Abajo Mountains Area, Utah

Dark Canyon

Scorup Cabin

Tuerto Canyon

Ancient stove

Indian Benchmark

 ⦁ Blanding and Monticello each have a Family Dollar and supermarket. Blanding has a bigger supermarket but both are closed on Sunday. I didn't have any trouble with brush on the 10000+ peak hikes. Posted 2022.

⦁ ABAJO PEAK el 11360 has a good road all the way from Monticello. It turns to graded dirt at Loyds Lake and goes 11 miles to the summit as FR87. At 2 and a half miles along the way is where camps under the pines start at el 7900 with a Verizon signal. At mile 5.3 el 8750 there is a good spring on the left. Any ebike that can make it up can use OHV trail #52 to cut over to North Creek Pass then coast back to town. That trail starts where the topo shows and goes over peak 10660 where it gets rough. But an easier dirt bike trail skirts around the east side of that peak and and comes back to the OHV trail. SOUTH PEAK el 11122 can be climbed from Dickson Pass el 10452. I went up over peak 10988 on good but steep terrain. The final 300 feet has a game trail switching up it and topping out a few feet west of the reg. I retraced back to the north saddle el 10752 then walked level to the left on a trail then down to N37 48867, W109 27555 and on to the road at 49088, 27803 el 10350. That descent route is rocky soil and OK for downhill travel but I wouldn't care to go up it. That took 103 minutes with nearly 1000 gain. This peak has better views than Abajo. Posted 2022.

⦁ MOUNT LINNAEUS el 10969 can be done as part of a loop including peak 11010 and peak 11014. Take the maintained FR79 to FR354 which is easy 4wd and mtn bikeable. It ends at the Shay Ridge ATV trail el 10300 shown as #27 on the topo. The topo also shows trail #454 starting there but it's a fiction. It's easiest to follow the ATV trail to the south side of peak 11010 and climb that then go south on an ATV trail following a fence. It soon becomes a foot trail and skirts peak 110014 but it's an easy detour to that summit. Then the trail goes over peak 10998 and fades but it's easy to walk the bald ridge down across trail #15 and on up to Linnaeus. Trail #15 can be used for the return. It had a tiny stream crossing it in the next gully west of where the topo shows a spring. It's a 3 hour hike with about 1000 gain, no brush. Only peak 11014 had a reg. Posted 2022.

⦁ HORSEHEAD PEAK 11209 is a twin peak with both summits the same elevation down to the foot. I can't recall another such example. There are three ways up. Going up from North Creek Pass starts the highest but is steepest with talus. A second way is up from FR79 on a grassy slope into the main saddle between the summits. I went a third way up an east ridge. I walked FR5002 to the end then up the ridge thru a pleasant forest. At el 10900 I veered right to N37 51379, W109 28270 and leveled off over a talus field and on to the north summit. Then I went to the south summit and retraced back down. 2 and a half hours, 1500 gain, no brush. This is the best of the summer peaks in the range. Nearly pristine. The pipeline on the topo seems to be a fiction. Posted 2022.

⦁ TWIN PEAK EAST SUMMIT el 11012 has a dirt bike trail up from the north saddle. It's not legal to ride but that doesn't stop anybody. Dirt bike trail #20 starts where the topo shows and goes to the north saddle then it's easy to follow the outlaw trail on up. I walked from the summit directly east down near the treeline but that's too steep. Use the SE ridge. That took 70 minutes with 1000 gain. Posted 2022.

⦁ JACKSON RIDGE el 11164 is an easy climb from the OHV trail that connects North Creek Pass to FR87. The ridge from Cooley Pass has no issues. I started at North Creek Pass and it took me 90 minutes with 1000 gain. Posted 2022.

⦁ SHAY MOUNTAIN el 9989 has a bad ATV trail all the way. A paved road goes to Foy Lake (shown as Spring Lake on the topo) then FR104 is a major dirt road that goes on to FR5082 then to FR5081 and that ends at the Shay Mountain ATV Trail el 8350. I walked it to N37 55525, W109 33369 el 9500 where a closed trail goes on up. 3 hours, 1700 gain. 4wds and ebikes can easily make the 6 miles of dirt road from Foy Lake, but only when dry. The lake has dispersed camping and a restroom.  Posted 2022.

⦁ TUERTO CANYON has a trail that is accurately shown on the topo. Cars can make it to the TH el 8100 on FR95. I walked the trail to a good stream el 7800 in the canyon. There are good camp spots under the pines along there. I came back by way of the trail in Trough Canyon. The only significant strain is the 600 gain back out of Tuerto Canyon. No recent cattle is one of the main attractions but that could change. Dirt bikes might show up on weekends. Posted 2022.

⦁ ATV trail #16 connects FR79 to FR84. I rode my 125 up FR79 then cut over to FR84 on the ATV trail then down to the highway and back to Blanding. I could do this on an ebike but would have to walk some rocky patches on the ATV trail but most are downhill. Posted 2022.

⦁ HAMMOND CANYON has two trails as the topo shows. A loop can be made down Posey Trail #116 and back on #12 and using a bike for a 5 mile shuttle.Trail #116 starts slightly north of where the topo shows and goes down to the stream el 6100 in Hammond Canyon with spectacular views along the way. It crosses to the far bank and is spotty, sometimes just in the creekbed. At N37 41896, W109 45163 there is a trail forking to the right. That goes to a ruin and is why most people come down the trail. It's a heavily used trail beyond there up to the TH. A gushing spring is near the ruin fork at 41981, 45288. Stay on the trail until reading 400 feet from it and cross the stream and go at it from the east. It took 6 hours, 9 minutes to walk from TH to TH with no side trips except to the spring. The gain is a bit over 2000 but a big chunk is along the easy canyon bottom. All roads and trails are on the topo but the trails are not exact and there are signs and cairns.This is one of the best trail hikes in the state.ONE WAY VERSION- starting at the #12 TH and walking all the way down to an exit near point 5710 is easier but less scenic. Below the junction with the Posey Trail there are animal trails on down along the stream. Near the exit point there is a trail on the far right edge leading to a game trail at 40460, 40263 el 5800. I went up and stayed left of peak 6228 and curved to FR5311 that leads to point 6188 on the south rim road where my cycle was parked. That took 6 and a half hours with 400 easy gain at the end in a nice pj forest. The app has it at 12.5 miles. I might have made it all in shorts but biting flies were out for the second half. Horses have been in the lower part but not lately. Posted June, 2022.

⦁ DARK CANYON has trails in the upper end that can be used for one way hikes. A shorter one is down trail #25 thru Horse Pasture then up trail #6 to The Notch TH. A bike can be used for the nearly 5 mile shuttle. Trail #25 runs way higher than the topo shows and a mile or more can be cut off. It runs past the end of FR5161 el 8500 and on north by a spring. FR5161 is a fiction but that route can still be walked down from FR5160 which is easy 4wd. Game trails drop off it at N37 47204, W109 47734 el 8550 and a route weaves down to the trail at 47219, 47827 el 8450. It may also be possible to find a route thru brush and hit the trail at the spring. Once on the trail it goes down and meets trail #6 at the Scorup Cabin and that goes up to The Notch. I didn't check for water around the cabin but Drift Trail Canyon had a tiny flow and next was a better flow along the trail at a fork east of point 7330. It took nearly 4 and a half hours for the hiking part. The 700 gain at the end plus a few trench crossings are the only parts that aren't easy. A lot of itchy grass is along the trails. Posted June, 2022.

⦁ DRY MESA BENCHMARK el 8835 has a game trail up the SW ridge from point 8201. FR108 runs 18 miles to it. It's maintained but has sand. The trail starts at N37 46442, W109 56648 and goes up the ridge staying right of center. The ridge levels off at el 8600 then there are paths left of center. I went to 46687, 56301 then 46773, 56141 then 46891, 56034 and walked under the pines to the BM at 47226, 55932. No reg. 96 minutes, 600 gain, very light brush. Nice hike. The road goes on another 3 miles to an abyss at Warren Canyon but not maintained. RIG CANYON is on the east side. It's an easy 20 minute stroll down that trail to the rim with a view of the canyon. Cooper Spring is kaput. Posted 2022.

⦁ FR79 is a major dirt road that can be used to drive over the mountains from Blanding to Monticello. Take 100 EAST out of Blanding. It goes paved for 8 miles. At mile 13 is Nizhoni Campground. At mile 22 is the first pass el 9691. At mile 27 is North Creek Pass el 10312. Then it's downhill to the paved North Creek Rd el 8500 at mile 31 then down to Monticello at mile 36. I could have drove a 2wd pickup all the way that day. Most of the route is good for ebikes. Camping is not allowed above el 8400. Posted 2022.

⦁ MONTEZUMA CANYON has a good dirt road down it for 35 miles. Take highway 191 to mp 66.6 about 5 miles south of Monticello. Turn on an improved road that runs for nearly 17 miles down the canyon where it becomes a graded as needed road. At mile 24 ruins and rock art start appearing including the Three Kiva Pueblo. At mile 35 there is  T at the improved Perkins Rd. It goes nearly 19 miles to pavement at Blanding. I wouldn't count on taking a car thru but I could have that day. An ebike could coast down the first 35 miles then power up for the Perkins Rd. I didn't see any water not polluted by cattle but a cabin in the lower end had the best looking water crossing under the road. Posted 2022.

⦁ NORTH CREEK ROAD goes paved out of Monticello and cuts across the north side of the range to over 8000 feet then down to highway 211. Campgrounds and dispersed camps are along the way with a Verizon signal. One ebike loop ride is to ride up to Monticello Lake then turn right and coast down to highway 163 on a good dirt road. It's 3 miles back to town on a skinny shoulder. That loop is about 20 miles. Posted 2022.

Henry Mountains Area, Utah

Ant Knoll

No Man Mesa

The view from Coal Bed Mesa

 

⦁ The Burr Trail leaves highway 276 near Bullfrog at mp 34.8 and goes paved for 20 miles to a T. Left goes paved to Capitol Reef NP, right is the maintained road #13000. It goes 28 miles to highway 276 at mp 17.1 near Starr Springs. A 2wd might make it but it's remote country. Ticaboo has gas and a store and another store with gas is 3 miles beyond. The first dozen miles of the Burr Trail has pullouts with a Verizon signal coming off Navajo Mountain. Posted 2022.

⦁ HALL MESA HIGH POINT el 5300 is on the rim of Hall Creek. Take the Burr Trail to road #12200 at N37 40761, W110  51049 and go 3 and a half miles to road #12260. Go 2 and a half miles on that to the end el 4876. Go up the ridge to the peak at 38667, 53559. I walked the rim south to peak 5225. I stayed near the rim then cut to the peak at 38019, 52500. The summit is at 37964, 51953. Good views along the way but the rim is lined with park boundary signs. Add that to the endless list of government boondoggles. That took me 3 hours with 700 noticeable gain. No cattle. Road #12200 goes on past the Halls Creek TH and back to the Burr Trail. This is all 4wd and ebikeable. Posted 2022.

⦁ BULLFROG CREEK, LONG CANYON - the Burr Trail runs along the rim separating the two canyons making it easy to set up one way hikes. For BULLFROG, take the Burr Trail from highway 276 for 5.2  miles to the crossing of the creek, normally dry. Go another half mile or so and leave a vehicle then go on up the road for 7 miles past the crossing to road #12070. It goes gravel a tenth mile to a drill hole el 5100 that makes a good camp with two bars of Verizon. A 4wd road goes on .7 mile to the rim then goes along the rim 700 feet to a drainage at N37 40638, W110 5029, just north of point 4982. Walk down the drainage and a rocky trail will appear that leads down to the canyon floor. Drop down the last bit to the creekbed at 40514, 49622 el 4100 then stroll on down to the lower vehicle. 4 hours, all downhill. For LONG CANYON, leave the lower vehicle at a pullout at the first switchback 1.2 miles north of the Bullfrog crossing. Then drive on to road #12070 and walk to 40603, 51536 then 40550, 51955 then to the rim at 40037, 52745 el 4700, just east of peak 4808. I went down there and soon a minor cliff stopped me. I went right along the top of it for 300 feet and down a 3 foot high class 3 drop with some exposure. I then had it easy on down to the creekbed. A tiny stream and cottonwoods were at the bottom but the water didn't last long. I strolled on down to an exit next to point 3924 at 36860, 48580 and walked the rim a short way to an easy route up then on to 36785, 48240 el 4100 where I walked level on slickrock to the road where it drops down to Bullfrog Creek. That took 5 hours with 200 easy gain at the end. I stayed dry in both canyons No recent cattle but they'll be back in force when the grass recovers and I would avoid this hike then. The upper forks are blocked by falls. I walked down the west fork to a fall at the 4600 line next to peak 4808. That one might be 100 feet and has boulders to anchor to. I walked down the east fork to 40045, 50986 where I could drop a level then walk the far side of the drainage to get into the main creekbed. I went down to a 15 foot fall at the 4700 level and stopped. There should be one more fall on down. These make good practice canyons and easy to get to. If rappelling down any of these, I would just exit near peak 4808. Posted 2022.

⦁ CLAY CANYON is a pristine fork of Bullfrog Creek.  The same trail as above north of point 4982 can be used to get at it. At bottom, I shortcutted a bench but had to veer right to a fence because cliffs block the north side of the bench. I went up canyon for 1.3 air miles to the fork for Clay. It's easy walking up that for over 2 air miles to the big fall at the head. I retraced back out. That took nearly 6 hours and the only noticeable gain is the 1000 back up the trail. The ideal route is to rappel a fixed rope off the fall. It can be reached by way of a drainage at 42771, 52871 next to point 4991 along the Burr Trail. A handy boulder is a the lip. Go down to the main canyon then go down that 1.3 air miles to the fence. Cross that and go right up the bench and into a drainage at 40688, 49666. Go up that then up a ridge at 40553, 49761. Stay on it to 40669, 50015 el 4600 where it bends right to a cliff then left along that to the rim at road #12070. The map shows road #13015 running down Bullfrog but that fence blocks vehicles. I saw no tire tracks likely due to so many rocks. Clay had some wet sand and Bullfrog had a few shallow pools. I stayed dry. Posted May, 2022.

⦁ BULLFROG POINT is what I call a long, skinny point on the west rim of Bullfrog Creek near point 4740. Take the Burr Trail to a camp spot at N37 38697, W110 49202 el 4750. It has a Verizon signal. Walk north on the easiest ground for a third mile then bend right to a drainage at 38939, 48798 el 4600. Go down it to the next level then go right to a point at 38901, 48679. A class 3 route drops from there down to the next level then go down and walk along the right side of the point to get to the end el 4350. That took 1 hour, 45 minutes with 400 gain, all on the return. No sign of humanity. Easy hike. Posted 2022.

⦁ MULEY BENCHMARK el 5362 sits at the south end of a pristine mesa north of the Clay Canyon fork of Bullfrog Creek. Take the Burr Trail to road #12060 at N37 44399, W110 54325. Go half a mile to a fork and stay right on a jeep road for a mile and a half to the plateau. Either climb up or stay low like I did on an OHV trail running south to a drill hole el 5050 a mile away from the peak. There is a washed out road that goes up from there about halfway to the rim then it's easy to go on up and walk the firmer west rim to the reg at 42604, 51208. That took me 2 hours with 300 noticeable gain. Ebikes might help some. Posted 2022.

⦁ MUD BENCHMARK el 6274 sits on one of the south benches of Mount Pennell, just west of Mud Creek. The west side canyon is a good route. It cuts thru pristine blue hills to a perfect pj forest on the plateau. Take the Clay Point Rd east from the Burr Trail for a bit over 4 miles to Eggnog on Bullfrog Creek. Take road #13100 north along the east bank of the creek. It's easy 4wd until it enters a gorge just north of Ant Knoll. A boulder jam will stop most. An ebike and OHVs can get past that and on to a fork at N37 51042, W110 50936. Go right up onto the Bullfrog Benches and to within about a mile of the peak. Drop down a drainage at 52428, 50686 to get down to the floor of the west canyon. Stroll on up until a huge boulder blocks the way. I went around the right side on class 3 about 5 feet high. A few feet past that is a bouldery drainage on the right reading 53620, 49536 el 5800. It's easy to go up along the right side to the plateau el 6200. Then just stay near the rim to the BM at 53015, 50034. For a shortcut down, I walked SW to 52922, 50155 el 6150 and down an easy slope that took me to the right to a rim where a ridge at 52944, 50236 goes down to the west canyon. I had to go left on the rim a few feet and come back to the ridge. That took 4 and a half hours with 700 noticeable gain. I could have drove a 2wd truck, maybe even a car, to Eggnog then ebiked the remaining 8 miles. Bullfrog Creek had a tiny intermittent stream but no mud bogs. Cattle are on it but not on the hike. Posted May, 2022.

⦁ CAVE POINT el 5780 is on the west rim of Bullfrog Creek. A loop can be done using the road to the drill hole on the north then down a cattle trail at the south end. Take road #13100 up Bullfrog as in the Mud BM hike and keep going along the creek to a fork at N37 51590, W110 51165. Go left and it's washed out in a fifth mile. I parked there but should have gone around it to the next washout. I walked the fading road but sometimes the wash is easier. It helps to be on the road at 52252, 52626 then on to a fork at 52576, 53123. The left fork goes to the drill hole where there are obvious routes to the mesa top. A cow trail is on top and may connect to Cave Flat. I walked it south around the south side of the high point where an easy gully goes up to the summit. I walked on south to a trail at 51880, 53592 that leads to a neck. The trail drops down there but first I walked south to the next neck and saw I couldn't connect to the southern mesa. But I saw a trail in the canyon below going up toward peak 5740. I retraced to the cow trail and walked it down then back. 4 hours and the only gain of any consequence is the 200 up from the drill hole. Posted 2022.

⦁ PINE BENCHMARK el 4877 is on the east rim of Bullfrog Creek near the mouth. Take road #13000 east from the Burr Trail for 10 miles to road #13200 at N37 43477, W110 46878. Go south on easy 4wd for 2.2 miles then veer right on road #13260 for 3 miles to the end at a point el 4950. Walk an ancient road off the point to the base of the peak and an obvious ridge to the right of the summit goes up. Cane Benchmark is at 37805, 46355 and Pine is a few feet north of it. 3 hours with 400 gain to the peak and 400 on the return. HANSEN BENCHMARK el 5277 is along the drive out. I parked at a  stock tank on the north side and walked the easy NE ridge to the reg at 41184, 46021. I could have drove a car to Eggnog and ebiked the remaining 10 miles. A good ebike. Don't try it with some lame Walmart bike. Posted 2022.

⦁ MUD CREEK, NO MAN MESA - the road in from the south is in bad shape but the one from the east is easy 4wd. I made a loop around the mesa from there. It's the best hike in blue hills I've been on so far. I followed road #13000 from Starr Springs to 13500 then 13040 to get on Pennell Creek Bench. I stayed right at forks on top to get to the rim at N37 52030, W110 46414 el 5900. I walked down an ancient road there to the creek then cut across blue hills at 52284, 46935 el 5400 to get to the main creek along the base of the mesa. It had a tiny stream. I went up to a fork at 52706, 47137 and went left in the dry fork all the way to the divide at 53464, 48034 el 5950. I went down the other side staying in the stream course to protect the pristine soil. I hit Mud Creek and went downstream for .83 air mile to a minor fall. A trail bypasses it on the right bank and cuts some goosenecks too. At 52328, 49091 el 5350 I went left on an antelope trail over the left rim into the next wash and walked that to a fork at 51536, 48058 el 5100. I went 200 feet up that then got on the right bank and walked a trail along that and soon it took me over into the next drainage on the right. I kept going to a trail at 52034, 46917 el 5400 that put me on a ridge that leads back to the ancient road. That took 5 and a half hours and the 500 gain at the end on the old road is the only strain. I stayed dry but sandals would be handy for Mud Creek. This is strictly to be done after long dry spells. I tried to take a side trip into upper Mud Creek but soon hit knee deep mud. And I expect it is a year round situation from the spring on the rim.  Posted May, 2022.

⦁ MOUNT PENNELL el 11400 has an OHV trail to el 10800. 4wds can only get to el 7800. Road #14000 leaves highway 276 at mp 4.5. It's a major road that might need 4wd at crossings. Along the way at N37 57864, W110 39425 el 5400 is a shady camp with a table along Straight Creek. Just beyond there is a main fork so stay right and the OHV trail will come into view. It' road #13630 and it's easy for 4 wheeled OHVs but not for 2 wheelers. It ends at a tower el 10818 then a spotty trail goes up to the reg at 57385, 47450. Late season is best for OHVs to give locals time to clear trees. Cattle have been to el 11200. Posted 2022.

⦁ HOGBACK BENCHMARK el 7708 is 4 miles of Starr Springs CG. I followed road #13800 from the campground for 3 miles to road #13860. I went up that to road #13866 at N37 53318, W110 38786. I took that to a fork el 6650 where the right one is washed out. I walked a cow trail on the right fork to a divide el 7100 then up the ridge to the reg at 53880, 37864. That took 2 and a half hours with 1200 gain. The west side burned but no brush. The roads are ebikeable to the fork el 6650  and a car could get close. Posted 2022.

⦁ COAL BED MESA HIGH POINT el 5298 is a short hike. I used road #13000 from Starr Springs and parked about a mile before the summit just before a cattleguard. I then walked to a ridge at N37 46188, W110 46120 el 4850 that leads up to the rim. A cow trail goes most of the way to the summit at 45539, 46620. No sign of humanity. I then walked over to the far rim for a view to the west then for a shortcut back I dropped off at 45869, 46497 and went down to the next level then right a short way to a ridge at 45851, 46433 that goes on down. 2 and a half hours with 400 noticeable gain. Cattle haven't been up there for years. Posted 2022.

⦁ SHOOTARING CANYON has an easy 4wd running down it. It's 15 miles from Starr Springs thru the canyon to highway 276. I followed road #13000 from the springs for about  4 miles to a sign for the canyon. I turned and went 3 miles to a tricky fork and stayed left and dropped into the canyon. The road runs along the bottom thru the Shootaring Mine then it's a good road on to the highway about 4 miles north of Ticaboo. Posted 2022.

⦁ ROAD #13511 is an OHV trail west of Starr Springs. It goes south from road #13500 to some cliff tops with good views of the dark badlands. It's washed out at a spring but can be walked a short way to a skinny slickrock point NE of peak 5543. Easy walk to the end of the point with a couple of minor class 3 cracks to negotiate. Posted 2022.

⦁ TRACHYTE BENCHMARK el 5222 is 5 miles NE of Mt Holmes. I walked south from 276 to point 5605 on the rim of Swett south fork. The main obstacle is a cliff band at peak 6481. It has a class 3 break at el 6050. I parked at mp 13.8 on 276 and went down a drainage at N37 50287, W110 34707 el 4800 to get to Milk Creek. I went 200 feet down that to an easy exit up a gully at trees. That leads to a bowl with 2 routes. Either walk the bank downstream to the next side canyon or take the drainage on the right side of the bowl. They lead up to open country where I walked to the grayish rim of a canyon at 49812, 34282 el 4850. I walked up the rim then crossed a drainage at 49485, 34170 el 5250 and followed the high ground to the base of peak 6481 reading 48903, 34305 el 5800. I then walked level to the left for a tenth mile then started climbing to the break at 48691, 34016 el 6050 where I left some water. It goes down and to the right to a 6 foot high class 3 drop then it's slope to the bottom el 5500 where I weaved my way to a saddle at 48607, 33530 el 5550. I went thru down a wash to the first main fork and got on a little ridge at 48410, 33234 el 5400. Cans near there must be from the surveyors. I followed the ridge and eventually merged into the drainage on my left at 48286, 33315 el 5500. I went up the creekbed for a tenth mile to a minor fall then climbed out and over to the last canyon crossing at 48066, 33081 el 5550. That put me on the rim of Swett south fork near point 5605. I strolled down that until peak 5165 got in the way a mile before the BM. I dropped down to the flats on my right and went on to the SW drainage at 48787, 29890 el 4900. That is soon blocked so I bypassed on the left up a smaller drainage and had only one way to go and that led me into the drainage at 48871, 29801 el 5050. I stayed in that until it ended then went left up to the summit block. I had to go around the left side to an easy stairway up the back side. The BM is at 48912, 29599.  That took 11 hours. The app has it at 18 miles with 5300 gain but half or more is on easy rims. The 500 foot climb back out at peak 6481 is the main headache. It's not loose and was in the shade by then. No cattle here, ever. And maybe nobody on foot for 70 years. I had 3 quarts of water but it's a 4 or 5 quart hike with no water along the way. The BLM put their own benchmark in at 48770,30221 el 4850 in 1956 but they likely flew in. Posted May, 2022.

⦁ SWETT CREEK LOOP - I used the first part of the Trachyte BM hike to get into a main fork of Swett then walked it back to the highway. I went down thru the break el 6050 at peak 6481 and when I hit bottom I just kept going downstream. Some hiker tracks there assured me I would make it. It took 90 minutes down that fork to hit Swett on the west side of peak 4633. I went up it for half an hour to some water pools just before the narrows. A tricky 6 foot chockstone was waiting for me. I got up that easy enough and soon came to a short stream. I pressed on in the main canyon to a tricky fork near the start. Left is Milk Creek and right goes shortly to the highway. Both go but I took the right fork and walked under the highway but had a steep slope to get up then it took 5 minutes back to the start at mp 13.8. That took 6 hours, 12 minutes and the app has it at 12.7 miles. There's 1400 gain, not counting the super easy grade in Swett, but nearly all easy. I stayed dry. Swett is covered with little rocks making for tedious walking. I'm glad I was only going one way. A hook and etrier would be handy at the chockstone. A flood might drill a deep hole at the chockstone and retracing back out would be the only option and that would make for an 8 or 9 hour hike total for the day. Cattle are in the lower part of Swett. Posted May, 2022.

⦁ FOURMILE CANYON is a routine canyon and cattle free. It is easily reached thru the pass separating Mt Holmes and Mt Ellsworth. I took highway 276 to a 4wd road at mp 19.9. I went up that a half mile or so to el 5900 and started toward the pass. I went thru a minor saddle at N37 46333, W110 37281 el 5750 then down and into the pass. I followed hiker tracks down the left side of the pass into the creekbed. I hit a minor stream and cottonwoods at el 5200 and then some pools with a million tadpoles. I then came to a shallow slot and walked the right rim for a tenth mile to get back down. I went on down almost as far as peak 4934 but there is a gooseneck before that with cottonwoods that is a decent goal. I spent 7 and a half hours with about 400 feet of noticeable gain. I stayed dry but after a wet spell, not likely. No bugs yet. The 4wd road might get closed. Most hikers are slogging up from 276. Posted late May, 2022.

⦁ GOOD HOPE MESA is a sub level of Ticaboo Mesa. Canyoneers rappel down to it in canyons such as the one from point 5017, but I never saw how they get out. I found a decent hiking route down from point 4869 to the south side of point 4607 then to point 4047. Take highway 276 to mp 25.5 and turn on 4wd road #13400. Go 7 miles to a  fork at N37 41717, W110 35040. Go right then left at the next fork then right again and on 3 miles to the rim. I dropped down a slide at 39635, 32791 el 4800 then walked the slickrock losing a little to cross a drainage then started up at 39576, 32303 el 4600 then on to 39488, 32077 el 4650 where I went down an easy ridge then left across a flat to a drainage at 39489, 31955 el 4500. I walked that to the end at a flat covered with marbles. A wall at the far side can be skirted right or left to get to a ridge at 39535, 31837 el 4600 then down that to a drainage at 39567,31783 el 4500. I went down that and hit a minor drop. I bypassed it on the left and stayed along the left side of the drainage to a sandy shelf with grayish rock at 39682, 31822 el 4250. I went right on that for 600 feet to a point then down to the mesa. I wandered around to views on the rim. The main drainage had wet sand and cottonwoods. I saw a coyote there. Time here is variable but it took me 90 minutes to climb back up with a bit over 1000 gain, mostly on slickrock and nothing scary. Ticaboo rim has camping spots with a Verizon signal. Posted 2022.

Kelso Dunes Wilderness Area

Guzzler at Hyten. That would work in a pinch with a filter.

This may be who developed Hyten Spring.

Hyten Spring. One drip per second.

The best looking empty shell I've seen, near Reef BM.

 ⦁ Crucero Rd runs north from Ludlow to Broadwell Lake then a shortcut goes across the lake. There is washboard galore but no dips to block a 4wd from hauling a camp trailer to the lake. I wouldn't take a 2wd more than a mile from Ludow. Ludlow has 2 gas stations and a couple of restaurants. No bargains there. Posted 2022.

⦁ BRISTOL MOUNTAINS HIGH POINT el 3871 has an old coot route up the NW  ridge. Take Crucero Rd north from Ludlow for 13 miles to power lines then go NE along those for 3.7 miles to tower 114/1 el 1450.  I weaved rock fields to a wash at N34 56560, W116 08817 then on to the north canyon at 55580, 07289 then up that to a main fork at 55186, 07641. I went left staying in the creekbed then left around a minor fall then the main creekbed goes right into a narrows. Just after that the left bank works for a while then at 54757, 07568 el 3050 I climbed up the left slope to get on the NW ridge. At el 3500 the ridge gets rough but sheep routes to the right of center make it easy on up to the reg at 54546, 07261. 5 and a half hours with 2400 gain but the first 1500 is up easy washes. Posted 2022.

⦁ BROADWELL MESA el 2903 has a faint road in from the NW used to maintain a guzzler. I made a loop to Crucero BM then Hyten Spring then Broadwell Mesa. Take Crucero Rd north from Ludlow for 13 miles to power lines then go NE along those for 5 miles to tower 113/1. The guzzler road departs there but likely legal only to a select few. If you drive in, take a wrench so you can say you came in to work on the guzzler. The road goes 4 miles to a main fork in the wash at N34 55395, W116 05677 el 2400, a half mile before the guzzler. I walked the left fork for an air mile to another fork then went left and left again shortly. The reading there is 55791, 04665 el 2700. That's and easy canyon all the way to Crucero but there is a hidden fork at the 900 meter line. The left fork is the correct one. I went on to a minor ridge to the right of white boulders at 56507, 03939  and then bent to the left to get on a main ridge to the summit el 3583. The reg was placed by M&L in 1980 with a few entries. I then walked south on the main ridge on a good sheep trail. It goes around the west side of peak 1087 to a wash on the west side of peak 1103 at 55854, 03446. That's easy to walk down to a sheep trail high up the right bank at 55213, 03287 that leads to the rim of the canyon that contains Hyten Spring. It's better to drop NW off the rim for easier ground into the gorge. The spring is a pipe at 55139, 03440 with one drip per second. It had been a dry winter. I walked on down the gorge to a guzzler with water then down the wash to a trail at 54550, 03405 with a herd of sheep standing on it. I walked that over a low ridge to a valley then turned toward Broadwell Mesa high point at 53729, 04756. It has CB pecked into a rock. Don't add your initials, take a register instead. I walked to the west rim then north along that on a sheep trail to an arrow at 54264, 04991. It points down a canyon to Broadwell Lake and must be the route used a century earlier to get to Hyten. I walked 400 feet past that then down to the left into a wash that leads back to the start. That took 6 hours with maybe 600 noticeable gain. This is a huge area of unspoiled landscape. Next time I'll skip the peaks and spend more time on Broadwell. It's not hard to walk on it. If backpacking to Hyten, I would use the route marked by the arrow I found just north of point 875 on the mesa. That measures out at a dozen miles from Broadwell Lake to the spring. Posted March, 2022.

⦁ JUNCTION BENCHMARK el 2565 has an easy route up the south canyon. Take Crucero Rd north from Ludlow for 13 miles to power lines then go SW along those for half a mile and park at a tower. Walk west along the base for half a mile to the south canyon then go up to a fork at N34 54496, W116 13208 el 1950. Take the  right fork and it's easy to go bank to bank to the end at a saddle el 2300. Then go left to the reg at 54755, 12956 placed by M&L in 1980 with only 5 parties since. Retrace back to the saddle then on to a ridge at 54404, 13035 el 2350. Go down that then drop right down a smooth ridge at 54187, 13004 el 2000 to get back in the south canyon. 2 and a half hours with 600 noticeable gain and that is never steep. Pleasant hike. It's so easy it makes pie look hard. Posted 2022.

⦁ SLEEPING BEAUTY el 3979 has an easy route from the south. Take the paved frontage road west from Ludlow for 7 and a half miles then turn north on BLM road #8655, north of point 2191 on the topo. Go 2.3 miles to a fire ring at the end el 2705. Ebikes can make it but for a few short sandy spots. Drop down into a wash and go down it a tenth mile then go up to the bank of a side wash at N34 46101, W114 17543 el 2650. Walk north along it going bank to bank until a chokestone blocks the main channel. Most hikers go up to the right but old coots can go left up a bedrock gully to the left rim and it's less steep on up to the main saddle el 3000. Then go up right of crags and cross a drainage and follow the right bank to the main saddle el 3350. Then go up 100 feet to the right to a notch at 46585, 17423 el 3400. A trail goes thru it then it's obvious on to a saddle at 46771, 17376 el 3550. Then go up the left bank of a drainage then in the center on bedrock and on to the summit at 46939, 17272. Nearly 3 hours, 1500 gain. Posted 2022.

⦁ LAVIC MOUNTAIN el 3021 is east of Sleeping Beauty. A loop can be done up the crest from the Lavic Mountain Mine. Go west from Ludlow on the frontage road for 3 and a half miles and turn north on road #8733. Drive to power lines then a third mile past those turn right on go a third mile and park. Walk the road a fifth mile to a canyon where it's washed out. Go up canyon and the road appears again and goes to a T on the crest. Right goes to a quarry on the right where I could see later that miners tunneled thru the ridge. Past that is a cabin skeleton then the road end and it's a tenth mile on to Tono Benchmark. Retrace to the T and go north to the end of the road then walk level to merge with a sheep trail on the crest. That goes over peak 878 then loses 150 feet. The terrain becomes rocky but it's easy on to the summit at N34 46782, W116 14616. Drop down the west ridge at 46758,14731 el 2950 then at a saddle go left down a canyon. The left bank works all the way to a narrows then it's easy gravel back to the start. 3 hours, 1000 gain, nearly all easy. This is one of the better hikes. Posted 2022.

⦁ GOLDEN BENCHMARK el 2873 is a mile and a half inside the Marine base but you wouldn't know it until you see a helipad and foxholes on the summit. Go west from Ludlow on the frontage road for a mile or so to the end of pavement then another 2.2 miles on washboard and pass under the RR tracks. Go on south a mile to a T then go right .7 mile to a wash. I followed jeep tracks in a channel at N34 42717, W116 14224 for a mile and a half to boulders that block travel just north of the base boundary. I thought the jeep might be a hiker until I saw he went out of his way to mow down vegetation. A direct hike to the peak would entail crossing washes that are deeper than they look on the topo. To skirt those, I strolled up the wash and climbed out at 41447, 14736 then on to a gully at 41164, 14928 then to 40986, 15078 el 2450 where the rest is in view. I chose the wuss route by getting on the north ridge at 40790, 15385 el 2300 then stayed on the right side of the ridge where rocks aren't bad. The summit is at 40173, 15331. I dropped north off the summit to 40398, 15278 el 2800 then down to a dark point ahead of me and down that then retraced back. 3 hours, 1000 gain and all of it easy. I saw no sign of recent activity but doing this on a major holiday would reduce the chances of a surprise. Enter at own risk. Posted 2022.

⦁ REEF BENCHMARK el 3523  has a decent route up the north ridge. It is NOT on the Marine base according to the BLM map. Take Route 66 east from Ludlow for 3/4 mile then cross under the RR tracks in a sandy wash. Go back to Ludlow then turn south on the Bagdad Chase Rd. Go 3 miles to a gas road then another 1.3 miles then turn right. The road goes into a wash then west to a mine tower with deep shafts, one in a wash with water at the bottom. Drive back east a quarter mile to a major wash then go south up that to get on the RR grade which is soon washed out. Walk a mile to high ground at N34 39090, W116 10583 and follow that SW for a tenth mile to a major wash. Go up it staying right at main forks and get on the left bank at 38950, 11227 then start up the easiest ridge at 38725, 11374 el 2950. The reg is at 38549, 11550 placed by Bob Burd in 2019. I found a shaft with a ladder on the way back at 39296, 09896. 3 and a half hours, 700 noticeable gain. The Bagdad road has been posted private near Swede Hill.  Posted 2022.

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.