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.