Cargo Muchacho Mountains High Point

Cargo Muchacho Mountains BLM, CA Colorado Desert (Western Sonoran Desert)

Trip stats

Distance
5.7 mi
Net Gain
1,500 ft
Time
3-5 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 2
Route
Out/Back
Peaks
1

Ratings out of 10

Effort
3.5/10
Personality
6/10
Beauty
6/10
Solitude
6.3/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

  1. Cargo Muchacho Mountains High Point
    2,217′ elevation · 1,417′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

32.879170, -114.766640

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

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.

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Photos

20 photos

  1. From my parking spot, I dropped into the wash on the right.
  2. I stumbled on an ATV road, which I followe.
  3. The road made the hike quite easy for the first bit.
  4. I reached a junction, left would be my descent later. Right is where the ATV road continued, and I followed it.
  5. The ATV road ended and I ended up boulder-hopping up the wash.
  6. Looking back at my progress up the wash.
  8. Nearing a minor saddle at the head of the wash.
  9. Looking back the way I came from the minor saddle.
  10. View from the minor saddle, looking down the opposite side. My route dropped down a bit, then skirted around the rock outcropping on the left. From there, I entered the drainage next to the one pictured here.
  11. Starting up the drainage, "Drainage 2". I stayed in it only for a short time, deciding I wanted to start ascending on the right in one of numerous possible gullies.
  12. Looking back as I start my ascent out of "drainage 2". You can see the rock outcropping I avoided in the center, and the minor saddle I just descended from hidden just behind the rock outcropping on the left.
  13. Continuing up my chosen Class 2/2+ gully.
  14. Looking back at my progress. It was a pretty fun scramble, even though some of the rock was loose.
  15. Final push to the summit.
  16. Cargo Muchacho Mountains High Point summit. You can see the rock outcropping I avoided on the left, and the minor saddle I descended from left of it. Right of center is the wash I hiked up. In the center of the photo is my soon-to-be chosen descent gully that would meet up with the fork I had left earlier.
  17. Close-up toward my descent gully route, and the wash I hiked up. My car is somewhere top center. Stud Mountain visible top right.
  18. Close-up toward Picacho Peak in the distance.
  19. I descended a random gully and made it back into "drainage 2". I then began descending the left fork (southern line in attached map), pictured here.
  20. Some Class 2/3 stuff to contend with, but it's nothing out of the ordinary for the Mojave.

Photo 1 of 1

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Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

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GPX track

Cargo Muchacho Mountains High Point GPX route and driving track

The complete GPX track is available to download, so you can load the route straight into your navigation app or device. The trip report, route info, photos and planning details stay free.

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