Anthony Gap Cave Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Cave

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.

The trails in the North Franklin Mountains are more remote and isolated than others in the area. Their solitude, combined with the desert sun and a complete lack of shade, make dehydration a potential danger. Make sure to bring plenty of water. A few water caches have been placed by park rangers, but they should never be relied upon.

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.

Located near the southern end of the Sierra Vista Trail, Anthony Gap Cave Trail is a short connector to a cave system of the same name.

The trail turns off of Sierra Vista as the latter reaches its final high point, just south of the state line. Look for a singletrack headed to the east, considerably rockier than the one it came from. The path can be indistinct at times as it makes a quick climb to the top of the mountain. Generally, the correct path is the one moving up higher. Cacti grow in close at several points, and the small rocks underfoot can be loose, so step carefully.

The cave can be found just below the top of the mountain. In contrast to the other, smaller caves found around the Franklin and Organ Mountains, Anthony Gap Cave is vertical. The entrance is easy to spot, due in part to graffiti disfiguring the area around the cave mouth.