 |
Ice Spring to Barber Ridge General Description: A 10.5-mile round-trip hike into the upper Bonito drainage of the White Mountain Wilderness Special Attractions: Views of Nogal Peak and White Horse Hill. Opportunities to see deer and elk. Net Elevation Gain: 2200 feet. Difficulty: Strenuous Estimated Hiking Time: 8 hours. Directions:Take USFS Road 107 off Hwy 37 toward Bonito Lake, approximately 8.5 miles to the trailhead located at the end of the road. The road is easily passable by car. |
This description of the middle segment of Crest Trail (25) assumes you camped at Ice Spring and are planning to hike the entire length of the trail over three days.
Day hiking is possible along this route if you begin at the Scenic Trailhead located at the entrance to Ski Apache. Realize that a hike of 18 miles and a net elevation gain of over 4,000 feet would be required to hike from the Scenic Trailhead to Barber Ridge and back. The entire hike is best accomplished with the intention of camping at Barber Ridge for the night.
Follow Crest Trail (25) from Ice Spring onto the drainage divide between the Rio Ruidoso and Three Rivers at an elevation of over 11,200 feet. Approximately 2 miles past Ice Spring, the Crest Trail intersects with Bluefront Trail (33) and South Fork Trail (19). Continue north a couple of hundred yards on Trail 25 and you will see a piece of poly tubing sticking out of' the ground with a small flow of water discharging into a bucket. The water is good and the bucket provides welcome relief for thirsty canine companions.
Over the next mile, the trail follows behind Elk Point and intersects with Three Rivers Trail (44) in a saddle along the divide. Continue on Trail 25 which veers to the west around White Horse Hill and switchbacks down to Bonito Seep. The seep is usually a flowing spring and a reliable source of drinking water in all but the driest of times.
Approximately two miles remain from Bonito Seep to Barber Ridge. The trail sidehills along the Bonito Canyon back onto the divide with Goat Canyon. Goat Canyon plummets over 2,000 feet in one mile off to the west. Be thankful that isn't your destination for the day.
At the intersection of the Crest Trail and Barber Ridge Trail (49) is a large, level camping site. A reliable spring is present about 75 yards northeast of the camping site in the head of the draw that drains down into Lincoln Canyon. After setting up camp, a great afternoon hike is to follow Phantom Trail (29) to Sprmg Canyon. The trail runs along the top of a resistant lava flow that forms a large bluff in Spring Canyon and offers a splendid view. A side trip definitely worth doing. Beware of an error on the USFS topo map regarding Phantom Trail (29) which does not intersect the Crest Trail near Spring Point. The Phantom trail cuts off of Barber Ridge Trail (49) near its intersection with the Crest Trail.