Teepee Memorial Loop - 7/7/25

Charleston Peak as seen from Fletcher Saddle

Mummy's Toe through old bristlecone Tree

Lady Hikers at the Teepee Memorial

Starting up the North Loop Trail

For years, local hikers have used a particular location in the Spring Mountains to remember hikers that have passed on. This location has been memorialized by a small teepee that was built out of the way of the popular trails in the North Loop area. Before I go into vague detail as to how to get to the teepee, I want to ask you to respect this structure as you would a grave. I know of one or two of the hikers that were memorialized here. They were good people and I learned a lot from them. After all, much of what you learn about trails and routes usually is passed down from older hikers to younger hikers. Maybe more so historically than recently ... ya know ... with the internet and all! 

North Loop Trail

Kay and Sue turning the Corner

North Loop Trail lower Switchbacks

La Madre Mountains from lower North Loop Switchbacks

Bristlecone and Mummy's Nose from Meadow

Three Lady Hikers began at the North Loop Trailhead on Deer Creek Road and started their climb. It was the first time two of us had made the long climb up toward Raintree this summer. We took it very slow as expected. The North Loop Trail seems to have been cleaned just like the other popular trails we have hiked this summer. I don't hike this trail often since it is usually quite crowded. However, this hike was quiet with few other hikers. We enjoyed the day as we climbed up to the meadow and onward to the High Point Corner with only a few stops for a drink of water. At the corner, we rested for a couple of minutes and headed down toward Raintree through the beautiful old bristlecones, some of nature's best sculptures.

Climbing the higher Switchbacks

Finally! The High Point Corner

Greenery on a very old Bristlecone

Mummy's Toe rising above the Raintree Area

Charleston Peak's south loop Ridge

About 1/3 of a mile on up (down) the trail, we came to the junction for Fletcher Peak. It is somewhat of a hidden junction that masquerades as a sitting log. Here, the Fletcher Trail switchbacks to the left up and over this log. From the log, the trail goes along the side of the ridge until it makes a dive down to the right. At the bottom of the hill, we had arrived at the Fletcher Peak Saddle ... and our snack break point. We sat beside an intricate dead tree root and rested for a moment. This is the very top of the Hummingbird Gulch wash. We thought about continuing up the trail to Fletcher Peak but decided to leave it for another day. Our hike continued after the break by heading down a "barely there" trail that first paralleled the wash on its left side then veered more to the left as we went further downhill. The trail becomes more clear as you descend climbing over a couple of fallen trees.

The Fletcher Peak Trail at Fletcher Saddle

Pine Cones aplenty on the Teepee Trail

Teepee Trail through the Forest

Fletcher Peak across the Hummingbird Gulch

Teepee Trail with Deadfall

After the second fallen tree, we came to a swale that was filled with pine cones. The trail continued up and along the side of the hill across the wash. Soon, we came upon an area with a lot of fallen trees covering the trail. We went around the trees the best we could but the trail kept true to its direction. Coming to the top of a shaded forested area, we were lucky enough to see a small deer. We stood still and watched them as they moved slowly on. Here, the trail became a little less clear ... if that was possible. But, knowing the general direction of the trail, we continued as if we knew where we should go! In this area, there are about three different trails running parallel to each other. We tried to stay on the middle one, judging from my experience.

Shy Mule Deer

First sight of Teepee Memorial

"Angel Peak is over there!"

Susan visits the dead. 😔

View from near Teepee

We made our way around, through and over the deadfall trees but kept on the trail as close as possible. Peering through the trees, we spotted the small teepee sitting about 50 feet from the edge of the cliffs to the right. Reaching the teepee, we looked around remembering strong hikers that had gone before us. We took our group photo and continued our hike by taking a right angle turn to the left. Following our nose down the hill, we took in two more cliffside overlooks. Beautiful day with a little bit of smoke from distant wildfires. After the last overlook, we turned back to the left, hiked over the end of a fat ridge, down and across a gulley, over another fat ridge and up the other side. Here, we found the blazed tree that indicated that we were in the vicinity of the North Loop Trail. A small trail takes you down beside the next short wash to the main trail and we turned right to return to our cars that were about one mile down the North Loop Trail. Fun day's workout!

Stats: 5 miles; 1600' gain; 4.5 hours (I told you we were very slow going up the North Loop!)

Kay and Sue continue the Route

Susan climbs up to the blazed tree Landmark

North Loop Descent