Please review our hiker info page to familiarize yourself with hiker safety rules and our hike ratings so that you can select hikes that meet your level of fitness. Unless specified otherwise in the activity descriptions below, hikes have a 15 person limit, and they begin in the ABDNHA parking lot.
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Hike: Blake Hill Loop (Very Strenuous)
Leader: Robin Halford
Blake Hill is one of the few named entities in the Mecca wilderness and an area where desert tortoises might be found. The first part of the hike includes a wash, a slot canyon, and a very steep 0.1-mile climb up to a ridge. Then there is a descent on an abandoned jeep road, followed by a walk on Box Canyon Road to the cars. The total hike distance is 6.3 miles (loop). Expect lots of uneven ground, some of it rocky. There is no bouldering, but there are some uneven, steep sections on the ridge. Sturdy shoes recommended. Bring snack/lunch, electrolytes, water, and poles. Limit 10. Driving instructions: Drive North on Hwy 86 and go right (east) on 66th Ave. Go over the bypass bridge and turn right (east) at the light. Drive 11.3 miles, and park on the left side of Box Canyon Road. We will meet here. The road is usually OK for 2WD with high clearance. Call 760-767-3098 or visit the Nature Center.
