Bobbin Peak to Needles Eye (Trigo Mountains Traverse) in Trigo Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, AZ

Hike Bobbin Peak to Needles Eye (Trigo Mountains Traverse) Trigo Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, AZ

Class 4 11.6 miles 4900 gain 8-11 hrs Loop
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Bobbin Peak to Needles Eye (Trigo Mountains Traverse) GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

This route may have access issues.

There’s a lengthy approval process to obtain a hunting permit to visit this area, so plan accordingly. The US Army needs to run a background check before issuing a permit, plus the area is only open certain times of the year. You can find more info about the permit process on theĀ Yuma Proving Ground website.

The Trigo Mountains are a rarely-visited, gorgeous desert range just east of the Colorado River. They’re located within the US Army’s Yuma Proving Grounds, so you’ll need a hunting permit for specific dates, since recreational access is not permitted without a hunting license specifically. Our group planned to hike Bobbin Peak and Needles Eye, the two ends of the main range ridgeline, but the wildly dumb idea to attempt a traverse between the two peaks insidiously creeped into the itinerary. We went into the day with only a vague idea of where obstacles would present themselves, hints of escape routes in case things became too spicy, and a visceral and unwavering excitement. I think secretly we all had low expectations that the traverse would actually work out, but pack mentality is a dangerous thing. We were ultimately incredibly surprised we managed a Class 3/4 route, albeit a laborious undertaking and just barely nontechnical.

Any vehicle with some clearance can make it to the trailhead. Leave Cibola Lake Road here (33.31332, -114.66234) and head east. Although we could have set up a shuttle and parked a second car much farther south, we parked where we did because it allowed us to set the realistic expectation that we might have to bail early and return to the starting point, which would have rendered the shuttle useless. If the traverse did end up working out, adding a extra few miles of walking back through the desert didn’t seem like too much additional work. Of course at the time we didn’t know we’d be doing said walk in the rain.

The first peak of the day was Bobbin Peak, the high point of the Trigo Mountains. From the cars we headed east through a wash, leaving it in order to head toward a wide drainage on the northwestern side of Bobbin Peak. We started up this rocky drainage, which began to steepen significantly. Maybe it would have continued to the ridgeline above, but the terrain looked quite steep higher up, so at around 1300′ we opted to instead leave the drainage and ascend along the ridge to its right. This was a bit of a clunky and spontaneous change in plans, but the route continued as Class 2. Along this ridge we encountered some Class 2+ terrain, but nothing exposed or particularly notable, just loose. The navigating here was cryptic at times, large outcroppings obscuring the most clear route up, but somehow this ridge/slope managed to lead us to the north ridge of Bobbin Peak without being too punishing.

The scramble that ensued along the crest to Bobbin Peak was surprisingly fun, solid Class 3. Any time we reached a headwall, there was a workaround somewhere. Our party was delighted. Bobbin Peak offered a heart-dissolving view of the traverse ahead to Needles Eye, very far away and separated by a series of severe cliffs and likely route-ending pinnacles. Optimistically, we continued on. The descent from Bobbin Peak’s south ridge was a lot less fun than the ascent was, but still had some cute scrambling sections. Keeping too far left (east) results in cliffs, so I recommend keeping farther to the right where a weakness in the slope has created a Class 2/3 straightforward slope.

Once down from Bobbin Peak and at the saddle, we all agreed we were happy to continue to the next peak, Peak 2296. If we needed to bail, we could backtrack to the ugly-looking gully that dropped from here. This ended up not being the case, the ridgeline leading to Peak 2296 introducing a plethora of fun. It starts off at Class 2/2+, but soon we reached a rock outcropping along the crest. Wrapping to the left of this obstacle seemed to end in cliffs, so we poked around and found a Class 3/3+ series of moves using a low-angle crack on solid rock. Above this section the ridgeline continued Class 2/3 and either side seemed to drop away forever. Fortunately this crack was there, since I’m not sure anything else would have permitted us to make more progress. Somehow the crest continued on solid Class 3 terrain, and we reached a false summit. Just ahead, the true summit seemed daunting, but was only Class 3.

I was feeling we were nearing the end of our luck, since at this point there were cliffs on either side of us. From the summit, Tyler decided to press on along the ridge. I dubiously followed everyone along the unlikely route choice. Normally, my default is to backtrack to locate an easier way when the route gets spicy, but in this case a backtrack also seemed unlikely to bring success. Somehow the ridge descended as steep, loose Class 2/3 along the south side of Peak 2296. Just before the base, a Class 3+ move on a narrow clump of rock with extreme exposure had me hesitate. My companions seemed not to mind it, but after making them wait for more than a few minutes I opted to just use a face to the move’s left. It’s more difficult, but not exposed. This may have been the most technically difficult part of the traverse, and is one of the few Class 3/4 pieces of the day.

On we went from the base of Peak 2296, Peak 2368 (our third peak of the day) quite a distance away. We weren’t able to stay on the crest for long though, since we landed at the base of an impossible fin. The group blindly started up and aborted shortly after, but I looked down to the right and noticed a steep, loose Class 2 slope. This wrapped around the ridge crest cliffs’ base and back to the crest. It was at this point in the day that Chris dubbed me his “Class 2 Truffle Pig”. It might have been a cheeky insult, but I took it as a beaming compliment.

Looking back, Peak 2296 was an impressive pinnacle that looked impossible from this angle. From here the crest was straightforward for a while until we neared the base of a massive lump with serious-looking cliffs surrounding it. We offhandedly noted that the slope to the west was low-angle enough that it could possibly be our final chance to bail if we needed to, but we didn’t. Looking up at the massive lump in our way, we begrudgingly started to sidehill. Normally we all prefer to go up and over obstacles if we can manage it, but sidehilling seemed prudent in this situation. Initially wrapping on the right side at roughly the 1800′ contour, our bypass then curved south and ascended more steeply back to the ridgeline. We managed to keep this bypass Class 2. “Class 2 Truffle Pig strikes again!” Chris exclaimed.

Now back on the ridge crest about halfway between Peak 2296 and Peak 2368, loose terrain took us to some fun Class 3 that brought us higher and up to a view of the next peak. It seemed doable from here, but only because there were very few visible dips in the ridgeline, though there seemed to be plenty of pinnacles and dangerous-looking rock ribs. Maybe we were just becoming complacent since the route just consistently kept working out? We stumbled on an animal trail that led up a convenient ramp, along the tame ridge, and around a series of outcroppings. Somehow this section of the traverse was effortless enough that we were able to have separate conversations and enjoy the maze pre-solved by ingenious sheep. Generally the trail kept to the right of the ridgeline, taking slight dips in and out of gullies and around ledges.

Of course, the animal trail ended at the base of Peak 2368. This unassuming peak would end up being my favorite of the day. We managed to all ascend the initial face using slightly different lines, all fun and generally solid Class 3, but we were all funneled to the ridgeline higher up. Naturally, the more risk-inclined of the group just pulled an exposed Class 3/4 move, but I was able to find a less exposed Class 3 option. Peak 2368’s summit was just ahead, a glorious foreground for Needles Eye in the distance. Separating us from the summit was a pretty exposed Class 2 wannabe-knife-edge with an unexposed Class 3 move to overcome a small notch. Fun Class 3 continued to the summit from here.

Needles Eye seemed a pretty onerous feat when viewed from Peak 2368, maybe not so much the ascent to the peak as much as just getting down from Peak 2368. We sort of initially thought there wouldn’t be a way to do so, but after lots of pointing and map studying, we decided our best chance of success was to drop to the east side of Peak 2368 and hope we could find a weakness in the significant cliff on Peak 2368’s south side. Rather than backtrack off the peak, Tyler managed to locate a steep Class 2/3 ramp with some exposure that switchbacked below the east side of the summit cliff. With a short spurt of Class 3 we were back down to safety and now descending south on loose Class 2, plenty of cholla barbs to go around. After a few hundred feet, we decided it was best to leave this gully since it would ultimately lead in the wrong direction and instead hop over a minor saddle in order to attempt a gully that descended west. Fortunately, it managed to go at max Class 3 all the way down. The formidable Needles Eye filled our view, and from here is where we were able to trace a potentially viable route to gain the summit.

Now at the base of our final peak for the day, we split up into two groups. I left both options on my attached map, myself and Petey taking the low road (east) and the others going west. The high road started out fine, but as soon as I watched my friends pull a Class 3/4 move over a loose notch, I opted to bail and find another way. Later they informed me that was the only rough spot, and the remainder of their upper traverse was pretty uneventful. Meanwhile, Petey and I descended a couple hundred vertical feet and decided to start the ascent using a drainage leading west. We could see our friends above and just decided to head right to them, Class 2/3. In hindsight I’d say you should use the upper route, but both were fine options.

Back as a group, we sidehilled on loose terrain at the base of the impossible east face of Needles Eye, wrapping all the way to a prominent, brushy gully on its southeast side. It was here the rain started. Fortunately, we’d done the majority of our serious scrambling and route-finding for the day, since wet rock would have probably rendered our route absurdly dangerous. I don’t think any of us were upset though, since the traverse ended up being a fantastic desert route and no rain could dampen our moods. Just our entire bodies.

The brushy gully went at Class 2, but it was steep and loose and not particularly pleasant. It only lasted a couple hundred feet, where it then dumped us in a notch on the direct south ridge of Needles Eye. The gorgeous arch for which the mountain was named became visible just north of the summit, though the summit itself was temporarily obscured by a wet, Class 3 scramble. Despite this objective danger we headed up just in time to catch an absolutely outstanding rainbow framing the summit. Matt and I almost fell off the mountain from delight, squealing as we snapped photos. The Needles Eye summit pitch was an excellent stretch of Class 3, a severe drop on the right that doesn’t actually feel too scary since all the holds are solid, but the left side is much more forgiving.

After taking in the summit views all the way back to Bobbin Peak, we backtracked to the notch and started the descent from Needles Eye heading south. Adam Walker shared his route to Needles Eye, so we were confident we wouldn’t stumble onto any impassable cliffs. This was a good thing at this point, since I think all of our brains were pretty fried from micro-route-finding and tedious scrambling from hours along the traverse. The descent led south along a slope, passed over a small ridge, then descended southwest through more open terrain. We reached the top of a steep Class 2 gully draining west. Within this gully were a couple of short Class 2/3 obstacles, and a final dryfall that we needed to avoid on its left.

Now out of the final descent gully, all that was left was to return to the cars, located many miles to the north. Tyler had done his homework and managed to find a well-carved burro trail on satellite mode. We spent a good 10 minutes wandering north through the foothills until locating this burro trail, but once we found it the route-finding for the day was basically over. With a couple of small exceptions where the trail drops into washes, we managed to stay on it until reaching an ATV road and ultimately back to our cars.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Bobbin Peak
2562 ft
1162 rise
2
Peak 2296
2296 ft
296 rise
3
Peak 2368
2368 ft
488 rise
4
Needles Eye
2539 ft
739 rise

Hire me or show me some love!

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!

Starting out, Bobbin Peak seen center.
Starting out, Bobbin Peak seen center.
Ascending a gully on the northwest side of Bobbin Peak.
Ascending a gully on the northwest side of Bobbin Peak.
It got steeper higher up, so we left the gully and ascended on the ridge to the right.
It got steeper higher up, so we left the gully and ascended on the ridge to the right.
View back into the gully as we reach the ridge.
View back into the gully as we reach the ridge.
Some complex terrain along the minor ridge.
Some complex terrain along the minor ridge.
View back at some of the terrain we had to navigate.
View back at some of the terrain we had to navigate.
Loose terrain on the way up the minor ridge.
Loose terrain on the way up the minor ridge.
Nearing the north ridge of Bobbin Peak.
Nearing the north ridge of Bobbin Peak.
Bobbin Peak ahead, fun Class 3.
Bobbin Peak ahead, fun Class 3.
View back at the start of the Class 3.
View back at the start of the Class 3.
All headwalls were avoidable.
All headwalls were avoidable.
View back at the Class 3 fun.
View back at the Class 3 fun.
Bobbin Peak ahead.
Bobbin Peak ahead.
Close-up of the wild traverse. Needles Eye seen on the right.
Close-up of the wild traverse. Needles Eye seen on the right.
Coming down from Bobbin Peak, you can see the ridgeline to Peak 2296 in the center. We descended from Bobbin on this Class 2/3 wide slope weakness.
Coming down from Bobbin Peak, you can see the ridgeline to Peak 2296 in the center. We descended from Bobbin on this Class 2/3 wide slope weakness.
View back up the weakness.
View back up the weakness.
Starting along the ridge to Peak 2296.
Starting along the ridge to Peak 2296.
View back toward Bobbin Peak.
View back toward Bobbin Peak.
A likely necessary Class 3+ crack to get to the crest.
A likely necessary Class 3+ crack to get to the crest.
Along the crest.
Along the crest.
View back again toward Bobbin Peak.
View back again toward Bobbin Peak.
Class 3 on the way up.
Class 3 on the way up.
False summit, view toward Peak 2296 (left). It was Class 3.
False summit, view toward Peak 2296 (left). It was Class 3.
Exposed Class 3/4 coming down from Peak 2296. I skipped what Petey is doing and instead used a stiffer short wall on the left near Chris.
Exposed Class 3/4 coming down from Peak 2296. I skipped what Petey is doing and instead used a stiffer short wall on the left near Chris.
View back toward the descent from Peak 2296.
View back toward the descent from Peak 2296.
Avoiding a scary fin by dropping right.
Avoiding a scary fin by dropping right.
View back as we wrap around the scary fin.
View back as we wrap around the scary fin.
Along the base of the scary fin, which eventually led us back to the crest.
Along the base of the scary fin, which eventually led us back to the crest.
View back toward Peak 2296. We avoided the scary fin in the center.
View back toward Peak 2296. We avoided the scary fin in the center.
Traverse to come. The hump on the left is something we'll need to avoid.
Traverse to come. The hump on the left is something we'll need to avoid.
Pleasant ridge stroll for a while.
Pleasant ridge stroll for a while.
Approaching the base of an inconvenient lump. We side-hilled around it on the right.
Approaching the base of an inconvenient lump. We side-hilled around it on the right.
View back toward Peak 2296 as we side-hill around a lump.
View back toward Peak 2296 as we side-hill around a lump.
View back as we ascend back to the ridgeline, past the lump obstacle.
View back as we ascend back to the ridgeline, past the lump obstacle.
Class 3 along the ridge.
Class 3 along the ridge.
Peak 2368 ahead. Some complex terrain ahead, made easier by a sheep trail.
Peak 2368 ahead. Some complex terrain ahead, made easier by a sheep trail.
A fun ramp.
A fun ramp.
Continuing along the crest.
Continuing along the crest.
Convenient sheep trail.
Convenient sheep trail.
The trail wraps around cliffs, up and out of gullies.
The trail wraps around cliffs, up and out of gullies.
A nice ledge along the sheep trail.
A nice ledge along the sheep trail.
View back as we ascend back to the ridgeline. Bobbin Peak seen center.
View back as we ascend back to the ridgeline. Bobbin Peak seen center.
Approaching the base of Peak 2368. It's Class 3 from here.
Approaching the base of Peak 2368. It's Class 3 from here.
View back along the ridge as we all get up the first bit.
View back along the ridge as we all get up the first bit.
A view toward Peak 2368, a wannabe-knife-edge separating us. Needles Eye visible right of center.
A view toward Peak 2368, a wannabe-knife-edge separating us. Needles Eye visible right of center.
Close-up at the Class 3 ascent to Peak 2368.
Close-up at the Class 3 ascent to Peak 2368.
View back toward the summit. A ramp leads down.
View back toward the summit. A ramp leads down.
Class 2/3 ramp along the east side of Peak 2368.
Class 2/3 ramp along the east side of Peak 2368.
Descending a gully below Peak 2368. We left this gully to gain a minor saddle on the right.
Descending a gully below Peak 2368. We left this gully to gain a minor saddle on the right.
View toward Needles Eye. Some of us took the ridge on the right, while others dropped lower. Both routes we took ultimately traverse below the impossible cliffs seen center.
View toward Needles Eye. Some of us took the ridge on the right, while others dropped lower. Both routes we took ultimately traverse below the impossible cliffs seen center.
Class 2/3 gully down.
Class 2/3 gully down.
Petey and I coming up our chosen Class 2/3 route. Had we gone the high road it would have been probably less effort, but with one harder move.
Petey and I coming up our chosen Class 2/3 route. Had we gone the high road it would have been probably less effort, but with one harder move.
Back with our friends, traversing beneath the east cliff face of Needles Eye.
Back with our friends, traversing beneath the east cliff face of Needles Eye.
View back toward Peak 2368 as we traverse the base of the cliffs. You can see the Class 2/3 gully we came down earlier top right.
View back toward Peak 2368 as we traverse the base of the cliffs. You can see the Class 2/3 gully we came down earlier top right.
Ascending, keeping left beneath the cliffs.
Ascending, keeping left beneath the cliffs.
Eventually we got to this Class 2, steep, loose gully. It leads to a notch.
Eventually we got to this Class 2, steep, loose gully. It leads to a notch.
View back down the gully from the notch. Peak 2368 seen center. The arch that Needles Eye is named for seen top left.
View back down the gully from the notch. Peak 2368 seen center. The arch that Needles Eye is named for seen top left.
Class 3 up rom the notch.
Class 3 up rom the notch.
Final pitch to Needles Eye. Holy rainbow!
Final pitch to Needles Eye. Holy rainbow!
Close-up of the Class 3 pitch to Needles Eye's summit.
Close-up of the Class 3 pitch to Needles Eye's summit.
View back at the scramble.
View back at the scramble.
Needles Eye summit, view back along the traverse. Bobbin Peak seen left of center.
Needles Eye summit, view back along the traverse. Bobbin Peak seen left of center.
We backtracked to the notch and descended this wide slope, hopped over the ridge seen center, and continued descending.
We backtracked to the notch and descended this wide slope, hopped over the ridge seen center, and continued descending.
View back toward the notch (center).
View back toward the notch (center).
Descending, cool formations ahead.
Descending, cool formations ahead.
Descending toward the gully seen right of center.
Descending toward the gully seen right of center.
Class 2/3 gully.
Class 2/3 gully.
Image 67 from gallery
View back up the gully after wrapping around an unexpected dryfall obstacle.
View back up the gully after wrapping around an unexpected dryfall obstacle.
Wandering through the desert within the Trigo Mountain foothills in search of a burro trail.
Wandering through the desert within the Trigo Mountain foothills in search of a burro trail.
Once we were on a burro trail, it was easy hiking.
Once we were on a burro trail, it was easy hiking.
Trigo Mountains in the background. The burro trail hit an ATV trail, which then led to the road and our cars.
Trigo Mountains in the background. The burro trail hit an ATV trail, which then led to the road and our cars.

Hire me or show me some love!

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!