The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Margies Cove West Trailhead, which is in Arizona about an hour a half southwest of Phoenix, is one of two trailheads to Margies Cove Trail, a nine-mile hiking and horseback riding trail through the North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness. On the trail, visitors can encounter wide open desert spaces mixed with bajadas full of cacti and shrubs. At the trailhead there is a ten-vehicle parking lot and access to the accompanying Bureau of Land Management campgrounds for Margies Cove. The trail itself is completely flat and has little to no shade. The national parks that are relatively close to Margies Cove West Trailhead include Saguaro National Park, which is two hours and 11 minutes to the southeast; Joshua Tree National Park, which is in California three hours and 42 minutes to the northwest; and Petrified Forest National Park, four hours and 49 minutes to the northeast.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees Margies Cove West Trailhead, Trail and Campground. Since the trail weaves through an area designated by the BLM as wilderness, motorized vehicles and equipment with wheels, like mountain bikes, are not allowed on the trail. However, RVs and vehicles are still permitted to park in the campground with no fees.
Margies Cove Trail is on flat terrain and offers magnificent views of the surrounding Maricopa Mountains. Since it is on land designated as wilderness, only hiking is allowed.
Length: 9 miles
Intensity: Easy
Quartz Peak Trail, which is an hour and 18 minutes northeast of Margies Cove West Trailhead, contains mountainous terrain and includes restrooms and picnic areas at its trailhead. Aside from hikers and bikers, the trail is also open to ATV riders.
Length: 5.6 miles
Intensity: Difficult
A loop path, the Bursera Trail is located within the South Mountain Park and Preserve, an hour and 27 minutes northeast of Margies Cove West Trailhead. Although rocky in terrain, the trail offers access to canyons open for exploration.
Length: 3.5 miles
Intensity: Difficult
Horseback riding is allowed on Margies Cove Trail along with hiking since horses do not leave wheel trails as vehicles do. Horseback riding is encouraged in all BLM-owned wilderness areas for traveling long distances, including the full length of this nine-mile trail. For horseback riders that like even longer distances, Brittlebush Trail, 42 minutes south of Margies Cove West Trailhead, can be taken off Margies Cove Trail for an extra six miles of distance that loops around.
When hiking Margies Cove Trail, you'll likely encounter some wildlife like desert mule deer, javelinas, desert bighorn sheep, coyotes, desert tortoises, collared lizards, and many bird species. You'll also be able to see desert vegetation like saguaro, cholla, ocotillo, prickly pear, paloverde, ironwood, and Mexican jumping bean. Since the trail follows a route through very flat land, you'll likely be able to see many animals from afar.
If you are planning to stay at Margies Cove West Campground, you'll be able to use one of the picnic tables at your campsite. However, you can also picnic along Margies Cove Trail by bringing along camping chairs or blankets to sit on. Keep in mind that there won't be much shade, so bring plenty of drinking water with you. You will also need to pick up your trash and leftovers when you are done, so having trash bags on hand is a must.
The Arizona desert experiences clear nights frequently, making it a fantastic place for stargazing. Consider staying at Margies Cove West Campground when you want to stay for an overnight stargazing experience or plan on backpack camping along Margies Cove Trail. Remember that while this area experiences hot days, the nights can be chilly, so pack warm clothing as needed.
For RV camping with full hookups near Margie Cove West Trailhead, check out some local campgrounds like the Sonoran Desert RV Park, 37 minutes southwest of Margies Cove West Trailhead, which has a pool, free Wi-Fi, and electric and water hookups. You may also want to travel an hour north of Margies Cove West Trailhead to reach Leaf Verde RV Resort, which boasts being one of Arizona's top-rated RV campgrounds with the aforementioned amenities plus regularly scheduled campground events.
When searching for "BLM camping near me" while in the area, Margies Cove West Campground, right beside the Margies Cove West Trailhead, will likely be the top result. This Bureau of Land Management free camping option has three campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each campsite has its own picnic table, fire ring, and access to the campground vault toilets. This campground is primitive, meaning you will not have access to any hookups, but the campsite spaces are large enough for RVs to use. An hour and eight minutes southwest of Margies Cove West Trailhead is Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground, another BLM site for primitive camping. There are 59 individual campsites as well as two large group ones. There are no water hookups, but there are two vault toilets. What makes this place so place so special is the centuries-old Native American petroglyphs carved into the rocks.
Whenever you plan to hike Margie Cove Trail, be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen since the trail has very little shade and gets a lot of sun in the daytime. When you want to camp at Margies Cove West Campground, be sure to pack for a primitive camping experience. This means you will need to bring your own water for drinking and washing as well as battery-operated supplies like fans and heaters. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
The BLM asks all visitors to Margies Cove West Trailhead to follow the Leave No Trace principles. They include things like respecting the wildlife, picking up your trash, and leaving anything you find in the wilderness. By following these simple rules, you can help the BLM maintain the cleanliness of the land around Margies Cove West Trailhead and Campground.
To reach Margies Cove West Trailhead, take Arizona Highway 85 to Woods Road, and then turn east. When you reach a dirt road, turn left. Then travel 3.8 miles to Route 8001 East, and turn right. From there, drive south for 1.2 miles until you reach the trailhead.
Ready to visit Margies Cove West Trailhead? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night, where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice, soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
