Trailhead elevation: 1880 ft

Elevation gain: 980ft ( + 800ft descent to the river & back out)

Distance: 14 miles

Difficulty: moderate (but NP Service says strenuous)

Marufo Vega trail is a true backcountry experience that provides stunning southwest scenery and solitude for the hiker that wants to avoid the crowds. You will need a backcountry permit for this trip. The permit can be obtained at any of the visitor centers and is free of charge. After driving all night we pulled into the Panther Junction Visitor Center just before the 7:00 a.m opening and attempted to get any sleep we possibly could. Obtaining the permit was a simple matter and even on this holiday weekend (Thanksgiving) there was almost no line and we were told there was only one other overnight hiker in the entire zone we would be in. Marufo Vega trail is not in the Basin area so popular with the tourists and the park service is very adamant about the fat that the trail is strenuous and for seasoned hikers. This makes it an ideal hike even during the busy season.

It is important to remember that there is NO potable water along the trail. Make sure that you check your hydration system and fill up at the visitors center before heading out for the trail. It is recommended that you take at least a gallon of water a day. I personally took 8 liters (just over 2 gallons) for the 2 day trip. That is over 17 lbs worth of water weight. That, combined with the absurd amount of gear I was carrying, brought my pack weight in at around 53 lbs (this trip was my ultralight epiphany). The trailhead is situated on the north side of the road to Boquillas Canyon a few miles east of the Rio Grande Village. Parking for the trailhead is on the south side of the road. In places Marufo Vega trail is not clearly defined and one needs to be careful to observe all cairns. The trail is very rugged though it begins gently enough. The first 3/4 mile or so is for the most part level.

At this point you should see a cairn to your right. You begin slowly climbing in elevation at this point. You will walk across the oft mentioned calcite crystals (yes they really sparkle) and then come to the junction of the Ore Terminal and Strawhouse trails. Stay to your right and follow the Strawhouse. After approximately 1/2 mile you will come to another junction that is clearly marked indicating that Strawhouse continues to the left and Marufo Vega to the right. Take the hard right heading due east. You will stay on this trail for the next 3 miles. There is a brief hike through a canyon of sorts you will come to a steep and rugged ascent. This ascent is short and followed by a vast open landscape with spectacular views of the Deadhorse Mountains. You will now begin a descent into a wash that will continue until you come to another trail junction that is well marked.

After the 3 miles you have a decision to make. Head north to the river and begin a long arduous descent or take the south fork and stay in the wash for a while longer. We chose south as we had for the most part agreed before hand that would be the plan. The south fork reveals stunning river overlooks and great views of the Sierra Del Carmen Mountain and of course El Pico, the Sierra Del Carmen's tallest peak, before beginning a series of switch backs that descend towards the river. After the many rugged switchbacks you are deposited in a small narrow canyon with quite a bit of sandwhich in reality is only a tributary of sorts into the larger Boquillas canyon and the Rio Grande river. Here you are treated to wonderful river and canyon views and any number of prime camping spots.

We settled on a spot with some nice grass for insulation and cushioning, pitched the tents and got busy exploring, fishing,cooking and boiling water for coffee and hot chocolate (I am fan of the more caffinated former while LAV, Yoak, and ARC'Texan prefer the latter). We were treated to beautiful colors during the sunset and a star filled sky that night.

The following morning we had the aforementioned beverages, ate breakfast and headed out. I had made extra coffee the previous evening and that morning gambling that my water situation would be fine. I had done this for two reasons. One , I love coffee and enjoy it even more in the backcountry, and two, I was hoping to carry out as little weight as possible as the ITBS in my left knee was excruciatingly painful and had grown worse overnight. The less weight I could take out the better. The trail through the canyon along the river is long but filled with one amazing photo opp after another.

The trail slowly rises and then falls along the canyon wall parallelling the river all the while. At one point, after many spectacular river views the trail declines quite nearly to the rivers bank and for a brief moment you are amongst green vegetation and in the shade. Then you begin to turn out of the canyon and head south.

The climb out of the canyon is in my opinion the most strenuous part of the trip with many steep, narrow and rugged sections of ascent. Eventually you arrive back at the junction of the north and south forks and retrace the trail back to the trailhead, which you can begin to see in the distance. By the way, the extra coffee at camp was worth it as I arrived within a mile of the fully stocked car before running out of water. In true thehikersforum.com style we had chips and salsa.