Mummy's Toe v Deer Creek Trail - 7/28/25

Mummy's Toe from ridge Point

Charleston Peak (L) and Mummy Mountain (R) from Toe Summit

Ancient bristlecones just below Toe Summit

Starting hike on Cougar Ridge Trail

Mummy Mountain provides several peak opportunities. There's Mummy's Tummy, Mummy's Nose, Mummy's Chin, Mummy's Forehead, Mummy's Knee, etc. But the most easily accessible is Mummy's Toe. A hike up to the Mummy's Toe Peak is strenuous, however, it can be done by mostly class 2 trail. There is a little bit of scrambling involved and some precariously steep scree-filled sections ... not to mention the 2500' of elevation feet to get there! The shortest route to the Toe begins at the Cougar Ridge Trailhead on Deer Creek Road. It is located across the road from the beginning of Cougar Ridge Trail, a dirt road that services various cabins and summer homes up the hill. We hiked the dirt road up until it took a pronounced right angle turn to the right. Here, the Deer Creek Trail continued straight into the brush and flowers along the upper portion of Deer Creek. It is a good trail that leads through the brush and up to the lower end point of Deer Creek Ridge. Here, you take a right at a large Landmark Rock and climb steeply up to top the ridge point. The trail continues up while balancing the ridge with views of the Toe ahead. This part of the climb (between the ridge mount and the Mummy's Toe Trail junction) amounts to 700' of the elevation gain. 

Deer Creek Trail

Gaining the Ridge

Nearing the Mummy's Toe Trail Junction

Break at first Switchback

Near the junction, the Deer Creek Ridge Trail sidles through an old campsite then hikers reach the perpendicularly placed Mummy's Toe Trail. Turning to the left takes you to the Mummy's Springs area. We turned to the right and began seven switchbacks. On the first corner, we stopped for a small break on a log. So far, the pace that Jerry set was slow and steady. Very palatable. The five club members rested quickly and started again on the switchbacks. At the end of the sharp turns, we continued straight into a traverse above the Mummy Springs area. There are a few fallen trees in this area that must be climbed over but the trail is clear. A view of the Toe rose in front of us.

Hiking across top of Mummy Springs Area

Steep trail after Switchbacks

Pleasant traverse after Chute

Kay climbs the Chute

Following the cairns on the middle traverse Trail

The traverse ends with restarting the ascent and soon, we were climbing small steeper switchbacks as the trail made its way up below a cliff band. The cliff band has a chute in the middle of it. The trail leads up twisting and turning to this chute that cannot be seen until you have hiked along the wall on its left. If you want to take one of the other use trails lying around, make sure that you reach the top of this chute eventually. After we scrambled up the chute, we saw the trail going uphill to the right of us. But, there are two more trails that turn to the left. We like what I will call the middle trail. The lower trail takes you down to the base of the cliff band. It is a beautiful trail but will eventually require you to climb steeply up to meet the middle trail.

Junction with the last trail before final Ascent

Steep and slippery climb up to the Toe Summit

Five on Mummy's Toe

Summit photos and break out of the Wind

Beautiful brislecone just below Summit

The middle trail takes a fork up to the right and, as gently as possible, traverses over to fork into the upper trail. (The upper trail takes the hiker by the Knee with gorgeous views of the cliffs.) Our middle trail ends by joining the upper trail near the final ascent through the scree. This last section of ascent amounts to ~130' of gain. The trail is very steep and provides few precarious footings on the descent. Regardless, when you pass by the gorgeous ancient bristlecone that stands guard at the summit block, you have reached your goal. Just a small scramble up to the small scree-covered peak and you have earned a nice break. Views are far and wide. However, on this hike, the wind was cold and swift.

Desert Foothills from below Summit

View along the summit Cliffs

Starting down the crazy Descent

Hiking back along the Traverse

We signed into the log and took photos before we retreated down off the summit block to a non-windy spot for our break. It is definitely an amazing place to be for a few moments. Then, very slowly, we descended to that last forked junction and proceeded to return to the cars on the exact same route we had used to go up. There was no rushing. We all liked that very much. Jerry and Cheryl are still my favorite hike leaders!

Stats: 5.6 miles; 2500' gain; 5.25 hours

"Well, Kay! Are you coming?"

Descending from Deer Creek Ridge

Mummy Mountain (incomplete) and the Around the Bend Friends

Showing upper and middle trails to summit.

Mummy Springs Loop v East Descent - 7/26/25

View at Mummy Springs

Mummy's Toe from Deer Creek Ridge

Point of Campsite Ridge

Deer Creek Trail Junction

While two Lady Hikers are out of town, Susan and I hiked up to Mummy Springs. The Deer Creek Trail is well travelled of late and it was a Saturday but we arrived at the Cougar Ridge Trailhead early and caught one of the parking spots in the lot that was already half full. Since some of the major trails in the Spring Mountains are closed, the trails that are open get busy fast on the weekend. We crossed Deer Creek Road and started walking up the dirt road that services the summer homes at the top of the hill. This area was originally developed with primitive cabins on Cougar Ridge Trail. The project was begun by a Colorado construction company back in 1929. The old cabins are still there.

Ascending to Deer Creek Ridge

Arriving on Deer Creek Ridge

Trail to Mummy Springs from Ridge

Taking in view at Mummy Springs

We hiked up the dirt road, along Deer Creek on our right, until the road took a 90 degree turn to the right across a bridge. Straight ahead, the Deer Creek Trail began within the beautiful Shooting Stars and Columbines that grew in the wet soil next to the creek. Although the Deer Creek Trail weaves back an forth as it changes directions from old routes and new routes, it is fairly easy to follow. Just keep the creek on your left and the ridges on your right. Soon, you arrive at the "Landmark Rock." This is where the Deer Creek Trail turns up to the right and climbs steeply up onto the point of a ridge. Now the trail balances this ridge all the way up to where it will junction with the Mummy's Toe Trail. We climbed slowly. We're never in any hurry. About the only thing of any note is a "stick sculpture!" If you ever do this hike, you will know what I'm talking about when you see it. It's kind of like a rock cairn made out of sticks and small logs stacked inside three small trunks of a dead tree. The views from Deer Creek Ridge are great! You are in the middle of two of the Spring Mountains' greatest peaks and they appear to be there for the taking. Mummy's Toe and Mummy's Nose rise between the trees on the ridge. Across the canyon to the left is an interesting ridge called Wild Horse Ridge.

Susan and the view from the Springs

Left side of Springs

Left side of Springs

Hummingbird drinking spring Water

After the slow steep climb, we junctioned with the Mummy's Toe Trail and turned left. A short easy walk brought us to Mummy Springs. It was situated up the hill to the right. We admired the trickle of water coming over the small cliff band and climbed up to it. When I got there, there was a small green hummingbird enjoying a drink. Lots of photos later, we saw an admiral butterfly among the combines. Next, we descended back to the Mummy's Toe & Spring Trail and took a right to head toward Raintree, our original plan. It wasn't long before Susan had talked me into making a descent down the East Route. She had not done this and I had never led this route. Hmm. Fun!

Weidemeyer's admiral butterfly among the Columbines

Deer Creek Ridge from below Mummy Springs

Kay sits at Campsite Ridge

Scree hill below Campsite Ridge Point

We hiked down to the campsite that has been there for many years. Heading straight along the ridge, we came to the rock outcrops that punctuated the point of the ridge. A trail continues down past the rocks on a steep scree covered hill. We worked our way slowly down as the ridge narrowed. Another trail crossed our trail and indicated a right turn. I have gone that way once. The other times, I have taken a left turn somewhere along the shrinking ridge. It would have been more prudent of me to continue down the ridge a little further but Susan and I went ahead and turned left in this area. Wow! Steepness abounds! But, in no hurry, we carefully made our way down the hill toward the mess of deadfall and brush below. As we neared the mess, we could see paths through the brush and fallen trees. We were on a smaller ridge that was coming to a point as we descended. The more logical route through the mess brought us to the right side of the smaller ridge where we came upon a small intermediate wash. Finding a place to sit for a break, we looked to the rock next to us and, voila, there was a cairn! Perfect! So, after the break, we continued down that wash and up to its left side to junction with a much larger wash intersection.

Susan deals with the scree hill Trail

View down the steep route to the Left

Crossing above the Deadfall

Kay leads over to the Gulley

Ahead of us, there were a few large trees lying in the washes. The largest tree lying vertically was familiar to me and we made our way down past it connecting to a trail on the left side. This trail was the way out! We followed the trail and came upon the landmark rock where we had started climbing up to Deer Creek Ridge on the ascent. What a fun partial exploratory! Susan and I followed the Deer Creek Trail on down between the sawmill area and Deer Creek. Weaving around on the maintained and re-maintained (and re-maintained) trails, we found our way to the dirt road, Cougar Ridge Trail. All that was left was the road back to the car. When we reached the trailhead, there were literally cars everywhere! It was a fun and beautiful day. 

Stats: 4 miles; 1500' gain; 4 hours

Nice surprise! Small cairn just where we needed it!

Yep! A big mess to hike through ... or, around!

Back on the Deer Creek Trail