Sierra Vista Trail Qualifying Hike #4 (The Northern Half of the SVT)

NOTE: The 29 Mile Sierra Vista Trail hike was originally planned for Mar 21, 2026. That is the date of the Bataan Memorial Marathon. I asked their planning committee if they could move their race. They said no! So, I moved the 29 Mile Sierra Vista Trail hike to Feb 21, 2026 instead.

I would encourage everyone planning on participating in the 29 Mile Sierra Vista Trail hike to also make this hike a high priority. It will familiarize each of us to particulars of the northern half of the Sierra Vista Trail; including places to park, and how to get to the Pena Blanca Trailhead (which is about the half-way point on the Sierra Vista Trail). Pena Blanca Trailhead is the end of this hike.

Goal: Yet another qualifying hike for the 29 Mile SVT Hike; or another training exercise. We will complete the first half of the 29 mile hike (about 14 miles). I also highly recommend we all do this hike to get familiar with that part of the trail. We will start on the Dripping Springs Rd. Trailhead [32.323234, -106.630457] for the Sierra Vista Trail. This is the northern half of the trail and the trailhead is located about 7 to 7.5 miles from I-10 Freeway on the south side of Dripping Springs Rd. It is all paved to the trailhead.

The end of QH#4 is at Pena Blanca Trailhead [32.2101, -106.6147] about 4.5 miles from the Mesquite/I-10 Freeway. Here you can make it with a regular car but you will have to proceed very slow and avoid large rocks when you get to the unpaved part of the road. However, I recommend a high clearance vehicle, 4x4 is not necessary.

The following links are to the 29 mile Sierra Vista Hike on Feb 21, 2026 and other relevant/related links: First link is to the Borderlands site hikes & the second to the Jornada Hiking and Outdoor Club site hikes.

Borderlands Links:

1. The 29 Mile Sierra Vista Trail (in one day), Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 6:00 AM | Meetup
2. Sierra Vista Trail Qualifying Hike #1 (at "A" Mountain), Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 8:00 AM | Meetup
3. Sierra Vista Trail Qualifying Hike #2 (at "A" Mountain), Sat, Jan 10, 2026, 8:00 AM | Meetup
4. Sierra Vista Trail Qualifying Hike #3 (Southern Half of the Sierra Vista Trail), Sat, Jan 24, 2026, 8:00 AM | Meetup
5. The Las Cruces Urban Iditarod, Sat, Mar 7, 2026, 8:00 AM | Meetup

Jornada Hiking and Outdoor Club Link:

1. The 29 Mile Sierra Vista Trail (in one day), Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 6:00 AM | Meetup
2. Sierra Vista Trail Qualifying Hike #1 (at "A" Mountain), Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 8:00 AM | Meetup
3. Sierra Vista Trail Qualifying Hike #2 (at "A" Mountain), Sat, Jan 10, 2026, 8:00 AM | Meetup
4. Sierra Vista Trail Qualifying Hike #3 (Southern Half of the Sierra Vista Trail), Sat, Jan 24, 2026, 8:00 AM | Meetup
5. The Las Cruces Urban Iditarod, Sat, Mar 7, 2026, 8:00 AM | Meetup

Borderland Outdoors Caution/Disclaimer: Each individual hiker is responsible for their own personal safety/health and of their guests when participating in Borderland Outdoors activities. The organizers of Borderland Outdoors and Borderland Outdoors are not liable for any illness, injury, accident, mechanical break-down, or unforeseen acts that may occur while you participate going to, during, or after any activity. If you have a medical condition that may be aggravated by any kind of physical activity you must make your own personal decision about attending and not hold any of the volunteer organizers liable. All organizers are volunteers and are not compensated during any activity.