I provide a free route map, but you can also download a hike/drive GPX to assist you and to help support my site. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is a free resource and I'm charging nominal fees to offset my substantial costs.
GPX track added to your cart.
Apr 19, 2020 — The high point of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains seems to normally be approached from the southwest, but I was already way out in this area to do Stud Mountain, so I opted instead to approach from this seldom-visited area. I was happy I did. This was a very pretty desert route and it felt very remote. From the main road, Google got me to 32.87815, -114.74941, and then I took a left at the dirt road junction, making a right at 32.87724, -114.75115 and following this road to the trailhead attached to this hike.
From the trailhead, I dropped down on an ATV trail into the major wash leading east from the mountains. The ATV trail surprised me since it didn't appear on any maps and was labeled clearly with BLM route markers. It weaved around in the wash, actually making this a really efficient hike. The scenery was nice, bright rocks boasting interesting textures and lots of greenery along the wash. Fortunately it was in no way a bushwhack. Eventually the ATV trail started to peter out as I reached a major junction in the wash. I decided to take the right fork since the ATV trail continued in that direction, but I descended the left fork later on my way back. Ultimately, I'd recommend just taking my descent route (the left line on the attached map) because it's more direct, but I thought my ascent route was much prettier, even if it required a bit extra work. Anyway, I followed the ATV trail as it continued up the right fork of the wash, soon disappearing completely and forcing me to start boulder-hopping and keeping to the sides of the main wash to keep my hiking more efficient. The views back the way I came were really nice, the interesting rock formations of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains becoming more evident the higher I went. I made it to an obvious saddle and dropped to the other side, descending a couple hundred feet and working left around a major rock outcropping before re-ascending in the next drainage over (Drainage 2). I didn't stay in this drainage for long, deciding instead to climb up a Class 2+ gully hoping it would bring me to the high point. Fortunately, it ended up being an interesting little scramble with the occasional bit of loose rock, but I made it up to the summit with only some minor route-finding required. The views were really nice, and I was happy/surprised that I could see Picacho Peak in the distance.
I started down off the high point, using an alternate gully from my initial ascent and dropped into Drainage 2 briefly before making my way up to a saddle. This saddle separated Cargo Muchacho Mountains HP and the previously mentioned rock outcropping i wrapped around. From this saddle, I descended the previously mentioned left fork of my approach wash. There were a few Class 3 moves that would likely be avoidable with some micro-route-finding, but it's all just typical desert boulder-hopping stuff. I reached the junction of the two forks of the wash and continued back along the ATV trail.
Please consider helping me out if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so all site fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing these trip reports is unpaid. You can also hire me as a web developer. I really appreciate it!
If you find my site helpful, please help me replace my many broken cameras, fund my website fees (hosting, APIs, security), or just support my countless hours of work. I pay for all expenses myself, and all trip reports I post are unpaid and unsponsored, so any support is really appreciated!
If using PayPal, please select their option for "Sending to a friend" so they don't take out fees, thank you.
My site is free to use, but consider sending me a few bucks to help keep it running. Thanks in advance!