Anza-Borrego Desert: Chariot mountain loop

Rating *****
Length 6.8 mile (return) - 4 Hour (return trip). Moderate.
Elevation 2640 - 4680 feet
Access High clearance Oriflamme canyon, see below

A hike up Chariot mountain, one of the more accessible peaks
Start hiking the wash left (south) of the road, follow it in and out the wash depending on the terrain.
We head for the ridge, the walls are rather steep, but mostly sand and small rock, nothing slippery.
That's why we decided to head for a point higher up the ridge, a bit steeper but the sand makes things almost easy.
Once up the ridge, some rocks and scrubs, but nothing that poses any problems.
At the rather flat peak, return or go further along the ridge line.
Watch out, it's rather steep when you go further down, so stay more or less along the ridge.
One short steeper stretch, but after that, everything levels out and the only obstacle that remains are scrubs of the harmless kind.

A bit of a scramble to get to the road below, from now on head down the Mason Valley truck road.

How to get here:
Take the signed exit Oriflamme canyon, follow the wash road up to the signed crossing.
Follow the right road into Rodriguez canyon, drive for another 600 yards and park.
Normally a high clearance car should be able to make it up to the trail head, a bit sandy and rocky at the end.

Disclaimer: Read this first before you start your hike. Contact: info/at/borregohiking/./com (leave out the /)
Hiking the Borrego Springs Area (Anza-Borrego Desert SP, Cuyamaca Rancho SP, Imperial Sand Dunes (Algodones Dunes), Jacumba, Laguna Mountain, Warner Springs) California, Hike with gps, gpx and kml (Google Earth).

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