Ranger Peak Ridgeline via B-36 Crash Site in Franklin Mountains State Park, TX

Hike Ranger Peak Ridgeline via B-36 Crash Site Franklin Mountains State Park, TX

Class 2 4.2 miles 1600 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Feb 18, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Ranger Peak Ridgeline via B-36 Crash Site GPX Track

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Starting along the 1000 Steps Trail, look for a not-so-obvious gully with cairns leading steeply up to the B-36 plane crash site. The plane crash has a memorial, and when you're done checking it out, find a use trail leading up toward the Ranger Peak Loop Trail, a short bit away. I was confused here, though. Maps mark Ranger Peak as being the Arial Tramway, but there is a summit register at a higher point along the Ranger Peak Trail. However, this summit register is below a cliff, an obivously higher point. So, what's the actual Ranger Peak? I guess it doesn't matter, but I did a Class 3 scramble to gain the Ranger Peak Ridge and followed this really nice ridge until I found a big cairn at the top of a higher point, which I am going to consider to be Ranger Peak. It turned out that this ridge scramble was unnecessary, as there's a use trail leading back to the register, bringing theis route back to Class 2. Though, this is a great intro Class 3 scramble because it's fairly easy and not in a remote place at all. Anyway, I continued along the Ranger Peak Loop Trail until I got back to the 1000 Steps Trail, and followed this back to my car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Ranger Peak
5653 ft
73 rise

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Starting along the 1000 Steps Trail.
Starting along the 1000 Steps Trail.
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Leave the 1000 Steps Trail and head up a no-trail gully toward the B-36 Crash Site.
Leave the 1000 Steps Trail and head up a no-trail gully toward the B-36 Crash Site.
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B-36 Crash Site
B-36 Crash Site
Image 8 from gallery
B-36 Crash Site memorial.
B-36 Crash Site memorial.
Image 10 from gallery
Continue up the gully from the B-36 Crash Site.
Continue up the gully from the B-36 Crash Site.
You get to an "overlook" where you can see the crash site. That peak ahead is what I "thought" was Ranger Peak...
You get to an "overlook" where you can see the crash site. That peak ahead is what I "thought" was Ranger Peak...
...however, maps mark the radio tower pictured here as the Ranger Peak summit. I dunno.
...however, maps mark the radio tower pictured here as the Ranger Peak summit. I dunno.
At the Ranger Peak register, which again is misleading because this clearly isn't a summit. So, I scrambled up that butte ahead.
At the Ranger Peak register, which again is misleading because this clearly isn't a summit. So, I scrambled up that butte ahead.
Along the Ranger Peak ridgeline. A fun very easy Class 3 scramble.
Along the Ranger Peak ridgeline. A fun very easy Class 3 scramble.
Looking back toward what maps mark as Ranger Peak, but clearly it's much lower than where I am.
Looking back toward what maps mark as Ranger Peak, but clearly it's much lower than where I am.
Approaching a higher point.
Approaching a higher point.
Looking north toward South Franklin Mountain a cairn marking what I assume is the actual Ranger Peak.
Looking north toward South Franklin Mountain a cairn marking what I assume is the actual Ranger Peak.
Heading back down from Ranger Peak, along an actual trail that I had overlooked.
Heading back down from Ranger Peak, along an actual trail that I had overlooked.
Continue down the 1000 Steps Trail.
Continue down the 1000 Steps Trail.
1000 Steps Trail leads back to the trailhead.
1000 Steps Trail leads back to the trailhead.

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!