From the parking area described in the "getting there" section continue up the old mining road towards a stone hut that you can make out to the east of the parking area. About a mile from Baylor Canyon Road you'll reach the Topp Hut. The 4WD jeep trail continues another half mile in a northeast direction to the ruins of an old mine. Be extremely careful when exploring this area, as there are numerous open shafts and an abundance of rusting old mine equipment. From the mine area catch a use trail that continues NE towards a large canyon to the north. This use trail can be picked up at these coordintes: N 32° 22.068 W 106° 35.682. Follow this use trail about a half mile NE to a canyon. Follow the canyon floor (I found staying in the streambed to be the easiest) as it contours east then southeast and leads you into the canyon that separates the three rabbit ears from rabbit ears plateau.

A section of the canyon floor

A considerably amount of rock scrambling and boulder hopping is required during this section of the hike as the canyon leads to a saddle between the Rabbit Ears to the east and the Rabbit Ears Plateau to the west. The climbing should never get harder than third class though. From this high saddle climb west up the steep slope to the summit of the Rabbit Ears Plateau.

Rabbit Ears Plateau from the high saddle

Getting There

The primary trailhead for ascending the Rabbit Ears Plateau is off of Baylor Canyon Road just east of Las Cruces, NM. To access this area take US 70 east out of town towards Alamogordo. Take the NASA Rd / Baylor Canyon exit that is the last highway exit before reaching San Augustin Pass. Head 3.9 miles south from the exit on US70. At this point you'll pass a cattle guard and see a primitive dirt road that heads toward the mountains. Pull off here, and decide how long you would like to punish your vehicle as you drive east towards the mountains. IMHO, it's best to park passenger cars and other lower clearance vehicles right off of Baylor Canyon Rd where there is some parking room.

Essential Gear

Typical desert hiking gear should suffice.

External Links

A Climbing Guide to the Organ Mountains