Aztec Mountain and Aztec Wash Peaks Loop

Ireteba Peaks Wilderness BLM, NV Southern Lake Mead

Trip stats

Distance
10.4 mi
Net Gain
3,900 ft
Time
4-6 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 3
Route
Loop
Peaks
5

Ratings out of 10

Effort
6.4/10
Personality
6/10
Beauty
6/10
Solitude
7.4/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

Ridgeline of the 5 summits in route order 01 02 03 04 05
  1. Peak 2963
    2,963′ elevation · 315′ prominence
  2. Peak 3235
    3,235′ elevation · 446′ prominence
  3. Little Hands Peak
    3,990′ elevation · 315′ prominence
  4. Aztec Mountain
    4,154′ elevation · 545′ prominence
  5. Eagle Peak
    3,602′ elevation · 387′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

35.681250, -114.797480

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Oct 29, 2021 — Located just south of Nelson, NV and the more pretty and only slightly more frequently visited Eldorado Wilderness, this loop visits a few obscure, smaller peaks at the base of the Ireteba Peaks. The peaks surround a feature known as Aztec Wash, where apparently there is a spring and a small set of petroglyphs. I didn't check out the narrow section because today was a nice little lesson about hiking with not enough water in the desert heat. I'm not sure why I thought 2 liters would be enough when it was in the 80s, but I made it back and the iced beverages I inhaled when back in civilization made my dehydration discomfort worth it. The trailhead starts along Aztec Wash Road. The road is overall in very good condition, and sedans might only have some trouble if driven by a conservative operator. I continued east along the road and headed into a major wash that led south. The wash was sandy and as it began to narrow, introduced some light thorny brush. I left the drainage and asended to Peak 2963, a quick detour on mostly pleasant terrain. I could see the other, more significant peaks for the day. It was my first time seeing Little Hands Peak, a surprisingly pretty-looking and unexpected granitic mound. I was looking forward to it, but first I wanted to hike over to Peak 3235.

From Peak 2963, I backtracked along the ridge and navigated the lumpy landscape into a wide and major drainage system called Aztec Wash. I encountered only some light Class 2 to enter Aztec Wash, but the walking was straightforward as I headed south across the wash. I made my way up to a minor saddle where I crossed an ATV road and some power lines before ascending to the south within a drainage. This drainage would lead to the saddle of Peak 3235 and Little Hands Peak, but I left the drainage and ascended the least steep-looking slope up to Peak 3235, Class 2.

Little Hands Peak was next, the highlight peak of the day. I scouted a route from Peak 3235, noting two major obstacles. The first would be a hump along the ridgeline between me and Little Hands Peak, which I decided I would ascend and then side-hill just below its top. The second was the sheer-looking granite on the east face of Little Hands Peak directly below the summit, which I would avoid by ascending via the peaks's southeast side instead. I headed to the saddle of Peak 3235 and Little Hands Peak's little sub-bump, then continued on Class 2 side-hilling and overall pretty pleasant rock-hopping as I headed west. I could have just gone up and over the sub-peak, but instead wrapped around it on its north side. I don't think this really saved much effort. I was now at the base of Little Hands Peak and I started up more Class 2 as the rock transitioned from typical Lake Mead scree/talus to a more rare (for this area) granite that is more similar to Spirit Mountain, also nearby. I kept to the left of some major pinnacles and entered Class 2/3 boulder-hopping territory as I neared the ridgeline above. Once I got to the ridge, I could see the summit of Little Hands Peak just to the north. More Class 2 as I wrapped around the east side of the summit block brought me around to the peak's north side. A Class 2/3 move on a couple of fun granite boulders led to the summit.

Aztec Peak was now visible just to the west, a less-cool-looking summit, but the tallest one of the day. I backtracked along the ridgeline from Little Hands Peak and descended to the west on more granite. I did pull a Class 3 move here or there because the terrain was a bit more riddled with boulder clusters, but you might be able to keep the route Class 2 if you're so inclined. Aztec Mountain's east ridge looked difficult and loose, so I decided to side-hill into a major gully on the peak's northeast side and ascend via this route. It went at Class 2/3, and was overall quite fun. There are a couple of easy dryfalls to avoid within this gully. At the top of the gully I wrapped to the left around a rock outcrop that I soon would find out was the summit block. I continued northwest from Aztec Mountain's summit, out of water and pretty excited to be out of the desert. A notch led down a Class 2+ move to reach the overall very pleasant and clear of brush and rock northern spur ridge. I made it to the bottom of the ridge and continued in a wash to the same ATV road I had passed earlier, except now I was farther west. I followed the road a very short time and then continued north through the open desert. I stumbled on a (likely illegal) singletrack dirtbike trail that led me pretty much exactly the direction I wanted to go, which made hiking a bit easier. The route here was a little annoying, lots of ups and downs through rivulets and general desert lumpiness. However the singletrack seemed to continue leading me where I wanted to go, up to the saddle on the west side of Eagle Peak.

I briefly considered skipping the peak, dangerously exhausted and long out of water, but I couldn't help myself. It was right there, a short walk on pleasant terrain. The sumit block required a Class 2/2+ move over a broken ledge. I wasn't sweating anymore, and was pretty sure I was going to die. I mean not really, but I wasn't thrilled with my choices. I made my way back down to the saddle and continued along the singletrack trail. You'll notice this is where I marked a purple line on the left leading to an old cabin. This route follows a series of ATV roads, and adds a mile to the hike. I included a photo of the cabin if you care to go this way, or you can just take the major wash leading northeast (orange line) through the desert. Either way you'll be on Aztec Wash Road, an easy walk back to the car.

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Photos

58 photos

  1. Hiking along Aztec Wash Road.
  2. Heading south through a major wash. Peak 2963 visible ahead, my first peak of the day.
  3. Ascending out of the major wash toward Peak 2963. You can see the peaks of the Eldorado Wilderness to the north.
  4. Ascending to Peak 2963. Peak 3235 is over there on the far right, my next peak.
  5. Close-up toward Peak 2963. Nice ridge walk.
  6. Summit of Peak 2963, looking toward the Colorado River.
  7. Summit of Peak 2963, view toward Peak 3235 (left) and Little Hands Peak + Aztec Peak (right).
  8. I dropped off Peak 2963 and continued through the lumpy desert toward the base of Little Hands Peak in order to get to Peak 3235.
  9. Within the major drainage system, Aztec Wash, below Little Hands Peak. Little Hands Peak visible center. There are apparently petroglyphs and a spring in the narrows on the right in this photo. I wanted to check them out, but my lack of water would prevent me from doing so later.
  10. View back as I head through the drainage system.
  11. Crossing an ATV road and some powerlines. Peak 3235 visible center. I continued up the wash on its right.
  12. Entering wilderness, heading up the wash that would lead to the saddle separating Peak 3235 and Little Hands Peak.
  13. Toward the end of the wash, view back the way I came.
  14. View back into the wash (center). Little Hands Peak visible left of center.
  15. Ascending out of the wash and up the slope to Peak 3235, the hump that's left of center in this photo. Class 2 ahead to get up the steep slope to the summit.
  16. Progress up Peak 3235, view toward Little Hands Peak.
  17. Close-up toward Little Hands Peak. As you can see there's a bump on the left. I chose to ascend the major dent in its face (left in this photo), wrap around its ridge side, and then end up at the base of Little Hands Peak.
  18. Peak 3235, view toward Peak 2963.
  19. Peak 3235, view south toward Lake Mojave.
  20. I dropped off Peak 3235 and started up the dent in the bump along the ridge. Class 2.
  21. View back toward Peak 3235.
  22. I didn't include a photo of the side-hill around the bump, but you can either go up and over or around, all is some variation of Class 2/2+. ahead you can see Little Hands Peak. I avoided the potentially scary granite by staying to the left of the pinnacles in the center of this photo. Class 2 for a while.
  23. Progress up to Little Hands Peak, view back. You can see the bump I wrapped around right of center in this photo. Peak 3235 visible center, behind it.
  24. Class 2 for a while up Little Hands Peak.
  25. Class 2/3 territory to boulder-hop over the granite.
  26. On the ridge, view north toward Little Hands Peak.
  27. Close-up to the summit block. I went up the center of this photo and the side-hilled around the summit block.
  28. Class 2/3 as I near the summit area.
  29. View back at the bouldery side-hill. The summit block is just on the right in this photo.
  30. Little Hands Peak summit block. Class 2/3 by going around on the left in this photo.
  31. Summit of Little Hands Peak, view toward its little hump (center) and peak 3235 (left).
  32. Summit of Little Hands Peak, view toward Aztec Mountain.
  33. After making my way down to the west on the way to Aztec Mountain, this is a view back up at Little Hands Peak. The terrain had lots of boulders, and I pulled some Class 2 and 3 moves to keep the route efficient.
  34. View back toward my route from Little Hands Peak.
  35. Aztec Mountain ahead. I headed to the gully in the center of this photo and ascended on Class 2/3 terrain.
  36. Up the gully.
  37. Crux of the gully, Class 2/3.
  38. View back down the gully, Little Hands Mountain center.
  39. Aztec Mountain summit block.
  40. Aztec Mountain, view back toward Little Hands Peak.
  41. Aztec Mountain, view toward the Eldorado Wilderness (top left) and Eagle Peak (right of center). I would descend to the ATV road below, cross it and head to the saddle on the left side of Eagle Peak.
  42. A Class 2+ notch to descent Aztec Mountain's northern spur ridge.
  43. View back up toward Aztec Mountain after descending the northern spur ridge.
  44. Entering a wash, Eagle Peak visible top right. First I'd cross a road with powerlines and then head through the desert.
  45. View back toward Little Hands Peak (left) and Aztec Mountain (center) after picking up a single-track dirt bike trail.
  46. The trail led me pretty efficiently to the west saddle of Eagle Peak.
  47. View back as I navigate the lumpy desert terrain.
  48. Another shot back toward Little Hands and Aztec.
  49. Approaching Eagle Peak's west saddle.
  50. Starting up Eagle Peak's west ridge.
  51. Class 2/2+ summit block move ahead.
  52. Eagle Peak, view toward Peak 3235 (far left), Little Hands Peak (center), and Aztec Mountain (right).
  53. Close-up toward the Eldorado Wilderness to the north.
  54. View toward Peak 2963 and the Colorado River to the east.
  55. Major wash you could use to get back to Aztec Wash Road (orange line on map).
  56. Alternatively you can take the slightly longer road option to add a mile to the route (purple line on my attached map).
  57. The road passes some mining cabin.
  58. Inside the cabin.

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GPX track

Aztec Mountain and Aztec Wash Peaks Loop GPX route and driving track

The complete GPX track is available to download, so you can load the route straight into your navigation app or device. The trip report, route info, photos and planning details stay free.

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