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Joe Pete Wood Ranch-043
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| Argentina Canyon |
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Located in the Smokey the Bear Ranger District, the Argentina Canyon hike loops 6.5 miles with a change in elevation of 1300 feet.
The hike begins at the Bonito trail head located at Argentina Canyon and Bonito Creek. The trail climbs along Bonito Creek and Little Bonito Creek and eventually loops around to Argentina Spring and through Argentina Canyon back to the trailhead.
Directions:
Take U.S. Hwy 48 north out of Ruidoso approximately 10 miles to the Highway 37 junction.
Left onto Highway 37 for approximately 2 miles to the intersection with USFS Road 107.
Left onto USFS Road 107 for about 8.5 miles to the trailhead located at the end of the road. The last 4-5 miles of road consists of improved dirt but cars should have no trouble.
Big Bonito Trail (36) is the trail number to look for and climbs up Bonito Creek that may or may not have any water.
Just up from the trailhead, the trail passes a mine entrance (mine is the Bonita #1) located on the south side of the stream bed. The entrance is approximately four feet wide by five feet high. The mine, more of a prospect really, extends for about 40 feet and then turns 90 degrees for another 15 feet. The mine is sunk on an altered zone that contains disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite. Trace amounts of silver have been detected in recent samples collected from the mine. The inside of the mine is shown in image gallery.
After about 1 mile on the trail, the crumbling entrance of the Silver Spoon Mine (shown in the images below) appears on the south side of the creek. The mine shaft is partially caved but is reported to be approximately 150 feet deep. Recent samples collected near the shaft entrance assayed at only about 1.5 ounces of silver per ton of rock.
Continue 1/3 mile past the Silver Spoon Mine to the intersection of the trail 36 with trail 37. Take the Little Bonito Trail (37) and continue up Little Bonito Creek.
Approximately 1/2 mile past the intersection of the Big Bonito (36) and Little Bonito Trails (37), Little Bonito Trail (37) crosses over to the creek and heads up a ridge. The path returns to the Little Bonito canyon bottom after 1/4 mile.
Once the trail rejoins Little Bonito canyon, another trail continues up the canyon along the creek bed but the Little Bonito Trail (37) heads up the ridge to the intersection with Cut Across Trail (38).
The Cut Across Trail, as it's name implies, cuts across the ridge and down into Argentina Canyon. Taking this trail would reduce the hiking distance to 4 miles round-trip but miss some of the most amazing scenery.
Little Bonito Trail (37) continues west for about 1/3 mile until it emerges on the high divide at the head of Little Bonito canyon. This area is comprised mostly of open meadows and is shown in the images below. Many other trails intersect at this point of the hike.
Continue the hike by turning north onto Crest Trail (25) and proceeding toward Argentina Peak. The Crest Trail (25) is steep for the first 1/4 mile but will get better.
As the trail continues north over the ridge into the Argentina Canyon, you can see Nogal Peak very clearly. Continue north for another 1/2 mile to Clear Water Trail (42) to the magnificent view of the Tularosa Basin and the Malpais Lava Flow.
Turn east onto the Clear Water Trail and about 200 meters to Argentina Spring.
Argentina Spring is a series of seeps. The upper seep area is mushy and protected from damage by cattle by a log-fence enclosure. A small catch basin is in the rocks below the enclosure where one can get drinking water during certain times of the year. Argentina Spring is show in the images below.
Argentina Canyon Trail (39) runs into Clear Water Trail (42) at Argentina Spring. Take the Argentina Canyon Trail (39) and continue down the hill. The trail intersects again with Cut Across Trail (38) after about 1 mile from Argentina Spring.
Continue downhill on the Argentina Canyon Trail for the final 1.5 miles to the trailhead. Deer are commonly seen in this area.
--The RM is not responsible for lost hikers, please check your map, GPS and double check these directions with the Ranger Station. ;) (Hits: 1439)
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