East Cactus Plain Ramble, AZ

Overview
The East Cactus Plain Wilderness is the part of the East Cactus Plain east and north of the CAP canal. It has a very unusual crescent dune topography, but the dunes are never more than about 10 feet high. It can be explored for an hour or a day. Likely you won’t see anyone else here.


Hike
There are no trails in this wilderness and few animal paths. Travel in any direction, on any route, is equally easy. The official route is a 10-mile triangle, but you could pick your route. You can’t get lost here.The route starts at the parking area and information kiosk at the south corner of the wilderness. It heads initially north, about 345°, toward Planet Peak, about 10 miles away. Planet Peak makes a good marker to keep you going in the same direction.

After about 4.5 miles, the route makes a sharp right turn and heads straight toward Harcuvar Peak, about 20 miles away. Take this bearing, at about 120°, for 2.5 miles. Then close the loop by hiking straight back toward your car, at about 200°.

Warning
The entire wilderness is covered with rabbit warrens. These are sufficiently close to the surface that breaking through the top as you walk is a common experience. Usually, you will bottom out with a jolt no more than a foot down, but sometimes you may go in past your knees. It is reminiscent of hiking over snow bridges in the spring in the mountains, except you don’t get wet when you fall in. The rabbits' nest on the top of the dunes, so you need to pay attention as you cross each one, and hiking along the tops of the dunes is a really bad idea. Most of the dens seemed to be abandoned.

Other dens are probably occupied by coyotes. There is evidence this place has been coyote restaurant.

2022-03-06 GrangerGuy