Deer Creek / Catch Pen Loop CCW (aka Orange Trail) - 9/30/17

Mummy's Toe from Descent

Catch Pen & Spring

Mummy Mountain from Ascent

Starting Down

 The Orange Trail (aka Deer Creek / Catch Pen Loop) is one of our many equestrian trails in the Spring Mountains NRA. This particular trail is rarely traveled, especially by hikers. The trailhead is found near the north end of Deer Creek Road 1/3 mile south of the Desert View Overlook turnout. If you are coming from the south, travel north on Deer Creek Road one mile past Archery Range Road, a dirt road on the left. The Orange Trailhead is found at a turnout on the east side of the road. There are two ways to hike from the trailhead. The right turn leads to the ridge descent while the left turn leads to the wash descent.

Orange Trail Ridge Descent

 Today, four hikers hiked the Orange Loop (aka Deer Creek / Catch Pen Loop) in a counter-clockwise direction. Therefore, we began with a right turn to find the ridge.

View Back to Mummy's Nose

 Right away, the trail presented itself very well. Wide and clear of superfluous rock.

Old Mountain Mahogany Trees on Trail

Sherry on Top of the Double Arch

 We headed out through the forest for a while, zigzagging our way down and over to the ridge that runs parallel to Deer Creek Canyon. We could not see the canyon until we were almost all the way down to the Middle Deer Creek Canyon Trail junction since it was over the next ridge. However, we were really enjoying the cool weather of the morning and were happy campers! Eventually, we popped out of the big pine forest trees and entered into the pinyon pine / juniper / mountain mahogany elevation level. The warmer temperatures were obvious.

Deer Creek Canyon view from Trail

 Several times, we turned around to take in the view of Mummy Mountain. In front of us, the view of the desert playas was breathtaking.

Descending to Catch Pen Junction

 This part of the trail was filled with loose rocks and the terrain steepened. But, the trail was very easy to follow.

Catch Pen & Spring (Buckets for Horses)

View to Lower Elevations

 We noted some fresh evidence of elk and burros so we turned on our radars. They have been seen in this vicinity before but not today. After passing the very old Deer Creek Loop sign propped up in the bush, we came to the Catch Pen & Spring. Someone has done some work on piping in the spring water so that buckets can be filled for the horses. We took the first of two breaks here in the shade and noted several game trails leading to the spring. Next, we turned left at the junction. This is the Middle Deer Creek Canyon Trail and it took us over to the Orange Loop junction. The trail sign is still in the bush where we placed it last year as seen in the next photo. Someone else weighted it down with some rocks.

Orange Trail Loop Junction

 We took a sharp turn to the left to find the ascent wash trail. We were still in desert terrain and didn't want to spend much more time in the heat.

Starting the Ascent

 So, methodically, we started climbing the trail that afforded great views of the whole of Mummy Mountain. Eventually, the trail dropped into a canyon wash where the trees provided a little more shade.

Some Fall Color

Cairns Mark Wash Crossings

 We climbed up through this wash until the trail led up and over the ridge to our left. It dropped us into the next wash and we followed the trail up through this canyon. The trail was easy to follow with the exception of only a couple of places. Minimal searching did the trick! After another break, we continued up through the wash on the trail until we reached the trailhead just after passing the Desert View Overlook high up on our right side. Although the weather was fairly nice, the effort did overheat one hiker. Be sure that you are prepared for desert hiking and don't attempt this trail in the summer. We had a great time on this interesting and adventurous endeavor!

8.5 miles; 1800 feet elevation gain; 4.75 hours

Various Views of Trail for the Ascent

Climbing up the Last Mile

Almost to the Orange Trailhead