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. Just stay on the low ground as the topo shows. 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 ( a smooth strip along the way at 51160, 34383 makes it easy ) 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. In Feb 2026 the upper part of Mission Wash was thick with flowers due to a wet November. Posted 2022, 2026.

⦁ 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 starting with a trail at 57505,35462. 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. It's smoothest to go down the drainage between the ridges thanks to a lot of bedrock. Then I walked up a wash to 56654, 34280 where a burro trail goes over a ridge. 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 it goes to the right bank and turns right up a fork at 56259, 37147.  I could soon 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. I put a track on peakbagger in 2026. 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. In 2026 I looped back a different way. I dropped off the summit to a saddle at 56836, 36705 then left into a basin. Then over a low saddle into the long canyon west of peak 1071 and up a fork at 56144, 36156. Then left thru a saddle at 56417, 36765 and west thru the saddle south of peak 1235 then north up canyon thru the west saddle of peak 1235 and back. 3 and a half hours and 6 miles.

⦁ 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.

 

Mission Wash in February 2026

Antelope Range, Utah

The west side road has quite a history.

 

⦁ The graded Desert Mound Rd runs along the south side and has camp spots with a good cell signal.

⦁ ANTELOPE RANGE HIGH POINT el 7440+ has a rubbly jeep road up from the Desert Mound Rd just north of Joel Spring like the topo shows. It's 4 miles to the end then a tenth mile of walking to the summit. The only issue I saw for jeeps is a narrow spot at el 7100 where a rut might be too deep. But it's a short hike from there. Another option is to do the Silver Peak hike then keep going up the west fork of Silver Canyon and get two peaks for one. Posted 2021.

⦁ SILVER PEAK el 7273 has a logging trail up Silver Canyon making it easy to get to the NE ridge. Take highway 56 to the Desert Mound Rd then go west another tenth mile to a 4wd road. It's ebikeable to the end el 6480. Just follow the logging trail up canyon to the first main fork and make a U-turn up the rim. I was reading N37 40950, W113 27038 el 6600 there. 80 minutes, 800 gain, all easy. Good pj forest, rocky soil, no brush. Posted 2021.

⦁ CHLORIDE PEAK el 7079 is what I call the one on the north rim of Chloride Canyon. The topo shows a road out of the canyon nearly to the rim, but the last part is overgrowing. The west side road was recently graded as far as the turnoff to the canyon at N37 45216, W113 29708 but there is some sand . 4wds could still drive up canyon to the fork where the left one goes up toward the rim. I got my 125 to the first switchback el 6200 but could have gone to the second one. No vehicle goes beyond there. At the third switchback I stayed left to a faint horse trail at 44872, 27477 and followed it up to the left to the rim then strolled to the summit cairn at 45151, 27526. That took 2 hours with 900 gain. Nice forest. I wouldn't take a car on any road here but I would take an ebike. Posted 2021.

⦁ ANTELOPE PEAK el 6557 has a 4wd road to the east base el 5800. The graded Antelope Rd runs along the north side of the range. The 4wd road goes south from it at el 5349 and up a wash like the topo shows. At N37 45793, W113 24350 it goes up on the right bank then soon a fork goes toward the peak. I hiked up to a gully at 45641, 25446 el 6300 to get on the north ridge which has a faint trail to the no name BM on the summit. 1 hour, 750 gain. This area is a nice pj forest with no cattle or horses to stink it up.  I was camped on the Desert Mound Rd and so I rode north on my 125 from el 5944 and soon hit a private gate. I inferred it was OK to pass because there was no lock and not even a fence when I crossed back to BLM land. I went by Hidden Spring, which hasn't had water since God was a baby. After the peak I went on to the Antelope Rd and circled back on the county road along the west base, which was only partially graded. These are good cycle roads since rocks are rare. Posted 2021.

⦁ RED HILLS HIGH POINT el 6800+ has a 4wd road up the NW canyon. Take the Desert Mound Rd to N37 40835, W113 24648 and drive up canyon nearly 2 miles to the end at the west saddle el 6640 of peak 6797. It's mtn bikeable. Walk under peak 6797 to the north ridge at 39479, 18677 el 6720 then it's nearly a fifth mile on to the summit. Half an hour, nearly 200 gain, nice forest. This is mainly an excuse to a take a bike ride. Posted 2021.

⦁ SWETT HILLS HIGHPOINT el 7028 - the BLM "restored" this area by cutting down the trees. It's an unwalkable mess. The NW ridge still has a forest. The graded Comstock Rd runs along the west side. It crosses RR tracks and there a road runs north along the east side of the tracks. In a third mile it leaves the tracks and bends toward the peak. Stay on the road heading to the NW ridge. It ends at a quarry next to point 6002. I went up to an easy crack at N37 39479, W113 18677 then on up and stayed left of the cut area to the summit at 39352, 18224. 90 minutes, 1100 gain. The road in has a sandy crossing but is mtn bikeable. A good cell signal here makes it easy to see the roads on the sat image. Posted 2021.

⦁ HIGH BENCHMARK el 6685 is the high point of the Eight Mile Hills. I made a loop on the high ridge. The paved Desert Mound Rd runs along the north side. I parked along there and walked to a canyon at N37 42144, W113 14357 el 6100. I followed a bad road up that to a saddle then took an easy angle up to the south peak at 41649, 14341 el 6600+. Then I walked north half a mile to the BM dated 1948. I circled to survey junk on peak 6528 at 41992,13554 then dropped north back to the road. 2 hours, less than 1000 gain, all easy. Nice pj forest but rocky soil. SWETT PEAK el 6725 is nearby. A 4wd road departs from the Desert Mound Rd at 42249, 14797. That goes north a third mile to a road forking left. That road soon tops out el 6150 and it's a good place to start the climb to the west saddle then up to the summit at 42759, 15023. 1 hour, 500 gain. The east saddle is not an option because it has a new cabin. Posted 2021.

North Sevier Plateau, Utah

 ⦁ CREST ROAD - the Saul Meadow Rd runs east out of Annabella and goes to the crest then the crest road runs south to highway 62 just east of Kingston. Several major roads drop off the crest. The one down to Monroe was good enough for a car. Another goes down Pole Canyon and one down Dry Creek but it wasn't dry. It had a little stream and no sign of cattle even at the mouth. These roads are maintained but get bumpy due to embedded rocks. If 4wd is ever needed it would be easy. There's a cell signal most of the time. A Verizon tower may be on Monroe Peak. Posted 2021.

⦁ SIGNAL PEAK el 11226 - the trail is about 20 miles out of Annabella along the crest road at N38 37591, W111 59094 el 10150. A stream and room to camp is there and no cattle. The trail generally follows the topo and bends right onto the bald summit plateau and fades then there is a minor trail at N38 37470, W112 00804 that helps for the last tenth mile. 3 hours, 1200 gain. Posted 2021

⦁ MONROE PEAK el 11227 - a main road forks off the crest road and goes down Monroe Canyon to Monroe town. Before it drops off the rim there is a decent road going 3 miles to towers on the peak. The topo shows these roads. I could have drove a car up from Monroe. Posted 2021.

⦁ MARYSVALE NORTH SUMMIT el 10900+ is what I call the one next to Marysvale Peak. The crest road runs south past Manning Meadow Reservoir. Shady camps and a restroom are at the south end. A mile beyond that is FR156 forking right. In a third mile it turns into a smooth OHV trail and I went on another 2 miles to a clearing at N38 28841, 112 05819 el 10400. I walked to the end of that then went left thru trees to an elk trail at 28860, 05952 el 10550 then up to 28918, 06062 then another tenth mile to  the reg el 10900+, placed a year earlier. Short hike. Ebikes should work on the OHV trail. Posted 2021.

⦁ BEAN HILL, BIG TABLE - turn off the crest road at N38 2593, W112 02955 el 9200. The road soon turns into a decent ATV trail and ebikeable. Proceed to a fork at 24755, 04139 el 9700 and go left to a fence. To stay out of a burn area, I walked level around the right side of the peak to 24609, 03689 then on to a bald slope then up to the reg el 10055. Short hike, some light brush. I kept going on the ATV trail and stayed left at forks and it took me around Big Table then up to el 10050 where I had a short stroll to the reg at 24055, 04589 el 10086. Bad views but the ride up has good views. Posted 2021.

⦁ LANGDON MOUNTAIN el 10323 - turn off the crest road onto FR82 at N38 23225, W112 01798. Stay left at a fork to the end at a fence el 10000. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable. Walk along the right side of the fence to the reg and witness BM at 23467, 01175. Short hike. Posted 2021.

⦁ MALMSTEN PEAK el 9793 is at the south end of the range on Forshea Mountain.  The topo shows a road running south from the crest road along the east side of the peak. It's easy 4wd but closed at el 9500. I walked from there and soon went right on a  fork and when that bent left I walked a clearing to another clearing at N38 15186, W112 05152 then the BM is at 15235, 05212.  Short hike. I had 2 bars of Verizon there. Posted 2021.

⦁ PEAK 8582 is on  the west side of Forshea Mtn. The topo shows a road from the crest road running south of a dry lake for a bit over a mile to a fence el 7700. It's easy 4wd. A trail goes along the left side of the fence making it easy to get to the SE saddle el 8100 then up the ridge. I took a direct route down to the east and walked back on the road. Driving around to the NE side would be 200 feet higher but it's a crappy road. 2 hours, nearly 1000 gain, some light brush. I didn't see anything blocking a side trip to peak 8382. Cattle were thick here once but long gone now. Posted 2021.

⦁ PEAK 7381 is along the crest road half a mile north of highway 62. The whole route up the north ridge comes into view upon approaching it on the crest road. Posted 2021.

⦁ STEENS CANYON is at the south end of the range. I went up canyon and back on the west rim. It's the best hike I found in the range. I parked on highway 62 at mp 7.9 where two canyons come in from the north. The left one is Steens. I strolled up the creekbed past Dripping Spring, which had a drip, then checked out Blind Spring but found nothing there. I went on up to Blood Mine Spring at N38 13886, W112 05420 el 7700 and found a tiny flow. I made a U-turn there and took an east angle up to the west rim and hit an ATV trail next to peak 8257 at 13914, 05953. I walked it over that peak then left it and went down the rim to 13510, 06289 el 8000. I then came to a minor hill and went right of center over it then came to peak 7905 and went right of center over that then made a hard left to stay on the rim. I went down to a point at 11954, 06472 el 7400 where a path led down thru a cliff then had easy slopes down to 11725, 06023 where a decent route gets down to the creekbed. That took 5 hours, 11 minutes with around 2000 gain but it's all easy, especially the 1300 up the creekbed. No cattle and nearly zero brush. Good pj forest. PHONOLITE PEAK el 7915 is at the mouth of the canyon. A road goes up along the east side to get close to the north saddle but it's washed out. Maybe it gets fixed. Posted 2021.

⦁ MONROE CREEK TRAILS - these trails show on the topo and may all still exist because I saw new signs at trail junctions. I hiked up the Shingle Creek trail and down the Second Lefthand Fork trail. Main St in Monroe bends into Monroe Creek and goes thru a narrows where FR162 goes left up the First Lefthand Fork. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable to the end at a TH el 7600. The Shingle Creek TH is along the way at el 7000. I walked it to Washburn Reservoir el 9200 then across the dam and on to a fork at point 9738 that isn't on the topo. The right fork is a shortcut to the Second Lefthand Fork trail. I took that and it got fuzzy as I came to that trail. The correct trail goes down slope at N38 35449, W112 01532 el 9400. I walked it down to Monrovian Park. That took 5 hours with 2700 gain. I didn't have a shuttle so I had another hour of road walking back. I did this in shorts but was rubbing against scrub oak on the descent. These trails can get rocky. Shingle Creek was the only good water and easily jumpable. MONROE CREEK TRAIL - this one follows the creek from Monrovian Park for a mile and half. There are 2 DIY bridges then a third crossing with no bridge where the stream forks. I jumped that then hit brush right away and turned back. I spent 80 minutes. It's a nice gorge. An old topo shows this trail went on up creek and was the original Third Lefthand Fork trail. But the new topo shows it had to be detoured over an 800 foot high ridge. Forget that one. Posted 2021.

Pahvant Range, Utah

Beehive Peak is reportedly risky class 4.

The ATV trail on the north rim of Willow Creek Canyon

 

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• The main attraction in this range is the long canyons that drain toward Richfield. The rims and creekbeds are easy to walk. Some have century old logging roads. Posted 2021.
• CREST ROAD- a 4wd vehicle could easily run the crest from Willow Creek to Richfield as of August 2021. Take US 50 north from Salina for 8 miles to a big green sign at mp 151 where an improved road goes 3 and a half miles then the remaining mile to the mouth starts getting tricky for cars. Another good road starts at mp 149 and merges in. Some sunny camps are at the mouth but some shady ones start a mile up canyon. The stream was tiny in August but Pharo Canyon had a much better one for filtering. A high clearance road runs along the base for a mile to a trail at N39 59990, W112 04668 el 6750 that accesses that stream. The road up Willow Creek is wide high clearance for 6 miles to FR96 running along the crest. It goes north a dozen miles to a dead end at the Scipio Pass TH. Coffee Peak el 10005 is an easy hike along there but not a good view. Going south on FR96 it's a dozen miles or so to the road down to Richfield. These roads are ebikeable but bumpy. It's 33 miles from the mouth of Willow Creek to Richfied with no side trips. The last 10 miles smooths out but has some short sections of loose little rocks. I didn't see any good water along the road in late August. Cell phones work on the crest. White Pine Peak el 10215 must have a Verizon tower because I was getting 5 bars around there. Posted 2021.
• FILLMORE LOOP - an easy 4wd loop of just over 40 miles can be done out of Fillmore with some spectacular views into deep canyons. The Sandrock Ridge Rd goes from town to FR96 on the crest in about a dozen miles. It's steep but in good shape. FR96 goes north for 10 miles to  FR100 and that goes 20 miles back to town. That road bottoms out at the shady Pistol Rock picnic area along Chalk Creek. That was the only water I saw in late August 2021.
• PHARO CANYON has a shady trail to el 8000+. A high clearance road runs north for a mile from the mouth of Willow Creek to the mouth of Pharo el 6800. The trail stays on the left bank to a meadow with a good stream at N39 59487, W112 05598 el 7300. At 59490, 06388 el 7650 there is a short trail dropping to the stream. No point going beyond there as the  trail fades at el 8100. 1 to 2 hours, easy. No recent cattle. Posted 2021.
• RED CANYON has a nice little stream and falls near the mouth. Take US 50 north from Salina for 8 miles to a big green sign for Willow Creek at mp 151. Go west on a good graded road for 1.8 miles then go south on road #394. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable. Follow it for 4 and a half miles then go right on a short road to the mouth el 6900. A trail goes up canyon bank to bank but it's frequently easier using the creekbed. The stream shrinks to nothing but it's still a pleasant walk to N38 56789, W112 04405 el 7800 where cattle are stinking it up. But they can't come down canyon. 2 hours, 900 gain, easy. This would have more water in May. Posted August, 2021.
• PEAK 8080 is 2 and a half miles SE of Beehike Peak on the same ridge. A decent ATV trail goes to el 7650. I rode my 125 north along power lines on the west side of I-70 and merged with a good road that took me to Mud Spring. I went left there on trail #436 and followed the topo up to ponderosa pines then had a short hike to the summit. That's the only peak on that jagged ridge that I could see a way up. Posted 2021.
• NORTH CEDAR RIDGE CANYON is one of the long ones on the east side. I went up it and made a loop by taking the Trough Canyon fork then crossing back at the saddle on Nightgown Ridge between the two peaks el 8005. It's easy walking on the main canyon floors. Take highway 24 to mp 23.5 and turn on a paved road and go over I-70. Turn right on the first graded road going north. Cars make it 1.3 miles then it's high clearance for a half mile then the last quarter mile is an ATV trail on the far right bank. Stroll up canyon about a mile to the first cottonwood. 200 feet past that is a big log on the right bank where a trail helps out. It goes back into the creekbed then in another 250 feet a trail resumes on the right bank again. When that fizzles it's best to stay in the creekbed to a trail on the left bank at N38 53620, W112 02812 el 6400. It will cross to the right bank then back in the creekbed and in another quarter mile is where Trough Canyon comes in on the left at el 6500. I went up that then took a side canyon at 53990, 04692 el 7300. I went 400 feet up that then climbed up the right slope to get on the rim and walked into the saddle el 7650 between the two peaks 8005. I dropped down to a gully at 54152, 04429 el 7600 to get in the main drainage and went down it. Several minor drops got in the way. I bypassed all on the right until the last one just a few feet before North Cedar Ridge Canyon where I went left. A small stream was running and easy to step over and I just strolled on back out sometimes using more logger trails and one on the left bank that I came to pretty soon runs a long way. The stream disappeared at el 6800. That took 6 hours on the only strenuous gain is the 400 to climb over the rim. No brush and Trough has a good pine forest. Loggers were in there decades ago but I don't see how they got the logs out. If I'm backpacking, I would set up base camp along the stream and see if I could get up canyon and find an easy way into Trough and loop back. Posted 2021.
• SOUTH CEDAR RIDGE CANYON has a trail but half of it is just a rocky creekbed. A great one way hike can be done using the ATV trail on the north rim of Willow Creek Canyon then a foot trail drops in. Drive north out of Richfield on highway 118 to Farm Rd. Take that paved road to I-70 then over on a good dirt road that bends left to the mouth of the canyon. Leave a car or ebike there then go back over I-70 then right on Substation Rd and go 1.1 miles to a fork. Go right then left at the next fork and on another .8 to 1605 North. Take that road under I-70 then another .8 mile to a corral at a fork, but that's not the turn. Drive on another 50 feet then go right on easy 4wd for a fifth mile to a fork el 5700 where #622 goes right. Walk it to the peak at N38 51221, W112 06447 el 8000+. A foot trail does go west over the peak like the topo shows but doesn't drop down until 51183, 06921 el 7800. It switches down and gets hard to see. It switches left at 51272, 07007 and is easy to see the rest of the way down. The creek was dry there but started flowing at el 6850 and ran almost to the mouth. Strawberry Canyon was dry and just after that there is a tricky area but the trail is high on the left bank. 6 hours, 2300 gain up the ATV trail. I zigzagged along that trail in a nice forest and it was super easy. Backpackers could go up canyon and set up at the mouth of Strawberry and see if they can get up that fork then come down Newts Canyon. It seems to have a trail. Cars can do the 8 mile shuttle. Posted 2021.
• SOUTH CEDAR RIDGE CANYON SOUTH RIM - loggers worked the rim maybe a century ago and two of their roads can be used to connect a loop but they're bad ATV trails now. Trail #622 goes up the north rim of Willow Creek Canyon to el 8000 and the other goes to peak 7780. Drive north out of Richfield on highway 118 to mp 17.4 and turn on 2330 East. The underpass will come into view so drive under I-70 then another .8 mile to a corral at a fork, but that's not the turn. Drive on another 50 feet then go right on easy 4wd for a fifth mile to a fork el 5700 where #622 goes right. Walk it to the peak at N38 51221, W112 06447 el 8000+.  To walk the rim east, use a topo on a phone to walk it to peak 7789. Loggers worked the whole route. A pail hangs from a branch at 51347, 04548 then initials carved in a dead tree in the second to the last saddle before peak 7780. On the peak is a 10 foot wide fire pit at 51223, 03485. An ATV trail leads down from there to the road shown on the topo but that's just more bad ATV trail now. It goes down to the flats then it's a bit over a mile along the base back to the start. 6 hours with 2400 gain to the peak on the rim but not steep. The rim is gently rolling and easy to walk. No brush anywhere. Posted 2021.
• WILLOW CREEK CANYON has a trail and intermittent stream. I made a loop up the south rim over Table Mountain el 7351 then down into the canyon and back. Drive north out of Richfield on highway 24 to mp 17.4 and turn on 2330E. The underpass will come into view so drive under I-70 then another .7  mile to a gravel pit. A car could make it. I walked the flats to ATV trail #452 at N38 48746, W112 04161 el 5600. It goes up to a tricky fork at el 6600. I stayed right and the trail ends at the NE ridge el 7000. I went up a little and found a faint trail to get me around to a better ridge pointing north then up that to the summit. I dropped off at 49448, 06195 el 7300 and walked to the rim of the canyon then west down a ridge at 49671, 06806 el 6900. I went down to 49660, 06878 then below that I came to a minor cliff. I went left around that then down thru the last cliff band at 49674,07053 el 6300. A tiny stream was flowing and I just walked on out using the old trail on the low banks and sometimes the rocky creekbed. 5 hours, nearly 2000 gain. Nice forest, no brush and no recent cattle. I posted a track on peakbagger.com. Posted September, 2021.
• COTTONWOOD CANYON has one of the better streams. Take Main St out of Richfield and under I-70 to a gravel road. Go left half a mile then the road bends right into the canyon and becomes high clearance. It ends at washouts in half a mile el 5600. Stroll on up a good narrows to a main fork el 6200 where the left fork is dry and the last chance to get on the south rim for a loop back. I stayed along the stream in the right fork to el 6600 barely avoiding wading and almost needing long pants. There are potholes in bedrock along there.  The south rim is nearly vertical so I found a complex route up the north rim and walked back on an ATV trail. But I saw a better route so next time I'll reverse this loop now that I know the canyon is easy. The next canyon north of the underpass has a trail. It goes bank to bank and at N38 48159, W112 05168 it goes up the right bank to skirt a big fall. It comes back and crosses to the left bank to pass another fall. At 48543, 05790 it goes up the right bank to pass a fall then soon meets the ATV trail el 6350 shown on the topo. That trail splits and there is an option to walk half a mile to an overlook. At el 7250 is when to veer left off the trail and cross a drainage at 48186, 09681 el 7250 then on to the rim at 48013, 09673 el 7200 where I would have a better than 90 percent chance of making it straight down a wide drainage. I would take long pants, wading shoes and have an ebike to save a mile and half of walking along the base. I think I could do it in 6 hours with nearly 2000 gain. Just walking up canyon where potholes start at 47875, 08695 el 6400 then retracing back would be the easy option to suit most hikers. Posted 2021.
• MOUNT CATHERINE el 10020 has a trail to el 9600 but the one on the topo is way off. Take crest road FR96 to FR397 and drive on easy for a mile and a half to the end where there are camps under aspen at the TH el 9650. The trail runs along the south side of Pioneer Peak then down to a fork at N38 59134, W112 10840 el 9500. Go right and the trail goes straight to the saddle between the peaks. Don't get tricked by elk trails dropping lower. The trail goes up the east ridge of Catherine and fades at el 9600 left of center. Move to center and follow open ground to the south side of the summit at 59578, 11734 el 9950 then go up to the survey junk on the top. It's easy to detour up the bald SW ridge to Pioneer on the return. 3 or 4 hours to do both peaks with around 2000 gain. I did Catherine in shorts. Posted 2021.
• MINE CAMP PEAK el 10222 has several ways to drive in but the road out of Fillmore is the best. It's so steep that 4wd will be needed. It crosses a cattleguard el 9900 next to the peak. A hiker trail starts on the west side of the cattleguard and crosses a saddle the up the SE ridge. Short hike. WHITE PINE PEAK el 10215 is nearby and the topo shows the road up that. Posted 2021.
• SUNSET PEAK el 10088 has a rubbly jeep road up it. I didn't even make it on my cycle. Posted 2021.
• JOSEPH PEAK el 9325 is on private land in the southern part of the range. A road to the top has a locked gate at el 9000, but it didn't have a sign against walking so that's what I did. A good hard packed road goes up from the  I-70 exit at Joseph for nearly 10 miles to a fork at N38 40419, W112 18610. The gate is in view shortly up the right fork. Another option is to park on the east side and use the cell signal there to navigate brush. Hunting is allowed so the owner might not get bent too far out of shape over hikers.  I followed the main road north down to Elsinore. This is a good cycle ride with about 25 miles of dirt total. Posted 2021.

Valley Mountains, Utah

Firefighters must have made that at Basin Peak.

This is the reason the road to Stevens BM is in such good shape. But those days are gone.

Aborted benchmark on MW Peak

Register on Basin Peak el 8025

 

 

⦁ Hayes Canyon has a good road that accesses the northern peaks. Take highway 28 north from Gunnison for about 4 miles and turn at a sign for Fayette. Go a few feet on a paved road then left and follow the main dirt road. There are some private roads in the range but I didn't have to deal with any except at Stevens BM. It's easy to spot the public roads. They're the ones lined with beer cans. Posted 2021.

⦁ BALD KNOLL el 6682 is at the south end of the range. It seems the only named summits are a few minor knolls. Take the Redmond Lake Rd out of Redmond to a canal on the edge of public land where 3 crude roads go west. Take the far right one on the high ground for 3 miles to Bald Knoll. The road is good high clearance and ebikeable. The wuss route is to walk a shady drainage along the west base to a saddle then up. Nice hike but short. SALINA BM is nearby. Drive on up the road to a divide el 6450 then go left on an ATV trail to the summit. PEAK 7335 has an ATV trail to the summit. Drive back toward town to some metal tanks near point 5969 then go north. At el 6600 it will merge with the jeep road shown on the topo which is how I rode up. At el 6800 it got too rocky so I chickened out but 4 wheelers can make it. Posted 2021.

⦁ MW PEAK el 8319 is what I call the one just south of Stevens BM. It's the best hike in the range. A secret road then ATV trail goes up to the south rim of May Hollow. Take a topo app like peakbagger or similar. Take the Redmond Lake Rd out of Redmond to a canal on the edge of public land where 3 crude roads go west. Take the far right one on the high ground past Bald Knoll then over a divide el 6450. The road is good high clearance and ebikeable to there. Go right just past the divide on easy 4wd to el 6750 where an ATV trail goes on up to the rim el 7100. I walked up the rim and stayed right around the first bump to a saddle then walked level into May Hollow then up to a right fork that took me to the saddle west of peak 7685. Then it's an easy ridge walk to the summit at N39 03249, W111 59965. A no name witness BM there implies that the surveyors aborted this peak in favor of Stevens. MW 20 inscribed on a rock might be a logger a century earlier. I followed the ridge back down using the topo on my phone. 4 hours and nearly 2000 gain but hardly any is steep. This pj forest is as good as it gets. I can do the whole loop in shorts. I could have gone on to Stevens then down the east ridge to an ebike stashed there. Posted 2021.

⦁ STEVENS BENCHMARK el 8436 is the high point of the range. The easiest route is out of Redmond Canyon on a logging road to the west ridge el 8000. Go north from Redmond on highway 256 to 1100 North aka Sheep Lane. Go west to the end of pavement then go north along a fence for 50 feet then go left to power lines. Go north for .9 mile to pole #112 then go left into the canyon and on to a locked gate el 7150. There was no sign or tire tracks so I walked on up the main road to el 8000 on the west ridge. I went up the center of the ridge and over the west summit then to the reg at N39 03615, W111 59855. I went down the east ridge then dropped north at 03596, 59306 and down to 03715, 59251 then straight down to the road and back to the start. 2 hours, 10 minutes, 1400 gain. I wore shorts to the top and could have made it down in them. If the absentee landowner decides to start using the property, then the east ridge would be the best route. Posted 2021.

⦁ STEEP PEAK el 7354 is what I call the one at the head of Steep Canyon. The SW ridge looks to be the easiest. Drive north from the Cedar Pass road on the Japanese Valley road to a faint road at N39 10321, W111 58849. Go east on that to a fence in a fifth mile. I stepped over then went left into a canyon and soon came to a main fork. I went up between the forks and stayed along the right one. When that got too tilted, I moved to the right bank and walked cow trails to a road at 10209, 58231 el 6400. I walked on it to a T then left onto the SW ridge then zigzagged up to 10522, 57310 el 7150 where I turned toward the peak. The high point is at 10754, 57195. 3 hours, 1200 gain, good pj forest. Posted 2021.

⦁ BASIN PEAK el 8025 is what I call the one at the head of Basin Canyon. Elk and fire trails go up the north ridge. I followed the road out of Hayes Canyon then to Chris Hollow and then there's just one road going on to the saddle el 7550 a mile NE of the peak. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable. An elk trail goes level out of the saddle and on to N39 14257, W112 01638 el 7600 then onto the ridge. At the final ridge the trail splinters. A path at 13668, 01748 el 7700 leads to more trails then for the last tenth mile I stayed left of center to the reg at 13512, 01953. It needs a book and pencil.  2 hours with maybe 600 noticeable gain. Some light brush. SEVIER BENCHMARK el 8011 can be done on the drive out. The road makes a hairpin turn just south of it and an OHV trail goes up to the east saddle el 7600. I walked a trail thru scrub and drifted right of center to 16455, 01483 where I turned left on a faint path and on up to 16421, 01534 then at 16410, 01559 I angled back to the right and topped out then on to the summit at 16413, 01622. I only had to deal with light brush. Short hike. Posted 2021.

⦁ FAYE BENCHMARK el 7479 has a good road along the west side out of Hayes Canyon. Any route along there would work but I like the south ridge. It's the unsteepest and has a perfect pj forest and an ancient trail. Follow the road out of Hayes to a faint road at N39 13520, W111 58622. It ends in a fifth mile then just walk to a saddle el 6400 on the south ridge. Go up to el 6900 then skirt left around the only bump on the ridge. I got back on the ridge at 14308, 57843 el 7050 and went up steeper ground to the BM at 14677, 57782. The high point is another 300 feet. Cut trees indicate that the surveyors considered putting the BM there. I thought I was seeing a manmade trail on the ridge but couldn't find any cut wood until 14125, 57885 el 6950 on the descent where an axe was used. The trail descends east at 13788, 58025 el 6600. Maybe it was a horse trail for the whole ridge to Red Canyon. It's hard to see now. Some trees on the ridge have 4 foot trunks. This took 2 and a half hours with 1500 gain. Posted 2021.

⦁ RED CANYON PEAK el 7052 is what I call the twin peak on the north rim of that canyon. A good road runs north out of Hayes Canyon to a cattleguard el 6300 on the SW ridge. I followed the fence up to el 6600 then angled left to the saddle on the main ridge at N39 18353, W111 58147 el 6900. I walked north on the ridge to peak 7052 then south over the southern peak to 18180, 58142 el 7000 where I descended back to the start. 100 minutes, nearly 1000 gain, good pj forest the whole way. The road down Red Canyon goes to a hilly power road along the base. The main road goes on to I-15 but I didn't ride it. A local told me he got his car on thru to I-15 but that was years ago. Posted 2021.