toejam

I enjoyed the Rancherias Loop so much last year I just did it again. Since this thread is the best source of Rancherias Loop information on the internet, I'll add some updates.

The park rangers assured me there had been no recent trailhead crime, even though you have to leave a paper in your window that says how long you'll be gone. This time I parked at the west trailhead so I wouldn't have to walk the road at the end. I initially tried to bushwhack over to the east trail, but about a mile in discovered water dripping from my pack where my hydration bladder had started to leak. I went back to the car for bottled water and stumbled a couple times on the way getting my hand in a cactus once. When I started over I walked down the road, which was a lot easier and quicker than the bushwhacking. If you bummed a ride from one trailhead to the other you would be less offensive-smelling at the start of your trip.

I had forgotten how faint this trail is. The first time I hiked it I was happy to get where I wanted to go, but this time I was able to stay on the trail more consistently. If you are patient, the cairns and the trail will appear. You will get fewer thorns in you if you stay on the trail. Although summer BDUs are about the greatest pants for hiking in the mountains, they provide precious little protection from desert flora. I wore heavy jeans last year that worked better.

There are several good legal campsites close to the water at the adobe houses in Panther Canyon. They are across the creek from the houses. There is a cave up the hill behind the houses where the family lived before the adobes were built.

I also discovered the best campsites at Rancherias Springs are downstream. I camped about a half mile down from where I was last year because the water wasn't flowing well in the upper part of the spring and the wild donkeys had it mucked up. The stream flows a lot better and is cleaner further down with good campsites near by on the west side.

I spent two nights at Rancherias Springs. I explored the Upper Guale Mesa, hiked the jeep road up towards Oso Peak and back down the North Rancherias drainage on the third day. It was all really beautiful. Looking off into Tapado Canyon from the Upper Guale Mesa was incredible. The edge of the cliff is loose and its a long way down!

Once again I saw no humans on the loop, but plenty of other wildlife, and the javelina weren't aggressive. If you go, watch your footing. It hurts really bad when you fall down in the desert, and you don't want to get injured on this hike.