Carsons Benchmark and Lincoln’s Nose Loop in Turtle Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Hike Carsons Benchmark and Lincoln’s Nose Loop Turtle Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Class 3 8.1 miles 2800 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Mar 1, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Carsons Benchmark and Lincoln’s Nose Loop GPX Track

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Any car can make it here (34.43005, -114.82584), but high clearance is required for a couple of big dips and decent tires for rocky sections past this leading to the trailhead. Not being able to drive this section would result in an additional two miles round-trip. We set out along a deteriorated dirt road into the wilderness area, following it until it entered the major wash north of Carsons Benchmark. Along the wash were some delighful rock formations and cliffs on either side, and we gawked at the sheer cliff surrounding Lincoln's Nose (our final peak of this loop). We headed up the drainage directly south on our way to Peak 3585. Reaching this peak required Class 2 scrambling up a bouldery and sometimes somewhat brushy drainage leading to the saddle shared by Peak 3585 and Carsons Benchmark, followed by some straightforward slope walking with a single Class 2 move about halfway up. The Class 2 move keeps to the right of the obvious cliff band that looks way more intimidating than it turned out to be. The summit views of the more serious northern Mopah peaks were visible to the north.

Back at the saddle, we continued east up the slope and followed a pretty good animal trail that avoided a bump along the ridge, which spit us out at the base of Carsons Benchmark. The terrain was mostly gradual with some easy Class 2 and the summit views were quite nice. The most technical section of the day commenced from Carsons Benchmark, but it really only involves some easy Class 3. We followed the northeastern ridge which quickly became broken and jagged, a short down-climb required. Ahead along the ridge were a series of scary-looking pinnacle, which we avoided by dropping through a notch on a steep slope and side-hilling along the west face of the pinnacles. This terrain is loose and not great, but the views are fantastic. A short Class 2+/3 climb led over a rock outcropping and back onto the main ridgeline. This section of ridge was mostly flat and not rocky, except for one Class 2 section to get over a cliff band. The route from here leading to Lincoln's Nose was Class 2.

We toyed with the idea of descending from Lincoln's Nose into the canyon on its east to make the loop more efficient, but it looked incredibly steep and like more effort thna it would be worth. Instead, we backtracked from Lincoln's Nose and descended on Class 2 terrain to the south. This route had a couple of cairns and it was clear it would be the best option. Some Class 2+ moves within the narrowing drainage led into a very short section of narrows and then we found ourselves boulder-hopping on massive boulders as we made our way out of the drainage. The mouth of the drainage hosted Coffin Spring and an old water containment system of some sort. An old road led from the ruins back into our approach wash, where we retraced our steps back to the cars.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 3585
3585 ft
518 rise
2
Carsons Benchmark
3760 ft
1218 rise
3
Lincoln's Nose
3602 ft
305 rise

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Walking along the old road through the wilderness area. Ahead you can see Fools Point, quite an undertaking from another day.
Walking along the old road through the wilderness area. Ahead you can see Fools Point, quite an undertaking from another day.
The road became a bit hard to follow, but ultimately led into the major wash on the west side of Carsons Benchmark. We headed north to the gully just above Matt.
The road became a bit hard to follow, but ultimately led into the major wash on the west side of Carsons Benchmark. We headed north to the gully just above Matt.
Shot up at the sheer cliffs of Lincoln's Nose as we make our way up the wash.
Shot up at the sheer cliffs of Lincoln's Nose as we make our way up the wash.
Class 2 up this gully.
Class 2 up this gully.
View down the gully, we ascended from the wash on the right in this photo.
View down the gully, we ascended from the wash on the right in this photo.
At the top of the gully, heading along the ridge to Peak 3585. The route leads to the right of the cliff bands visible on the left in this photo.
At the top of the gully, heading along the ridge to Peak 3585. The route leads to the right of the cliff bands visible on the left in this photo.
View back toward the gully (far right) and Carsons Benchmark (top right).
View back toward the gully (far right) and Carsons Benchmark (top right).
Easy slope most of the way up to Peak 3585.
Easy slope most of the way up to Peak 3585.
Making progress, view toward Carsons Benchmark (center) and Lincoln's Nose (far left).
Making progress, view toward Carsons Benchmark (center) and Lincoln's Nose (far left).
Peak 3585 summit, view north toward the more difficult Nopah range peaks.
Peak 3585 summit, view north toward the more difficult Nopah range peaks.
Back along the ridge, Carsons Benchmark is next. There's a hump along the ridge that's in the way (seen top right). We avoided it via an animal trail on its left slope.
Back along the ridge, Carsons Benchmark is next. There's a hump along the ridge that's in the way (seen top right). We avoided it via an animal trail on its left slope.
view back toward Peak 3585 (left).
view back toward Peak 3585 (left).
Tyler visible at the base of Carsons Benchmark. Class 2 would lead up the ridge.
Tyler visible at the base of Carsons Benchmark. Class 2 would lead up the ridge.
View back toward Peak 3585 (top right) and the hump we avoided via animal trail (top center).
View back toward Peak 3585 (top right) and the hump we avoided via animal trail (top center).
Class 2 to Carsons Benchmark.
Class 2 to Carsons Benchmark.
Almost to the summit of Carsons Benchmark, view back along the ridge. Peak 3585 left of center, Kelbaholt Peak far top right.
Almost to the summit of Carsons Benchmark, view back along the ridge. Peak 3585 left of center, Kelbaholt Peak far top right.
Carsons Benchmark summit, view southeast toward some of the Turtle Mountains.
Carsons Benchmark summit, view southeast toward some of the Turtle Mountains.
Headed down the other side of Carsons Benchmark to the most technical section of the hike. Lincoln's Nose is visible top left. On the right you can see some nutty-looking pinnacles that we would avoid by instead dropping through a notch adjacent to the small white rock band, leading onto the slope in the center of this photo. We would then head to the rock rib/outcrop in the center of this photo above the slope.
Headed down the other side of Carsons Benchmark to the most technical section of the hike. Lincoln's Nose is visible top left. On the right you can see some nutty-looking pinnacles that we would avoid by instead dropping through a notch adjacent to the small white rock band, leading onto the slope in the center of this photo. We would then head to the rock rib/outcrop in the center of this photo above the slope.
Class 3 down-climb from Carsons Benchmark. I'm standing just in front of the notch.
Class 3 down-climb from Carsons Benchmark. I'm standing just in front of the notch.
Image 19 from gallery
You can see a social trail behind Tyler that we used to side-hill along the slope leading from the notch. Carsons Benchmark is visible top center.
You can see a social trail behind Tyler that we used to side-hill along the slope leading from the notch. Carsons Benchmark is visible top center.
Shot looking back toward Carsons Benchmark as we head up the Class 2+/3 short rock outcrop previously mentioned to get back onto the primary ridgeline.
Shot looking back toward Carsons Benchmark as we head up the Class 2+/3 short rock outcrop previously mentioned to get back onto the primary ridgeline.
Back on the ridgeline, view toward Lincoln's Nose (top left).
Back on the ridgeline, view toward Lincoln's Nose (top left).
Some amazing colors as we made our way along the ridge.
Some amazing colors as we made our way along the ridge.
A wide shot of the area, gorgeous. Lincoln's Nose visible top right.
A wide shot of the area, gorgeous. Lincoln's Nose visible top right.
Some more easy side-hilling to avoid a cliff band.
Some more easy side-hilling to avoid a cliff band.
View back toward the ridgeline we came down from. It made more sense on the way down than it appears in this photo.
View back toward the ridgeline we came down from. It made more sense on the way down than it appears in this photo.
Lincoln's Nose ahead.
Lincoln's Nose ahead.
Class 2 to Lincoln's Nose.
Class 2 to Lincoln's Nose.
View back from the summit of Lincoln's Nose as Matt makes his way up. Carsons Benchmark visible top center.
View back from the summit of Lincoln's Nose as Matt makes his way up. Carsons Benchmark visible top center.
Lincoln's Nose summit, view north toward Kelbaholt Peak, Fools Point, and the other nuttier peaks of the area.
Lincoln's Nose summit, view north toward Kelbaholt Peak, Fools Point, and the other nuttier peaks of the area.
Back at the base of Lincoln's Nose, we locaed this Class 2 descent option on the south side. Carsons Benchmark visible above. Our route along the ridge from earlier is somewhat visible above.
Back at the base of Lincoln's Nose, we locaed this Class 2 descent option on the south side. Carsons Benchmark visible above. Our route along the ridge from earlier is somewhat visible above.
Class 2 down the drainage.
Class 2 down the drainage.
View back at our progress.
View back at our progress.
Entering a very short section of narrows. Not pictured is a section of very large boulders we had to hop along.
Entering a very short section of narrows. Not pictured is a section of very large boulders we had to hop along.
View back up as we reach Coffin Spring.
View back up as we reach Coffin Spring.
Some old water containment something-or-other near Coffin Spring. We followed the road on the left of it to reach the wash we came in on, retracing our steps back to the cars.
Some old water containment something-or-other near Coffin Spring. We followed the road on the left of it to reach the wash we came in on, retracing our steps back to the cars.

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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!