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I hiked the mysterious Ghost Mountain Trail to the Yaquitepec! It’s an abandoned home, owned by Marshall South and his family.
They lived off the grid in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and it was quite an adventure. I got that, plus learned more about the park’s history.
So grab your hiking shoes, and I’ll share what to know when going, information on getting there, what to expect, and tips.
Getting to Ghost Mountain
From the visitor center, I traveled on the S-3 to Highway 78, then the S-2 to Blair Valley. It turned onto a dirt road.
It took about one hour to get to the trail. On the map, you can see the main road and all these little roads branching off.
You’ll go through beautiful landscapes, campgrounds, and little towns. I don’t think most people know how spacious this park is.
Driving the Dirt Roads
The dirt road leading to the trail had a sign that read: Welcome to Little Blair County Cultural Preserve.
The road started out pretty solid, but eventually got very sandy in some areas. The ranger at the visitor center had warned about this.
When meeting other vehicles on the narrow road, one might need to pull over to the side to let the other pass.
Without having a four-wheel drive, it would be difficult to reach the trail. Some areas look nice and flat, but I wouldn’t risk it.
So make sure your rig can handle this. Otherwise, you might get stuck.
And it’s out in the middle of nowhere, but I did have cell phone reception.
Finding the Trailhead
Be sure to look for the signs because it’s easy to miss a turn. I was traveling down the wrong road on Monteros Trail for a bit.
The roads don’t have many markings, and they can blend into the scenery.
The trail seemed a little tricky to find. But once you get to the trailhead, there will be some parking spots.
Hiking Ghost Mountain Trail
At the trailhead, there were a couple signs with one pointing to the trail. It’s about 1 mile to reach the Yaquitepec, with a gain of over 400 feet in elevation.
You’ll be entering a sensitive archaeological area. Basically, you don’t want to disturb or touch any artifacts or historic areas. You could get arrested and penalized.
The sun shone brightly in the afternoon and the temperature was a pleasant 70° in the winter.
I wore a sun hat because the sun’s rays were still strong. I packed a jacket, water, snacks, and my usual hiking stuff—just in case.
The Unmarked Trail
The trail starts out steep and narrow. It was unmarked, like the ranger said, but there were footsteps from other hikers.
I took pictures of the beautiful plants along the way. It was a wonderful day for a hike on this ghostly path.
And I did have to catch my breath on the switchbacks. And all these desert plants flared up my allergies…ugh!
Other hikers were on their way down. They mentioned all the barrels at the site and how they couldn’t believe someone was once living up there.
After climbing the mountainside, I finally reached the top. Beautiful views of the valley stretched out for miles.
Then I looked around for those barrels and saw remnants of the old Yaquitepec.
The Yaquitepec
There were few remains of the Marshal South home tucked into the mountain. They had a big open property for his pioneer lifestyle.
He built a house in the 1930s and lived there with his family until 1947. They named their home the Yaquitepec.
They had no electricity or water. The ranger told me that the Native Americans who lived in the area questioned why he would build his house there.
Whenever he needed water or supplies, he had to trek up and down Ghost Mountain. She said there were more accessible places in Anza-Borrego that were far from humans.
I couldn’t imagine doing that trek all the time. But hey, I bet he was in great shape from the workout!
Marshal South Home Remains
South’s dream of living off the grid didn’t pan out, so eventually the family had to leave.
Part of the house frame, an old mattress, and other things remain. It was hard to tell what some things were, but he made an adobe home out of this mountain.
And there were barrels, like those hikers said. There were also some old, rusty cans on the side of a large rock.
As I explored, two other hikers appeared from the other side of the mountain. They didn’t seem interested in the abandoned Yaquitepec.
Ghost Mountain Views
I overheard them raving about the views while looking through binoculars. They were quite beautiful.
Mountains in the far distance looked like they were painted with precision. For that reason, I can see why Marshal South chose to build a home here.
The hikers disappeared beyond the mountain. Gentle breezes brushed past like a quiet spirit. Ghost Mountain is such an intriguing place.
Wandering back down the mountain, I thought about all the other historic treasures in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
And that’s what’s so fun about exploring the desert and the Wild West—and traveling in general. It’s fun to encounter things you haven’t seen before.
Day Use Nearby
After the hike, I was pretty famished. There was a nearby area with fire pits, and cooking something sounded good.
This made a nice place to picnic. So this is something you can do after exploring the mountain too. There are many places where you can relax nearby.
A Dispersed Camper
There were people in the area doing dispersed camping. And driving around, you’ll find others scattered about.
A man rode up on his bicycle.
“What are you doing here? When did you get to town?” he asked.
“Hi, just passing through… just hiked Ghost Mountain,” I said.
Then mentioned places he had explored in the desert. With such joy, he said he stays here all the time.
He and his friend had been camping there for a few days, so they were happy to see other people.
I don’t blame him! It’s such a quiet and relaxing place to enjoy.
Travel Notes
I recommend stopping at the visitor center before going on this adventure. This is a great place to learn about hikes and get trail updates.
I talked to a friendly ranger who gave me maps. Looking at the map, I said the Ghost Mountain Trail looked short. But she warned that it wasn’t a stroll in the park.
It’s unmarked and uneven, so bring water. You’ll never know what could happen.
Wear sun protection, even in the cooler months, she advised. I always carry a small backpack, no matter how short the hike is.
Overall
Hiking Ghost Mountain Trail was a great experience. The area is fun to explore, especially if you like discovering historic sites like the Yaquitepec.
I plan to return to see more of the desert. Maybe I’ll find more interesting relics just like this!
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