The hike begins by ascending Telephone Canyon Trail (12) to the intersection with Crest Trail (25) just below Monjeau Lookout. The route continues west on the Crest Trail to the intersection with Miners Road Trail (16). The loop continues south on Miners Road Trail to the intersection with North Eagle Creek Trail (77). The last leg of the hike follows North Eagle Creek Trail east back to the trailhead.

To reach the trailhead, take Hwy 48 north out of Ruidoso approximately 6 miles to the junction with Highway 532 in Alto. Turn left onto Highway 532 and go approximately 2.5 miles to the intersection with United States Forest Service (USFS) Road 127A. Turn right onto Road 127A and proceed another two miles to the trailhead located on the right (northeast) side of the road. A sign marks the trailhead. Continue about 200 yards past the trailhead as the only place to park is along the road just prior to crossing the creek bed for the second time. Walk back to the trailhead to begin the hike. Road 127A is a good gravel road for the first 1.5 miles but deteriorates over the last mile. With careful driving, the road is easily passable by car.

Telephone Canyon Trail (12) initially follows a dirt road past some summer homes for about 100 yards to the wilderness boundary. The trail climbs 1,100 vertical feet up Telephone Canyon over 1.5 miles to the intersection with Crest Trail (25). The climb is steady, but a smooth, well-maintained trail makes it seem easy. The trail follows the route shown on the USFS topo map. The volcanic rocks along the Telephone Canyon Trail belong to the Walker Andesite. At the intersection with the Crest Trail, the gray, plutonic rocks of the Bonito Lake Stock are exposed to the north and east. Plutonic rocks are igneous rocks that crystallized from a magma deep beneath the surface of the earth and have subsequently been exposed by uplift and erosion. Volcanic rocks are igneous rocks that crystallized from lava and/or ash flows on or near the surface of the earth. The plutonic rocks of the Bonito Lake Stock are best exposed in the cliffs underlying Monjeau Lookout.

Continue the hike by turning west onto Crest Trail (25). Views of both the Eagle Creek and Rio Bonito drainages are truly spectacular along this portion of the hike. Follow the Crest Trail for 1.5 miles to the signed intersection with Miners Road Trail (16).

Turn south on the Miners Road Trail which indeed was an old road that led to some mines in the South Fork of Rio Bonito from Eagle Creek. The Miners Road Trail switchbacks for 3 miles down the slope to Eagle Creek. The trail is fairly rocky and rough but the biggest hassle is going over and around what seems like a jillion rock and dirt barricades that were constructed across the road upon closing it. It is a guarantee that no vehicle is going to navigate the old road anytime soon.

Geologically, the route passes out of the Walker Andesite near the intersection of the Crest and Miners Road Trails and into another plutonic rock mass called the Three Rivers Stock. The stock is literally riddled with quartz veins in this vicinity. Many of the veins are quite large and are exposed along the old roadcut in numerous places. Miners Road Trail (16) intersects with North Eagle Creek Trail (77) in the Eagle Creek canyon bottom. Cross the creek and proceed east on Trail 77 for 1/3 mile to the trailhead located at the end of USFS Road 127A. Follow the road for about 200 yards to the parking area to conclude the hike.

Camping locations are sparse along most of this hike. A few level places are present along the Crest Trail but these are more easily reached from the trailhead at Monjeau Lookout. This loop is a better place to hike than camp.

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