Overview

This strenuous route follows a wash and runs straight up Black Gate Canyon to the crest of the Sheep Range with about 2,500 ft elevation gain. Until you top out, you won't feel certain that the route will go, but it only takes a few 3-class moves to pass the cliffs. From the crest, there are several options for getting back down, but retracing the route likely is the easiest. This is a great off-trail hike, and views from the crest are spectacular.

Link to map.

For general information on camping, regulations, other issues, and the natural history of the Wildlife Refuge, see the Desert National Wildlife Range -- Area Overview page.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...a slip from a few places high in the canyon could result in serious injury, and there is a lot of loose scree along the route. This is not a good route for young children.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, this hike is long, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials.

This is a wildlife refuge, so pay extra attention to respecting the land. Please, don't bother the bighorn sheep; they have a hard enough time making a living in these desert lands.

Trail Guide
Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located on the Desert National Wildlife Range, about 1.5 hours north of town.

From town, drive out to the Desert National Wildlife Range. From Corn Creek Field Station (Table 1, Site 106), continue east to a T-intersection a few yards beyond the parking area (Site 731). Turn left onto Alamo Road and drive north for 3.1 miles to Joe May Road (Site 780). Turn right onto Joe May Road and drive east for about 4 miles to the end of the road (Site 881) or as far as you can get. The last few hundred yards may require a 4-wheel drive vehicle; park early if necessary. Park here; this is the trailhead.

On the way out, be sure to stop at Corn Creek Field Station and sign the visitor register. Use a false name if you worry about the government tracking your movements, but they need all the visitor-use statistics they can get to argue for more funding.

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 2, Waypoint 1), drop into the wash and head straight up the canyon towards the Black Gate, a gap in the long black cliff that traverses most of the southwestern face of the Sheep Range. The hike to this point is more difficult that is should be because there is no good place to walk. There are a few places where you can walk in the washes, but for the most part, you just pick your way through the shrubs and across boulder fields. When you get to the Black Gate (Wpt. 2), you get into the Pinyon-Juniper Woodland zone (i.e., trees and some shade), and it is easier to walk in the wash.

From the Black Gate, the route continues up the main wash, never deviating to the north or south into other drainages. As you get higher, the canyon gets narrower and steeper. Continue on, heading straight up the canyon. At one point, the wash forks at a T-intersection (Wpt. 3); stay in the south (right) fork continuing, more or less straight up the canyon.

As you approach the crest, the summit cliffs appear steeper and more imposing, but continue on straight up the canyon. Depending on exactly how you go, there may be a few 3rd-class moves, but the route is almost entirely 2nd-class. Eventually, the route breaks out onto the crest (Wpt. 4) through a gap in the cliffs.

The views from the crest a spectacular, as you can see far to the west, south, and east. The view north up the spine of the Sheep Range suggests more interesting hiking. While enjoying the view, you may notice that there were other ways to get through the cliffs, but it would have been difficult to pick out the correct route from below.

From the crest, there are several of options for getting back to the trailhead, but the easiest way is to retrace your footprints.