  South Sister Area 2014

Utah

  1.  
  2.  

Wyoming

  1.  
  2.  Encampment 2024


Saturday, February 1, 2025

Indian Trails of Anza-Borrego

The route down the east ridge of Pyramid Peak






Travertine Palms

Trail high up at Travertine Palms Wash

Rocks BM trail with peculiar rock piles

Palm near Rocks BM












 
 The NE corner of the park has a lot of trails and nobody goes in there but for a few hiking to the benchmarks. Nearly every bench has a trail making for endless loop possibilities. 
  1. WONDERSTONE WASH LOOP - a one way hike can be done up Travertine Palms Wash then over into Wonderstone. 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. Then take the highway to 86th Ave and go west on good dirt to a gate. There is a large pullout just before the gate. Walk south a few feet to a main wash. That works for a fifth mile then I had to get on the left bank and head for N33 24977, W116 05112. I walked along a wash then in it and on to a trail at 24275, 05701 that goes thru the palms then up the right bank into a saddle on the rim of another wash. I got on the left bank of a wash at 23973, 06032 and went up it a tenth mile and stepped up to a higher level and kept walking the edge of the wash to the end at the 940 line. I went straight down a slope to the wash then up thru a narrows and picked up the trail on the left at 22759, 06994 el 1080. It goes up on top of a bench then on up canyon and fades where the bench ends and a ridge starts. But the route most likely continues up the ridge which I went up almost to el 1800 then leveled off to the right to get on the divide. I had a trail again that skirts bumps and along the north side of peak 2052 and then at 21528, 08011 el 2000 it goes into a saddle. I leveled off there but should have gone higher because I didn't find the trail again until 21477, 08225 el 2100 and lost it again but found it at 21376, 08402 el 2200. Now I had to cross a wash to get on a ridge to the rim of Wonderstone. I got to the rim at 21051, 08217 el 1900 and saw no way down so I walked the rim on a trail for a third mile and saw a way down then walked the wash past peak 649 and got up on the rim at the 460 line. I walked pavement to 21351, 04225 and stayed on the high ground but vehicle damage would make me scout another route next time. I followed the high ground to the flats then on to my cycle. 8 and a half hours, nearly 15 miles with about 1000 gain that requires any effort.  It would take 9 hours with just cars for the shuttle. I put a track on peakbagger under Abe BM. Just going to the palms and back would be a 3 hour hike. I saw no hiker tracks there. Posted 2025
  2. HOT BENCHMARK LOOP -  Take highway 86 to mp 60 and turn east on Treadwell road to get under the highway to a power road as shown on the topo. That goes less than a mile to Big Wash then drive up that to the trail at N33 19336, W116 01558. That soon comes to a fork where I stayed left to a gully where the trail tops out at 19649, 01759.  Then on to 19455, 05324 and then 19996, 01867. In another 200 feet the trail forks. I went left past a cleared circle then to 20111, 01993 and in another half mile left the trail and went left at 20359, 02418. I followed the high ground to 19932, 03202 where I crossed a deep wash then on toward Hot BM. I hit the rim just past the BM and came back to it then followed a trail down the rim and into Big Wash and back to the start. 3 and a half hours, 7 miles with hardly any strenuous gain. I put a track on peakbagger under the BM. All roads are easy 4wd. Posted 2025
  3. BIG WASH TRAIL - this one runs along the rim thru Cool BM and Hot BM.  I went up Arroyo Salada over into Big Wash then down to highway 86. Take highway 86 to an exit at mp 61.1.  Parking there should work but who knows if vandals come along, so I went south on the frontage road for a fifth mile to Gravel Wash at BM -87 . Cycles can go a fifth mile up that. I left my cycle there then drove 15 miles  to mp 35.5 on S22 and strolled up Arroyon Salada to the saddle el 2000 at the end. Then it's best to walk the left rim down the other side to Big Wash then down to the 1180 line then exit left up to the bank. Walk the bank to the trail at N33 19116, W116 06173  then on past Cool BM then comes a dangerous gap. The sissy route is to go left on a trail at 19468, 05413 and down a point to the wash. Walk that to the first right bend then back up to the rim and on past Hot BM then take a left on a faint trail at 19566, 03662 and walk a bench to 19652, 02923 then left down a  gully to the wash. Walk that then exit at 19930, 01593 to get to the highway.  This hike takes nearly 6 hours, nearly 12 miles. Noticeable gain is about 400. If using an ebike for the shuttle there is a paved shoulder except on S22 from 86 to the park entrance. Sunrise Drive is a shortcut in town. I put a track on peakbagger under Cool BM. I found out later that I could have left the lower vehicle at the parking spot for the Slip BM loop. Posted 2025.
  4. BIG WASH SOUTH RIM - for this one I walked up canyon then back on a trail on the south rim. Take highway 86 to mp 60 and turn east on Treadwell road to get under the highway to a power road as shown on the topo. That goes less than a mile to Big Wash then drive 2 miles up that to a main fork. Vehicles go left but park there and walk the right fork. It had zero tracks. Soon there is no main wash so I just guessed at the channels and they took me to the north bank where the blue line is on the topo. For variety I went up an island at N33 19239, W116 04410. That ends in a third mile then I should have gone left to a main wash but instead I went to the north bank where rocks forced me back to the wash. The trail is on up on the south bank at 18929, 05125. It goes 300 feet down a gully then right to 18894, 04967 where it's more obvious. It goes to 18895, 04645 then down a point to the flats. Then either stay low back or use a trail on the left rim. I did that by going up a gully at 19030, 03951 to get on top then walking down to the point then down to the right to get to the wash and back. 3 hours or less, easy. All roads are easy 4wd. Posted 2025.
  5. SLIP BENCHMARK LOOP - this one combines two trails and might be the best. Take highway 86 to an exit at mp 61.1 then go north on the frontage road for a third mile to a main wash then up that to the power road on the topo and that's the park boundary. Walk up the wash a half mile then to a trail at N33 19985, W116 01722. It goes on to a fork and to 20112, 01994 then 20550, 03036 and on to 20532, 03284. I lost it near tire tracks but it goes right of the tracks at 20559, 03191 and  I was on it again at 20572, 03407 then it drops to a wash at 20592, 03550. It goes up the wash over a mile and past Low BM then exits at 20731, 04711 and goes over to the rim of Wonderstone Wash. Stay on the high ground over Slip then on to 20427, 06457 where you cross a gully and a trail is on the other side up on the rim. It goes to 20288, 06194 then on to a point. A gully on the left at 19729, 05275 is the way down to a main wash. Go down that and a trail is on the right rim at 19883, 04074. Stay in the wash until a third mile away then go up a point to the trail. It goes on to a rim at 19939, 03489 and left of a hill then to a rock ring at 19860, 02014. It then drops to the wash that leads back to the start. 6 hours, 12 miles and 300 noticeable gain. I put a track on peakbagger under Slip and Low benchmarks. Next time I'll stay in the canyon south of Slip to connect the trails for a shorter hike and something different. Posted 2025
  6. PYRAMID PEAK el 3480 has an Indian trail to the west saddle el 3150. I went over the summit then down the east ridge. Take highway 86 to an exit at mp 61.1 then go north on the frontage road for a third mile to a main wash then up that to the power road on the topo and leave a 4wd there. Then drive to mp 32.55 on S22 where you should be reading N33 17886, W116 11213 el 900. Any farther west means more rocks. 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. 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 it's easy up to the summit then down the east ridge. Be careful not to disturb a rock ring at el 3250. Another possible one is at el 2950. I went on down and over a bump to a saddle at 20211, 08383 el 2700 and it has a ring. I could see a saddle el 2350 down to my left and it has a good ring. I walked east from there down the left bank then cut to the right bank at 20302, 07971 el 2000 then soon I could see a slope to get me up to a saddle on the left rim. I went thru it then down the left bank to a deep wash and got on the left bank of that. When it ended I cut over to the right bank and then was on a huge bench. I drifted over to the right edge and on down past the southern leg of the Slip trail. That would be the best way back but I wanted to check out the bench ahead. I went to to the south of peak 711 reading 20359, 04622 then soon crossed a wash and walked the base of a slope. When that ended I moved far right to stay on the bench then to the northern leg of the Slip trail at 20563, 03321. I took that across a wash to 20474, 02797 then for the last mile headed straight for my cycle. That took 8 hours, 10 minutes and nearly 14 miles with 2500 noticeable gain. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2025
  7. TRUCKHAVEN TRAIL connects Arroyo Salada Campground to the Calcite Mine road. Leave a bike at the campground at mp 34.9  then drive to mp 38.3 and turn right on a decent dirt road. Drive 3/4 mile to a deep wash and park. The trail drops down to the left but it's better to walk the road down then up the trail at N33 16533, W116 06523. It goes over a bench then back down and up into a side canyon where it goes up left at the mouth. It tops out on a bench then circles to the right to 16429, 06991 then on thru a saddle at 16348, 07351 and then enters Arroyo Salada Wash. Some people went up the wash but the hardy went up on the far bank and walked trailless terrain to 16338, 07993 and dropped into a wash and up to the trail at 16305, 08064. It goes over peak 960 to the campground then there is a paved shoulder to ride a bike back to the start. 100 minutes, 3 miles with 300 noticeable gain for the hike part. I put a track on peakagger under peak 960. Posted 2025
  8. 17 PALMS LOOP - a spotty trail connects peak 960 to the palms. I parked at Arroyo Salada Campground and went over the peak on the trail to a wash where it faded. I crossed the wash then on to a gully at N33 16368, W116 07911 then to 16281, 07476 where the trail starts showing up but spotty. I went on to 16104, 07241 then at 15851, 06994 I had a good trail that bends right into a wash and on to the palms. I returned in the main wash with the blue line on the topo. Just upstream from the 500 line is a main fork. I went left there then over the rim at 16009, 08408 and followed washes back using the sat image as I had cell coverage. Nearly 3 hours and 200 noticeable gain. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 960. Posted 2025.
  9. ROCKS BENCHMARK TRAIL - this one is in the NE corner of the park accessed from 86th Ave. It runs on a bench south of Rocks BM. 86th Ave is gated where Lincoln St goes north. I rode my bike west past the gate for a half mile to the end of the road. Then I walked to a wash at N33 25548, W116 05413. I went .17 mile up that then took a left turn on to a wash at 25349. 05734 and then another at 25067, 06088. I went on until I was half a mile from the trail which is at 24483, 06482 and then I left the wash and went direct to the trail. I followed it past a rock pile made by the Indians. It goes up on the bench at 24467, 06580. Rock piles line the trail and then end in a third mile but not because they ran out of rocks. I went on to a fork at 23954, 07710 at the 1040 line where I began a loop. I stayed left up the bench to 23600, 08251 then to a faint trail at 23378, 08829. It took me lower then I walked thru a low spot in the next rim to 23342, 09054 where I could drop to the smooth wash. I went down and came to palm saplings and then a bigger palm and then at 23951, 08088 I climbed up the bank. Then I crossed a gully to the trail at 23932, 07976 and it took me to the fork. Retracing back out is best. I tried following the trail back out more to the east and it dumped me into the rockiest wash on earth. 6 hours and a whole bunch of miles. I gained nearly 2000 but all easy grades. A shorter hike would be to go right at the trail fork and into the wash and up to the larger palm. I didn't get a waypoint but looks on the sat image to be at 23653, 08561. How many people ever see that? Posted 2025