Basin North Wash, NM

This canyon/wash has to be considered in two parts...

The lower section, basically the first two miles: shallow, open wash surrounded by low hills. It winds around, mostly with walking in the assorted size gravel of the wash bottom. There is very little bedrock walkway to enjoy. While not too overgrown, it is a touch on the dull side.

It does get better the higher you take it...

... too a point.

What has been extremely easy will now become hard (the canyon rating is all about this next section).

Around two miles in the canyon bends sharply to the north and begins to ascend Beeman Ridge.

The cut goes all the way up to the obvious saddle high up in the cliffs. If you proceed, the mostly flat canyon turns into a mostly steep, scrambly climb. The only practical application for this upper section may be that it cuts across the far end of the Garden Wall hike. I have used this canyon to descend off those walls... connecting over to the much nicer Mineral Springs trails for the walk around and down.

Exiting this canyon at any time in the first few miles allows you to do an easy traverse over to the South and those nicer hikes. Up out and over and you'll be having a better day.

Note: the far outer ends of the Indian Wells Trail (from the Space Museum) cut across this wash. If you are watching closely you will see it slide in from the north and exit immediately to the south.

This is not a bad route... it is just not as nice as the others close by. Still, it is nice to check out this wash that drains the far northern reaches of The Basin.

Do It Once!

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Note
This is a moderately difficult hike.

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2013-12-07 imike