Cottonwood Marble loop question

[John Morrow]

Gower, if I understand you correctly, they would hike from Emigrant camp to Lemoigne Canyon, over to upper Cottonwood and back down to ... hmm, not sure I've got this straight. Can you clarify?

In November of 2022 the trail that departs directly out the back of Emigrant Campground was still clear, cairned and initially well traveled (behind the 2nd or 3rd campsite from the SW corner of the campground).  It crosses 3 miles or more of bajada west to the mouth of Lemoigne Canyon (or it did).  Since all the flooding there is bound to be steep drops in and out of washes.  It is importtant to go up the North Fork of Lemoigne.  This route gains more than 4000 vertical feet so it would be arduous.  This is a report doing N Fk Lemoigne to Cottonwood in reverse:
https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8022827
Loop by John Morrow, on Flickr

NOTICE that the loop is incomplete, lacking the crossing to Emigrant Campground.  We were lucky enough to be offered a ride by a party visiting the mines!  I would not cross the bajada NW like we did to reach the lower Cottonwood Mtns if I did it again.  Too many deep wash crossings.  If the trail still exists, I'd take it to near the Lemoigne mouth then walk the edge of the range to the canyon we entered to avoid all the drops/climbs of the washes.  Or park on the highway at Lemoigne Jeep Road and use it.  I feel safe parking at Emigrant for that amount of time