Trip report
Notes
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.
Apr 24, 2018 — 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.