White Horse Hill to Nogal Peak via Crest Trail Loop in Lincoln National Forest, NM

Hike White Horse Hill to Nogal Peak via Crest Trail Loop Lincoln National Forest, NM

Class 2 18.8 miles 5600 gain 8-11 hrs Loop Apr 24, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

White Horse Hill to Nogal Peak via Crest Trail Loop GPX Track

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I definitely recommend heading up toward White Horse Hill first rather than Nogal Peak because you can always take one of the many trails leading down canyons to return to the Argentina/Big Bonito Trailhead, whereas the Skull Springs Trail is separate from the other trails' origin.

New Mexico regularly surprises me with really interesting gems all throughout the state, and this loop along the Crest Trail of the White Mountain Wilderness in the Sierra Blanca Range is among the best. Usually, traverses along ridges require a shuttle, but this region has a great trail system that allowed for a full loop. Starting from the Argentina/Big Bonito Trailhead, head up the Big Bonito Trail to the Aspen Trail, and then onto the Crest Trail, just below White Horse Hill. Head up the steep slope to summit White Horse Hill (no official trail) where you can see White Sands in the distance, and then get back on the Crest Trail, continuing northeast. Along the ridge, you can see Nogal Peak way in the distance, and there's a chance to go slightly off-trail to bag Spring Point and Argentina Peak, both which have nice views of the area. Once you get to the junction with the Skull Springs Trail (the descent trail), decide if you want to head directly up Nogal Peak (my route), which has no trail and is full of awful thorny bushes but saves a couple miles round-trip. Alternatively, you could continue along the crest trail and ascend from the east ridge. From Nogal Peak, you can see Sierra Blanca Peak peeking out on the other end of the mountain range. Descend the Skull Springs Trail and head back on dirt roads to get to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
White Horse Hill
10255 ft
435 rise
2
Argentina Peak
9198 ft
318 rise
3
Nogal Peak
9957 ft
1157 rise

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Along the Big Bonito Trail.
Along the Big Bonito Trail.
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Along the Aspen Trail.
Along the Aspen Trail.
Aspen Trail opens up to a big grassy slope.
Aspen Trail opens up to a big grassy slope.
Image 7 from gallery
Looking down toward the Aspen Trail in the canyon below, Nogal Peak visible on the top right (last peak of the day). Seems far from here.
Looking down toward the Aspen Trail in the canyon below, Nogal Peak visible on the top right (last peak of the day). Seems far from here.
White Horse Hill is up to the left, not yet visible.
White Horse Hill is up to the left, not yet visible.
Looking back down the grassy slope.
Looking back down the grassy slope.
White Horse Hill ahead. There's no trail to the summit, but the Crest Trail is a couple hundred feet below it. Just bushwhack to the summit.
White Horse Hill ahead. There's no trail to the summit, but the Crest Trail is a couple hundred feet below it. Just bushwhack to the summit.
Summit of White Horse Hill looking toward White Sands National Monument.
Summit of White Horse Hill looking toward White Sands National Monument.
Summit of White Horse Hill looking at Sierra Blanca Peak, peeking out top right.
Summit of White Horse Hill looking at Sierra Blanca Peak, peeking out top right.
Along the Crest Trail, after summiting White Horse Hill.
Along the Crest Trail, after summiting White Horse Hill.
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Looking back toward White Horse Hill.
Looking back toward White Horse Hill.
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Nogal Peak on the right, continuing along the Crest Trail.
Nogal Peak on the right, continuing along the Crest Trail.
Looking back toward White Horse Hill (left).
Looking back toward White Horse Hill (left).
Spring Point coming up. Short bushwhack with some minor Class 2 stuff.
Spring Point coming up. Short bushwhack with some minor Class 2 stuff.
Spring Point summit, looking toward Nogal Peak.
Spring Point summit, looking toward Nogal Peak.
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Approaching Argentina Peak.
Approaching Argentina Peak.
Argentina Peak looking back toward White Horse Hill.
Argentina Peak looking back toward White Horse Hill.
Continuing toward Nogal Peak, still a bit away.
Continuing toward Nogal Peak, still a bit away.
Looking back along the Crest Trail.
Looking back along the Crest Trail.
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Getting closer to Nogal Peak.
Getting closer to Nogal Peak.
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Passing what I assume would be Turkey Springs, since this is Turkey Canyon. Not sure.
Passing what I assume would be Turkey Springs, since this is Turkey Canyon. Not sure.
Nogal Peak up ahead!
Nogal Peak up ahead!
Base of Nogal Peak. It doesn't look awful from here, but going directly up the west ridge means likely getting very scratched up.
Base of Nogal Peak. It doesn't look awful from here, but going directly up the west ridge means likely getting very scratched up.
After the scratchy stuff on Nogal Peak, looking back along the Crest Trail ridgeline.
After the scratchy stuff on Nogal Peak, looking back along the Crest Trail ridgeline.
Approaching the Nogal Peak summit.
Approaching the Nogal Peak summit.
Nogal Peak summit looking back.
Nogal Peak summit looking back.
Skull Springs Trail descent route.
Skull Springs Trail descent route.
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Skull Springs.
Skull Springs.
Looking back up the Skull Springs Trail toward Nogal Peak (center).
Looking back up the Skull Springs Trail toward Nogal Peak (center).
Image 42 from gallery
Dirt road at the end of the Skull Springs Trail. Take this back to the trailhead.
Dirt road at the end of the Skull Springs Trail. Take this back to the trailhead.

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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!