Battleship Mountain and Nutt Benchmark Loop in Mount Nutt Wilderness BLM, AZ

Hike Battleship Mountain and Nutt Benchmark Loop Mount Nutt Wilderness BLM, AZ

Class 3 15.1 miles 5100 gain 8-11 hrs Loop Mar 18, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Battleship Mountain and Nutt Benchmark Loop GPX Track

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This great loop hits some of the highlights in theMount Nutt Wilderness near Oatman, AZ. I wanted to plan a route to bag a few peaks as a loop around the ridgeline, while avoiding reported brushiness within Cottonwood Canyon. There is very little information about this area, and the four peaks I summited (Battleship Mountain, Mount Nutt, Nutt Benchmark, and Peak 4975) only had a handful of signatures in the summit registers, so I went about this route a bit blind. It worked wonderfully. Note: Don't confuse this Battleship Mountain with the more popular one in the Superstition Mountains.

Starting from a terrible dirt road off a really good dirt road (I made it a short distance before stopping, but better vehicles can definitely make it farther), head into Cottonwood Canyon, passing a few pools that were flowing during my visit. First up for me was Battleship Mountain since the route from Battleship to Mount Nutt sseemed the most dubious. Locate a gully on the left once the canyon starts to get interesting and follow it to the base of a 30 foot Class 3 dryfall, beta compliments of Adam Walker. You might be able to head around the right side of it to avoid the scramble, but the dryfall is actually quite a bit of fun. From here, work up a gully with a Class 2+ moves serving as obstacles. You'll get to the east ridge of Battleship Mountain, where you can either pull a single Class 3 move, or just skirt the south side of the ridge to keep the rest at Class 2. The summit has great views, especially of the route I still had coming for me.

From Battleship Mountain, head northeast, skipping the ridge crest for the majority of the route to avoid sheer cliffs. Peak 4100 serves more as an obstacle along the way, but it's another peak along the ridge. I ran into a family of wild burros. One kept honking at me, somewhat aggressively. I got a little freaked, but it continued on its way. If you don't see any wild burros, consider yourself unlucky. I saw at least a dozen of them throughout the day, and used their trails to help me route-find for a large portion. It's hard to describe my route, but I'd recommend just looking at my map and keeping to the north side of the beautiful buttes on slopes and animal trails.

I eventually got to the base of Mount Nutt from the west. I could see a couple of potential weaknesses on its western face (Class 3/4?), but I was more inclined to attempt a half-circle around its northern slopes, since this had been the trend for all the buttes so far for the day. Fortunately, this worked out and led to a Class 2 gully up to the northern ridgeline. I head south to Mount Nutt, and then back north along the ridge crest on flat, unique desert up to Nutt Benchmark, the high point. Absolutely incredible views of the route I came from and still had to go, and of the interesting rock features and wildflowers to the north.

Continue south down a Class 2 ridge to the saddle with Peak 4975. I went around its east side and worked up Class 2+ cliff bands to the black volanic rock summit, then slid down the Class 2 northwest slope. I eventually located a burro trail that led safely along the top of a major cliff band to flat ground to the southwest, where I then head down a drainage that I thought could bring me back into Cottonwood Canyon to complete the loop. I encountered a single impassable dryfall that I could fortunately bypass to the south, and although the canyon bed was brushy, an animal trail serendipitously leads safely parallel to it on the north side of the canyon. And then, I passed through a really gorgeous bit of flowing water, complete with white and pink bedrock and a short section of narrows. It made any small aggravation coming down the canyon more than worth it. The gully eventually opens up into Cottonwood Canyon, roughly where I left to go up to Battleship Mountain that morning.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Battleship Mountain
4165 ft
685 rise
2
Peak 4100
4100 ft
320 rise
3
Mount Nutt
5062 ft
62 rise
4
Nutt Benchmark
5216 ft
1776 rise
5
Peak 4975
4975 ft
495 rise

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Starting along the decent section of dirt road heading into Cottonwood Canyon.
Starting along the decent section of dirt road heading into Cottonwood Canyon.
Image 1 from gallery
A pool within Cottonwood Canyon.
A pool within Cottonwood Canyon.
A dirt road leads to the right to avoid some of the water at the mouth of Cottonwood Canyon. You can see Mount Nutt in the distant center here.
A dirt road leads to the right to avoid some of the water at the mouth of Cottonwood Canyon. You can see Mount Nutt in the distant center here.
Not long after entering Cottonwood Canyon, look for a turn off on the left to start up a side canyon toward Battleship Mountain.
Not long after entering Cottonwood Canyon, look for a turn off on the left to start up a side canyon toward Battleship Mountain.
Heading up the side canyon to the south of Battleship Mountain.
Heading up the side canyon to the south of Battleship Mountain.
Class 3 dryfall.
Class 3 dryfall.
Looking down the Class 3 dryfall. Really fun scramble.
Looking down the Class 3 dryfall. Really fun scramble.
After the dryfall, continuing up the drainage steeply to the east of Battleship Mountain.
After the dryfall, continuing up the drainage steeply to the east of Battleship Mountain.
Looking back down the drainage on the way up to Battleship Mountain.
Looking back down the drainage on the way up to Battleship Mountain.
Image 10 from gallery
Image 11 from gallery
At the saddle just ease of Battleship Mountain looking west toward the peak (somewhere in the center). There's a single Class 3 move you could pull along the ridgeline, or just veer left here and traverse while ascending on Class 2.
At the saddle just ease of Battleship Mountain looking west toward the peak (somewhere in the center). There's a single Class 3 move you could pull along the ridgeline, or just veer left here and traverse while ascending on Class 2.
Class 2 slopes after the optional Class 3 move on the way up to Battleship Mountain.
Class 2 slopes after the optional Class 3 move on the way up to Battleship Mountain.
Almost at the Battleship Mountain summit, looking back along the Class 2 route, my route to come visible. Peak 4975 on the right, Mount Nutt center back.
Almost at the Battleship Mountain summit, looking back along the Class 2 route, my route to come visible. Peak 4975 on the right, Mount Nutt center back.
Battleship Mountain summit looking north toward desert wildflowers! You can also see the outskirts of Bullhead City on the left.
Battleship Mountain summit looking north toward desert wildflowers! You can also see the outskirts of Bullhead City on the left.
Battleship Mountain summit looking west. My car is parked just right of the brown butte on the far right.
Battleship Mountain summit looking west. My car is parked just right of the brown butte on the far right.
Heading down from Battleship Mountain and starting the traverse along the ridgeline. The first obstacle (Peak 4100) is ahead - keep to the left of the ridge. I ascended from the opposite side to get to the peak.
Heading down from Battleship Mountain and starting the traverse along the ridgeline. The first obstacle (Peak 4100) is ahead - keep to the left of the ridge. I ascended from the opposite side to get to the peak.
Looking back toward Battleship Mountain.
Looking back toward Battleship Mountain.
Past Peak 4100 along the ridge, looking toward the long way to go to Mount Nutt (center right). To avoid a cliff band here, I kept left and found a nice ramp to lower ground.
Past Peak 4100 along the ridge, looking toward the long way to go to Mount Nutt (center right). To avoid a cliff band here, I kept left and found a nice ramp to lower ground.
Mount Nutt on the right, continuing along the ridgeline.
Mount Nutt on the right, continuing along the ridgeline.
Looking back toward Peak 4100, Battleship Mountain sticking out a bit on the right. There is a way down from those cliffs on the right in this photo.
Looking back toward Peak 4100, Battleship Mountain sticking out a bit on the right. There is a way down from those cliffs on the right in this photo.
Continuing along the ridge, keeping to the left of the buttes along the way.
Continuing along the ridge, keeping to the left of the buttes along the way.
I rounded a corner and saw a particularly nice view of Mount Nutt (right), a pinnacle-filled canyon on the left, and the notch I'd attempt to head up to in the center in order to reach Mount Nutt's summit.
I rounded a corner and saw a particularly nice view of Mount Nutt (right), a pinnacle-filled canyon on the left, and the notch I'd attempt to head up to in the center in order to reach Mount Nutt's summit.
Along the slopes, hopefully able to make it up to that notch on the left. I could see a couple weaknesses in Mount Nutt's face ahead, but decided to just give the notch a go.
Along the slopes, hopefully able to make it up to that notch on the left. I could see a couple weaknesses in Mount Nutt's face ahead, but decided to just give the notch a go.
Looking back the way I came (left slopes) on the way up to the notch.
Looking back the way I came (left slopes) on the way up to the notch.
Another obstacle blocking direct access to the notch (seen on the top left). I went around this feature to the right. Fortunately I didn't attempt to go over it because the other side had cliffs.
Another obstacle blocking direct access to the notch (seen on the top left). I went around this feature to the right. Fortunately I didn't attempt to go over it because the other side had cliffs.
Approaching the notch.
Approaching the notch.
Looking back from the notch, the obstacle I just avoided in the center. Battleship Mountain is blocked by a butte (that first obstacle I avoided), and the pinnacle-filled canyon I skirted above is on the right.
Looking back from the notch, the obstacle I just avoided in the center. Battleship Mountain is blocked by a butte (that first obstacle I avoided), and the pinnacle-filled canyon I skirted above is on the right.
The pinnacle that served as a marker for the notch.
The pinnacle that served as a marker for the notch.
Headed around the north face of Mount Nutt. I passed this cool hoodoo in the center. The slope leads up to a Class 2 gully in the center of this photo.
Headed around the north face of Mount Nutt. I passed this cool hoodoo in the center. The slope leads up to a Class 2 gully in the center of this photo.
At the top of the Class 2 gully, looking north.
At the top of the Class 2 gully, looking north.
A false peak on the way to Mount Nutt, east toward Nutt Benchmark. The gully I came out of is on the left.
A false peak on the way to Mount Nutt, east toward Nutt Benchmark. The gully I came out of is on the left.
A false peak on the way to Mount Nutt, looking toward Mount Nutt to the south. Battleship Mountain is blocked from view on the right.
A false peak on the way to Mount Nutt, looking toward Mount Nutt to the south. Battleship Mountain is blocked from view on the right.
Mount Nutt summit, looking west toward the pinnacle of the notch I went past earlier. You can also see Bullhead City and Laughlin in the distance.
Mount Nutt summit, looking west toward the pinnacle of the notch I went past earlier. You can also see Bullhead City and Laughlin in the distance.
On the way to Nutt Benchmark.
On the way to Nutt Benchmark.
A view north toward Peak 5106.
A view north toward Peak 5106.
Really interesting and easy terrain up to the summit of Nutt Benchmark.
Really interesting and easy terrain up to the summit of Nutt Benchmark.
Image 38 from gallery
Looking back along the slope on the way to Nutt Benchmark. Mount Nutt visible on the left.
Looking back along the slope on the way to Nutt Benchmark. Mount Nutt visible on the left.
Close-up of what I thought was a pretty cool landscape.
Close-up of what I thought was a pretty cool landscape.
Close-up looking north at the weird Mount Nutt Wilderness pinnacles.
Close-up looking north at the weird Mount Nutt Wilderness pinnacles.
Heading south along the ridge from Mount Nutt toward Peak 4975 (the left black high point in this photo).
Heading south along the ridge from Mount Nutt toward Peak 4975 (the left black high point in this photo).
Close-up of Cottonwood Canyon to the southwest. This is an alternate route back.
Close-up of Cottonwood Canyon to the southwest. This is an alternate route back.
Peak 4975 ahead.
Peak 4975 ahead.
I skirted around the left side of the cliffs surrounding Peak 4975.
I skirted around the left side of the cliffs surrounding Peak 4975.
Looking back toward Mount Nutt (left) and Nutt Benchmark (right) on the way up to Peak 4975.
Looking back toward Mount Nutt (left) and Nutt Benchmark (right) on the way up to Peak 4975.
Image 47 from gallery
Summit of Peak 4975, after a short Class 2+ scramble on the east side, avoiding the cliff bands. Interesting volcanic rock on the summit.
Summit of Peak 4975, after a short Class 2+ scramble on the east side, avoiding the cliff bands. Interesting volcanic rock on the summit.
Headed down on the northwest side of Peak 4975, following burrow trails along the slopes, avoiding cliff bands..
Headed down on the northwest side of Peak 4975, following burrow trails along the slopes, avoiding cliff bands..
Close-up of Battleship Mountain on the center right. This view really made me realize that this was a pretty long route.
Close-up of Battleship Mountain on the center right. This view really made me realize that this was a pretty long route.
The slopes mellow out into open desert along the ridge before dropping into my chosen drainage.
The slopes mellow out into open desert along the ridge before dropping into my chosen drainage.
Heading into the drainage, Battleship Mountain visible center right.
Heading into the drainage, Battleship Mountain visible center right.
Stopped by an impassable dryfall. There was luckily a bypass on the left.
Stopped by an impassable dryfall. There was luckily a bypass on the left.
Back in the drainage, taking an animal trail on the north side to avoid the brush.
Back in the drainage, taking an animal trail on the north side to avoid the brush.
About to enter a section of really pretty narrows.
About to enter a section of really pretty narrows.
Image 56 from gallery
Totally unexpected narrows, with flowing water!
Totally unexpected narrows, with flowing water!
Image 58 from gallery
Image 59 from gallery
Image 60 from gallery
After the narrows open back up, the drainage continues for a while before eventually leading back to Cottonwood Canyon.
After the narrows open back up, the drainage continues for a while before eventually leading back to Cottonwood Canyon.
Image 62 from gallery

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