Carrizo hiking trip

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Dan2722

Dan2722

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Sep 14, 2006
Threads
67
Messages
1,193
Location
Wyoming
On New Year's eve I did a little hike up to Goat Canyon trestle in Anza Borrego. I have been wanting to do this hike for a while and it was a perfect day to just get out and enjoy the desert. The total hike is about 11 miles.

On the way to camp the night before I ran into a Ford explorer stuck on the tracks. I think he had been there for quite a while because he was very happy to see me.

Enjoy the pics.
Stuck on tracks.webp
Goat trestle.webp
Dan hiking.webp
 
All by your lonesome? We did this hike about a year ago, it was awesome, definitely the perfect time of year for it.
 
Damn that looked like it was fun! I've been at the bottom/base of that trestle from the back end of Carrizo Wash, but never on the trestle itself.

Isn't that private property depending on how you hike back to it?
 
Are trains still running? That dude could have caused quite a problem. I was there in 2002 I think and a had to run and hide from a train coming down while I was hiking up. I had heard stories of "railroad police" ticketing people, so didnt want any problems.
 
619TOY said:
All by your lonesome? We did this hike about a year ago, it was awesome, definitely the perfect time of year for it.
Click to expand...

Not by my lonesome. I camped out the night before with my bro-in--law at Mortero Palms and then we met about 6 more family members in the morning for the hike. You'll appreciate this Steve. My niece brought her 7 month old Shepard pup and the dog stepped on Cholla within a mile. Uncle Dan had to pull the Cholla ball out of her foot and all of the spines between her toes.

Brentbba said:
Damn that looked like it was fun! I've been at the bottom/base of that trestle from the back end of Carrizo Wash, but never on the trestle itself.

Isn't that private property depending on how you hike back to it?
Click to expand...

bpenn1980 said:
Are trains still running? That dude could have caused quite a problem. I was there in 2002 I think and a had to run and hide from a train coming down while I was hiking up. I had heard stories of "railroad police" ticketing people, so didnt want any problems.
Click to expand...

No trains have run on the track since 2008 and the latest I heard was that Carrizo RR is in bankruptcy. Judging by the condition of the track, tunnels and several trestles it will be a long time before a train runs again if ever. During the hike we saw about 10 mountain bikers, 8 other hikers and 2 guys riding a home made rail cart powered by a lawn mower engine with a cooler on the back.

I did not see one tresspassing sign along the entire route or any RR police.
 
SOCALFJ said:
Interesting, i want to go hike that again. We went the harder way up and over last time and it sucked! But still a blast.
Click to expand...

Wuss:flipoff2:. I'd love to do this again while it's cool. And just to throw it out there, I'd prefer to do it up and over, even both ways if anyone is up for that:D
 
619TOY said:
Wuss:flipoff2:. I'd love to do this again while it's cool. And just to throw it out there, I'd prefer to do it up and over, even both ways if anyone is up for that:D
Click to expand...

Show off. :D

I have always wanted to do this hike. I'll be watching this thread.
 
:DEach way has it's own set of ups and downs. For anyone doing this hike for the first time, I highly recommend that you do the "loop", up and over the mountain (assuming you're in shape) and along the tracks so you see it all. It's just that while walking the tracks, it can get pretty monotonous when you're not crossing a trestle, going through a tunnel or checking out debris beside the tracks. Walking on the railroad gravel or hopping from tie to tie kinda sucks too.
 
Another interesting route is to take the old jeep trail past Indian Hill and look for the petrogyphs. We did this on the way in and found a cave where the petroglyphs were supposed to be but someone had blackened the walls with a fire covering them up.:frown: It's a 2 mile diversion that drops you off at the 2nd tunnel on the tracks.

I'm game to go back and hike this again whether on the tracks or over the hill.
 
gon2srf said:
Down for this. Can you spend the night anywhere near the bridge?
Click to expand...

The only place is a large flat area next to the tracks on the south side of the trestle or possibly in the canyon below. The border patrol may pay a visit in the middle of the night as this is a known route for illegals.
 
Dan2722 said:
The only place is a large flat area next to the tracks on the south side of the trestle or possibly in the canyon below. The border patrol may pay a visit in the middle of the night as this is a known route for illegals.
Click to expand...

Not 30 square feet of flat real estate anywhere out of sight of the BP or the Coyotes, bummer? Oh well the hike sounds fun, thanks for the post Dan.
 
Last edited:
Count me in Dan. This has been on my list !
 
gon2srf said:
Not 30 square feet of flat real estate anywhere out of sight of the BP or the Coyotes, bummer? Oh well the hike sounds fun, thanks for the post Dan.
Click to expand...

I know you could find someplace to tent camp if you wanted. Maybe not right at the trestle, but close. It is the desert afterall. If there were no impending rain, I'd set up camp in the valley above the trestle, but that's me.

Taken from our trip report:Outdoor Adventure USA, LLC • View topic - 2010-11-20: Hike to Goat Canyon Trestle trip report
P1010662.webp
 
Does anyone have the stats on the hikes, as far as elevation gain, technicality of the trail, reasonably exact distance? I have been wanting to see this for a long time but I am pretty broken and limited on hiking endeavors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom