[Reece]

Has anyone hiked down from the Guale 2 campsite to the Rancherias Loop Trail? In Google Earth there appears to be a trail down from the mesa. I'm thinking about revisiting Rancherias Springs from the high ground. I have hiked in to the springs from Javelina Pens many years ago.

[dprather]

There must be a way.  When my buds and I did the Rancherias Loop, we met a couple who had hiked down from that site. 

[ghysdulkc]

I have done it. There is a trail that is easy to follow. I don’t remember the specifics but I went out there without any information and was able to find the way pretty easy. I do know the guale 2 trailhead trends south and then you head east at the junction with the main trail until you cross the wash that leads to rancherias spring. Have fun it’s a beautiful area!

[Mesquito]

You can either take the trail down that starts a little west of the campsite, or you can go up on the high ground behind (north of) the campsite and scramble down the hill to the north and east, which is a pretty substantial cutoff. If you choose the first, the trail heads out a short way on the lower mesa to a junction where you’ll turn east, or left.

When I went I walked about an hour out starting with the cutoff route, just goofing around.  When we got back I looked at a map and realized we turned around just short of the springs. 

[Reece]

Thanks guys!
This trip is the first in my plan for shorter one night backpacks where I drive my Jeep to a remote site, car camp for the night and the following day backpack to a water source for a second night. I could then head home or try another one-nighter. The trick is keeping the back road travel to a minimum so as to maximize the trail time.

Mesquito, does the blue route look like the shortcut scramble you're talking about?

[Mesquito]

Not seeing a blue route, but when I look on Google Earth I see a gap in the yellowish brown lower caprock. We walked down through the gap and say a hundred yards below that I see Rancherias trail running north to south.  I would suggest trekking poles if you don’t already use them.   It’s kind of steep.

On my google earth image there appears to be a vehicle parked at the top of the very old road going down to the lower Mesa.

[Ranger Tim]

Yeah, one can easily get from Guale 2 to Rancherias Springs. Just don't try and use Guale 2 as a trailhead unless you are actually staying there! There is an actual Guale Trailhead to the west at the end of Guale Road that will also get you there with only an additional mile or so.