How to Hike North Mount Franklin in Texas

The Franklin Mountains State Park is a small wilderness surrounded by over a million residents in El Paso and Juarez. In the 1970s, several plans for development of the mountains threatened to destroy their natural beauty. Saved from development, North Mount Franklin offers hikers tremendous views of the surrounding city of El Paso and the Chihuahuan Desert. Here's how to hike Mount Franklin.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Good hiking boots
• North Mount Franklin map
• Food and water
• Sunscreen
• Hat

1. Follow I-10 west out of El Paso to the Trans-Mountain highway, Loop 375. Take the Trans-Mountain Highway east about 3.5 miles to the entrance of Franklin Mountains State Park.
2. Follow the dirt road from the parking area toward the mountains. The trail follows the dirt road all the way to the summit.
3. Continue as the trail switches back up the slopes, cresting at a large pass, Mundy's Gap. Take the road to the right at the junction down the other side.
4. Resume climbing toward a small saddle, where a short side trail leads to Indian Peak and a small old military building.
5. Continue up a series of switchbacks to the summit of North Mount Franklin. From here are views of El Paso and Juarez, high New Mexico Ranges to the north, and the Rio Grande to the west.

Tips & Warnings

• With very little shade along the trail, this hike should probably be avoided during the summer.