Oct 05, 2018 — This is a really nice loop of a lower ridgeline within the Organ Mountains, separated from the higher peaks. It's also a great hike for getting into desert route-finding: you go up one canyon on a social trail, along a ridge, and down an official trail.
Starting at the Archenback Canyon Trailhead, head up Mars Canyon (Cuates Canyon is the official name for Mars Canyon, I believe) on a rough social trail that helps avoid most cacti, taking you up a couple of Class 2 moves in the narrowest sections of Mars Canyon. Once you get to the ridge, head southeast along the ridgeline and down to a sign (without crossing it) reading "Artillery Firing Range", placed for hikers on the official Archenback Canyon Trail. I suppose this is the end of the Archenback Canyon Trail, even though the trail continues down to the northeast toward Soledad Canyon Road. Anyway, you're not going down to Soledad Canyon Road, so you don't need to pass the sign. Follow the trail past Archenback Tank (dry when I went) all the way back to the trailhead.
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