Anthony’s Nose in Franklin Mountains State Park, TX

Hike Anthony’s Nose Franklin Mountains State Park, TX

Class 3 6.1 miles 3000 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Feb 24, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Anthony's Nose is a slightly more adventurous outing on the northern end of Franklin Mountains State Park than the popular Ron Coleman Trail to the south. I met up with friends Robert and Kevin, well-versed Las Cruces area explorers. They'd already hiked this peak, but seemed to like Anthony's Nose enough to repeat and show me the route. It was a nice day, though almost too windy for conversation, and I was certainly underdressed for the weather, as usual. Kevin, of course sticking to his masochistic hiking style, said "…this way it won’t be too boring for you". I was surprised to see there was a social trail the entire way to the summit, but it's certainly less-visited and has plenty of off-trail vibes.

We entered the park, paid the entrance fee, and started along an unnamed trail that heads north to a minor saddle. This trail is eroded and clearly not maintained, ending at the saddle. Anthony's Nose becomes visible to the north well along the ridgeline. First we'd need to reach the ridgeline, so we started east along the fairly steep slope using a well-cairned social trail. Along the way we passed over a short section of Class 2+ limestone with light exposure before a final push to the ridge crest. The route is obvious from here, sticking more or less to the ridge high point except to avoid minor rock outcrops, never exceeding Class 2. A half mile or so along the rige the trail keeps to the right of a fairly major lump, avoiding some additional vertical gain.

A few minor ups and downs brought us to the base of a steeper section, still a bit away from the summit, where Class 2 on solid limestone kept us along the crest. Past the initial scramble and once back to the ridge, there was a short exposed section that's avoidable on the left, wrapping just beneath the limestone. In general, it's less scary on the left side of the ridgeline, since the right (east) has a significantly drop-off. After some more Class 2 scrambling, we reached the crux of the route, a short Class 3 move. You can either stay along the ridgeline and get some light exposure on the crest, or drop a few feet to the left and ascend on a slightly easier face. Past here Class 2 led a short time along the ridgeline to the summit of Anthony's Nose. Despite being so close to El Paso, Texas, the summit feels pretty isolated. We started back along the ridge. Not particularly excited to face the wind again for the somewhat lengthy ridgeline, I jokingly asked Kevin if we really had to go back the same way, to which he responded with excitement, "Have to? We get to!"

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Anthony's Nose
6927 ft
1027 rise

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Starting out from the trailhead, heading to the saddle in the center along a trail.
Starting out from the trailhead, heading to the saddle in the center along a trail.
View back toward the trailead.
View back toward the trailead.
At the minor saddle, a view north toward Anthony's Nose (center).
At the minor saddle, a view north toward Anthony's Nose (center).
Starting along the social trail leading to the ridgeline.
Starting along the social trail leading to the ridgeline.
Somewhat steep ascend, but well-cairned.
Somewhat steep ascend, but well-cairned.
View back toward the saddle (right). The trailhead is on the left of Robert.
View back toward the saddle (right). The trailhead is on the left of Robert.
Class 2+ section along the ascent to the ridgeline.
Class 2+ section along the ascent to the ridgeline.
View back at the crux of the ridgeline.
View back at the crux of the ridgeline.
A shot back down to the saddle, past the scrambling.
A shot back down to the saddle, past the scrambling.
At the ridgeline, a view south toward North Franklin Mountain.
At the ridgeline, a view south toward North Franklin Mountain.
Anthony's Nose in the distance. We started north along the ridge crest.
Anthony's Nose in the distance. We started north along the ridge crest.
A dip in the ridgeline.
A dip in the ridgeline.
View back at our progress.
View back at our progress.
Ascending to the base of a lump, where the trail keeps to the right to avoid the additional vertical gain.
Ascending to the base of a lump, where the trail keeps to the right to avoid the additional vertical gain.
Looking back as we wrap around the lump.
Looking back as we wrap around the lump.
Back along the ridgeline after avoiding the lump.
Back along the ridgeline after avoiding the lump.
View back toward the lump we avoided.
View back toward the lump we avoided.
Continuing along the ridgeline, Anthony's Nose ahead.
Continuing along the ridgeline, Anthony's Nose ahead.
View back along the ridge crest, Class 2.
View back along the ridge crest, Class 2.
Image 19 from gallery
At the base of the steepest section, still a bit away from the summit.
At the base of the steepest section, still a bit away from the summit.
Class 2.
Class 2.
View back along the ridgeline.
View back along the ridgeline.
A wrap-around to avoid a slightly more exposed portion of the ridge crest. The crux is seen center, ahead.
A wrap-around to avoid a slightly more exposed portion of the ridge crest. The crux is seen center, ahead.
Looking back at the wrap-around along the ridge, avoiding the more exposed crest.
Looking back at the wrap-around along the ridge, avoiding the more exposed crest.
A Class 3 section up the face. Keeping to the right would result in a slightly more exposed Class 3 move along the ridgeline.
A Class 3 section up the face. Keeping to the right would result in a slightly more exposed Class 3 move along the ridgeline.
Just above the crux. I came up from the right in this photo, while Robert and Kevin kept to the crest.
Just above the crux. I came up from the right in this photo, while Robert and Kevin kept to the crest.
Wide shot looking back, just past the crux.
Wide shot looking back, just past the crux.
A false summit ahead, nothing but Class 2 from here.
A false summit ahead, nothing but Class 2 from here.
Anthony's Nose ahead.
Anthony's Nose ahead.
Anthony's Nose summit, view back along the crest. North Franklin Mountain visible top center.
Anthony's Nose summit, view back along the crest. North Franklin Mountain visible top center.
Anthony's Nose summit, view north toward the Organ Mountains.
Anthony's Nose summit, view north toward the Organ Mountains.
Anthony's Nose summit, view east toward El Paso.
Anthony's Nose summit, view east toward El Paso.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!