Overview

The Mid Hills Loop provides a 3.4-mile hike through high-elevation desert near Mid Hills Campground. The trail uses the Mid Hills to Hole-in-the-Wall (MH-HITW) Trail to climb over a ridge with grand views over the surrounding landscape. After descending the other side, the hike loops back to the trailhead. This page describes one choice for the return route: hiking back on the dirt road. For late or tired hikers, the road is easier and easier to follow, although it does require climbing over a gate.

For late or tired hikers, I recommend returning via the dirt road. For other hikers, stay on the official trail, which is described elsewhere.

Link to map.

Returning via the Dirt Road. Beyond the trough (see Mid Hills Loop), this route stays to the left, parallel to the sandy wash for a few yards. Looking ahead, a locked gate and barbed-wire fence come into view. The fence encloses a small area around a well. Angling right, the route passes the southeast corner of the fence. After passing the northeast corner, the route cuts left to the dirt road.

Following the dirt road, the route climbs the gentle grade. Most of the area was burned, but there are sections that escaped the fire, and in these areas, nice stands of juniper, sagebrush, cliffrose, and banana yucca provide nesting habitat for birds such as Crissal Thrashers.

Eventually, the grade of the road increases moderately until reaching a locked gate. Climbing over this gate drops hikers into the trailhead parking area. In lieu of climbing over the gate, hikers can walk east to the man-gate (Wpt. 02) on the MH-HITW Trail, and walk back that way.