Casa Grande

Overview

A less crowded but steep hike/scramble in the BBNP. 1&3/4hrs up; 45mins down.

Getting There

<2 hours south of Alpine Texas on 118; enter the park then take the road to the Chisos Basin.  Lost Mine Trail LMT is the start of this hike and the LMT is on the left side of this road as you start the descent into the Basin. There is a sign on the road. There are only parking places for about 10 vehicles.  I always arrive before sunrise so it has not been a problem.  [Edit; I did this trail again on Black Friday and there were few spaces left, before dawn!]

Route Description

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYUx5yj6W0c

[Edit Dec13 I have climbed CG three times now; never saw a soul all three]
Take the LMT for 0.9mi. The Casa Grande Trail (CGT) veers Rt, off the LMT at this point. There is no sign here, you just have to take note of some things: Along the LMT is one set of benches; keep going. Just past the CGT branch-off is a second set; so go back maybe 5 steps if you come to the 2nd set of benches. The turn off to CGT is in a place where you can finally get a clear look at CG, before then most of the time it is partly hidden.  Also, there is a hard 90° turn to the left at this point, in the LMT.  The CGT route seems to start out as a "viewpoint trail" or dead-end spur, and it is not clear that there is a trail going anywhere.  (Honestly I hope no one puts in signs and blasts a trail up there.  It's really off the beaten path and best kept that way) LMT is a highway compared to the elusive CGT. I went in the fall after the summer's growth and it was not obvious where the trail was much of the time due to brush.  [Edit. Rehiked CGT in late Nov2020 and had no trouble finding my way.  All the cairns I set were gone.]  Plus, most of the trail goes directly towards the left (S)  side of the summit. 70% of it is a narrow path through forest and brush.  You are heading towards the row of three tall pinnacles that are situated in a row, 2/3 of the way up.  There are a few switchbacks. As you ascend, the path gets steeper and there are stretches where I could only do it with my hands on the ground ahead of me because of both the steepness and loose rocks.  Sometimes I had to use roots or branches to pull myself up steep parts, or the long paths of steep scree.  This is not a walk in the park, but it is not impossible for the average person of decent flexibility and strength.  I am 60yrs but stay pretty active.  I know many friends for whom this would be impossible but some of my younger friends might think it easy.  I believe if you had a disability, it should be lower on your list. There are three places that could be called saddles or resting areas in which you are obviously at the end of a climb and can go look out over the saddle to the views offered to the south.  I recall two steep sections where there was little evidence of which way the path went or which was best.  I set a few cairns so I could take the same way out as I took in. [Edit; cairns are gone now] [edit many of the splits in the trail reconverge]

The summit was a 'surprise' as I did not realize how close it was until the last 100' of ascent. To look out over the basin (the iconic sheer wall so familiar to those whove been to the basin required a further hike up and down parts of the summit so I didn't do that yet.  [Edit Nov2020 I hiked all along this sheer face and it is AWESOME, and dangerous.]

The return trip, the descent sometimes involved sliding on a foot, while I sat on that heel, the other foot stretched out in front to guide.  Sometimes rocks started rolling and did not stop for 10 seconds, out of sight -so if you are with someone you will have to consider the hazard of rolling rocks. 

I liked that I never saw a single person the entire hike (early Sat am in Oct) [same; late Nov2020 on a very busy park day - not a soul!], that the trail was not obvious ie you won't find any asphalt or steps here!  And there was an element of self-dependence involved doing a rigorous hike, alone. 
[Edit: Needs to be said?  Hiking alone here - like many remote places...if you have a problem, even a twisted ankle, you are going to be in serious trouble.  Leave your plans with someone, or at least on your car dash.]

Youtube link at the summit, posted in Overview section above.

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T. White - Oct 25, 2020 11:00 am - Hasn't voted

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Would be great to see a picture here! :)

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