Trail Run Project Logo

A scenic, ridgeline climb looking out over the desert valley.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

1.4

Miles

2.2

KM

82%

Runnable

5,208' 1,587 m

High

4,776' 1,456 m

Low

209' 64 m

Up

485' 148 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (5°)

30%

Max Grade (17°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Views

Tom Mays Unit is open from 8 am to 5 pm daily. Off-hours access is permitted and is via a small parking area at the gate off of Transmountain. Overnight camping is available.

A ranger station, usually only staffed on weekends in the warmer months, is located a mile inside the entrance. Adult entrance fees are $5 per person, or $2 in groups; children 12 and under are free. When the station is not staffed, use the pay box next to the station.

Runner Notes

Trails around the Franklin Mountains are often rocky and technical, so users unfamiliar with rough terrain should use caution. Trail shoes with rock plates are strongly recommended.

El Paso is in the desert, so plan around the climate. Summers are regularly in the 90's or above; winters will drop to the 30's and 40's. Lightning storms are frequent in the late afternoons during the warmer months. Winds are frequent and gusts over 50 mph are not unusual. Dust storms in the late spring can be hazardous and reduce visibility to less than a quarter mile. Check the weather before you go, and let someone know where you will be.

Description

Rugged and scenic, Upper Sunset completes the eastern portion of the Sunset Loop. The course traverses the ridgeline of the foothills along Tom Mays Unit. Great views are found throughout the trail.

The northern end of Upper Sunset begins at the end of the Tom Mays access road, near Lower Sunset and the Lower Sunset Shortcut. The trail wastes no time in making a quick climb to the top of the ridge, where it stays until it descends back to the other end of Lower Sunset near the Beginner's Loop. The path is singletrack and rocky, and occasionally technical due to some tricky footing. It can also be gusty along the top during the windy season. The views are well worth the effort.

Flora & Fauna

Agaves, cacti, daleas , sotols and creosote bushes. Lizards and birds.

Contacts

Shared By:

Brendan Ross with improvements by Jean-Claude Linossi

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 2 votes

#13446

Overall
  4.0 from 2 votes
5 Star
0%
4 Star
100%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#286

in Texas

#13,446

Overall
10 Views Last Month
698 Since Nov 4, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
0%
50%
0%
50%
0%

Photos

Looking North on the trail.
Mar 11, 2018 near Westway, TX
Looking west from the trail
Mar 31, 2020 near Westway, TX

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.