Organ Peak via The Narrows in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, NM

Hike Organ Peak via The Narrows Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, NM

Class 2 10.1 miles 3600 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Mar 8, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Organ Peak via The Narrows GPX Track

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While super pretty and definitely less frequently visited than Organ Needle, Organ Peak doesn't have the fun scramble you can find on the Needle. I originally expected this to be mostly a bushwhack, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a pretty much completely clear social trail from start to finish of this hike.

From the popular Fillmore Canyon Trail, look for a trail that juts out on the right just before you get to the canyon mouth, about a mile into the hike. Follow this social trail through the super pretty Organ Mountains meadow-looking landscape as it pretty moderately takes you uphill to The Narrows, a very short but interesting section of towering rock walls. After the Narrows, the trail follows Fillmore Canyon for a bit and then there seem to be cairns all over the place. Ultimately, after observing from higher up, I'm very happy with the route I took. I added a cairn to make this route clearer on my way back for good measure. Anyway, follow the ridge (pretty esy to follow) steeply to the saddle between Organ Peak and some little unnamed sub-peak with an odd observatory-looking remnant at the summit. It was too tempting not to go check out, and after getting back, research shows it's an abandoned military observatory for Fort Bliss, or something. Continue along the obvious ridgeline, with a couple of sections of easy Class 2, to the Organ Peak summit. You get absurd views of the Organ Needle and Baldy Peak.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Organ Peak
8872 ft
1012 rise

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Starting out along the Fillmore Trail.
Starting out along the Fillmore Trail.
Social trail juts off on the right. When I was here, there was a small cairn.
Social trail juts off on the right. When I was here, there was a small cairn.
Heading up the social trail to Organ Peak.
Heading up the social trail to Organ Peak.
Image 3 from gallery
Not Organ Peak, but a crazy cool cliff face along the way.
Not Organ Peak, but a crazy cool cliff face along the way.
A few forested sections.
A few forested sections.
A bone tree!
A bone tree!
Organ Peak popping up ahead.
Organ Peak popping up ahead.
Looking back down Fillmore Canyon along the Organ Peak Trail.
Looking back down Fillmore Canyon along the Organ Peak Trail.
Approaching the Narrows.
Approaching the Narrows.
The Narrows.
The Narrows.
Image 11 from gallery
Looking back toward The Narrows along the way to Organ Peak.
Looking back toward The Narrows along the way to Organ Peak.
Organ Peak ahead, getting closer.
Organ Peak ahead, getting closer.
Image 14 from gallery
Debris from a plane crash (maybe?) within Fillmore Canyon on the Organ Peak Trail.
Debris from a plane crash (maybe?) within Fillmore Canyon on the Organ Peak Trail.
My chosen route (there was a solid trail) up the ridge. There were lots of options, but this one called my name.
My chosen route (there was a solid trail) up the ridge. There were lots of options, but this one called my name.
Along the ascent ridge, looking back toward Organ Needle (right).
Along the ascent ridge, looking back toward Organ Needle (right).
Organ Peak ahead on the right!
Organ Peak ahead on the right!
Looking back toward Fillmore Canyon (left) and Organ Needle (right).
Looking back toward Fillmore Canyon (left) and Organ Needle (right).
Sub-peak with an abandoned military observatory.
Sub-peak with an abandoned military observatory.
Military observatory.
Military observatory.
Ridgeline to Organ Peak from the sub-peak with the observatory.
Ridgeline to Organ Peak from the sub-peak with the observatory.
Organ Needle (north) from the sub-peak with the observatory.
Organ Needle (north) from the sub-peak with the observatory.
Continuing along the ridge to Organ Peak.
Continuing along the ridge to Organ Peak.
Looking back along the ridge toward Organ Needle (left).
Looking back along the ridge toward Organ Needle (left).
Sections of Class 2 along the ridge to Organ Peak.
Sections of Class 2 along the ridge to Organ Peak.
Organ Peak summit, looking back along the summit ridgeline (right), Organ Needle (left).
Organ Peak summit, looking back along the summit ridgeline (right), Organ Needle (left).
View southwest toward Baldy Peak from the Organ Peak summit.
View southwest toward Baldy Peak from the Organ Peak summit.
Baldy Peak close-up.
Baldy Peak close-up.

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!