Black Canyon Wilderness High Point and Burro Wash Loop in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Black Canyon Wilderness High Point and Burro Wash Loop Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 3 11.2 miles 4100 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Nov 22, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Black Canyon Wilderness High Point and Burro Wash Loop GPX Track

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While Lake Mead National Recreation Area generally boasts the most loose volcanic terrain I've experienced, this route is particularly loose and steep and I only recommend it if bagging remote peaks in the area is appealing to you. Burro Wash Road, the road leading to the trailhead, is fine for a mid-clearance vehicle with good tires, but there are spots I had to drive slowly. Burlier vehicles could continue down the road, but it gets very bad shortly after leaving the rim. Additionally, my loop would bring me back here anyway, so I saw little point in trying to continue down the road.

I started first to Black Canyon Wilderness High Point to the north, a quick Class 2 ascent to a nice viewpoint of the route to come. I located a loose Class 2 descent option to the east of the summit and headed down on garbage terrain to the base of Peak 2660. Some loose Class 2+ brought me to its southern ridge, and then a little bit of route-finding around its minor cliffs led me up a slippery, dirty slope to the summit. I then continued along the ridgeline toward Peak 2570. On a map this ridge looks like a no-brainer, but it's got a bunch of minor cliffs that need avoiding. I don't think there's one particular "best" way, but I was able to keep the route Class 2 with a single Class 3 down-climb. A reasonable Class 2 slope then brought me to the summit of Peak 2570, where I slipped and gashed my hand pretty badly. I scoped out a route down the south side of Peak 2570, not thrilled about anything. I slowly made my way down loose Class 2 and worked my way onto a reasonable-looking ridge before dropping into a drainage. I don't know what to recommend to get here. It's all slow-moving crap.

The drainage merged with a wash that narrowed into a canyon. My intention was to follow this wash for a couple of miles to get to a smaller peak farther east, but after a half mile or navigating Class 2/3 obstacles within the wash/canyon, I was stopped by a 30-foot dryfall. Bummer. Knowing this sort of destroyed my chances of getting to the smaller peak out there, I decided to skip it and instead work up to Peak 2402. I ascended to the right of the dryfall and followed the Class 2/3 ridge to higher ground. While this was probably the most fun section of scrambling for the day, it can be avoided and made much easier by ascending a drainage back up the wash/canyon instead. I marked this alternative on my attached map in pink. Either way, you'll end up on the ridge that would lead to the summit of Peak 2402. Overall this was a pleasant section, with nice views and less-loose rock. Then I checked the summit register, surprised there would be one out here since the previously logged ascent online read 2015. It was left by my friend Adam Walker… hours before I reached the summit. Unbelieveable! I turned my phone off airplane mode and had a text from Adam saying he found my name in the register on Peak 2570, which I had logged a bit before. What were the chances we'd both be doing these silly, remote peaks on the same day?

I dropped down to the saddle of Peak 2402 and 2300, where I then ascended to the latter on a barely Class 2 slope. Back at the saddle of these two peaks, I descended a drainage to the west, where I bypassed a couple of minor dryfalls and headed through the desert to rejoin with Burro Wash Road. I followed Burro Wash Road for a few miles back to the trailhead. My last peak was to the south, Peak 2775. I headed up on a nice wide slope with lots of small black boulders, keeping the route low Class 2 for its entirety. Adam was on the summit! We social distance hiked back to the trailhead together.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Black Canyon Wilderness High Point
2832 ft
452 rise
2
Peak 2660
2660 ft
260 rise
3
Peak 2570
2570 ft
290 rise
4
Peak 2402
2402 ft
442 rise
5
Peak 2300
2300 ft
300 rise
6
Peak 2775
2775 ft
295 rise

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At the trailhead, view east where you can see the peaks of this route.
At the trailhead, view east where you can see the peaks of this route.
Looking back toward the trailhead as I ascend to Black Canyon Wilderness High Point.
Looking back toward the trailhead as I ascend to Black Canyon Wilderness High Point.
Black Canyon Wilderness High Point ahead.
Black Canyon Wilderness High Point ahead.
Black Canyon Wilderness High Point summit, view back the way I came toward the trailhead.
Black Canyon Wilderness High Point summit, view back the way I came toward the trailhead.
Black Canyon Wilderness High Point, view toward Peak 2660. I used the loose-looking slope left bottom in this photo to descend.
Black Canyon Wilderness High Point, view toward Peak 2660. I used the loose-looking slope left bottom in this photo to descend.
Continuing to Peak 2660, top. You can see the Class 2+ cliff band obstacle to the right of the summit that I used to gain the ridge.
Continuing to Peak 2660, top. You can see the Class 2+ cliff band obstacle to the right of the summit that I used to gain the ridge.
View back toward Black Canyon Wilderness High Point.
View back toward Black Canyon Wilderness High Point.
On the ridge, heading up to Pea 2660.
On the ridge, heading up to Pea 2660.
Awful stuff to gain Peak 2660's summit.
Awful stuff to gain Peak 2660's summit.
Heading along the ridge from Peak 2660 to Peak 2570.
Heading along the ridge from Peak 2660 to Peak 2570.
Peak 2570 ahead, a bunch of cliffy stuff making the traverse a little more interesting.
Peak 2570 ahead, a bunch of cliffy stuff making the traverse a little more interesting.
Looking back toward Peak 2660 (top center) and Black Canyon Wilderness High Point top left).
Looking back toward Peak 2660 (top center) and Black Canyon Wilderness High Point top left).
Easy Class 3 obstacle along the ridgeline to Peak 2570.
Easy Class 3 obstacle along the ridgeline to Peak 2570.
Close-up toward the Colorado River. Mount Wilson visible top right, Fortification Hill top left. Muddies on the distant left.
Close-up toward the Colorado River. Mount Wilson visible top right, Fortification Hill top left. Muddies on the distant left.
View back from near the summit of Peak 2570 toward Peak 2660 and Black Canyon Wilderness High Point. Trailhead visible left of center.
View back from near the summit of Peak 2570 toward Peak 2660 and Black Canyon Wilderness High Point. Trailhead visible left of center.
Summit of Peak 2570 ahead.
Summit of Peak 2570 ahead.
Close-up toward Peak 2402, my next objective. You can also see the canyon I'd use to get to it, and the ridge in the center I used to gain its summit. The pink line on the attached map outlines the nice-looking drainage to the right of the ridge I took.
Close-up toward Peak 2402, my next objective. You can also see the canyon I'd use to get to it, and the ridge in the center I used to gain its summit. The pink line on the attached map outlines the nice-looking drainage to the right of the ridge I took.
Looking back up at Peak 2570 on awful rock.
Looking back up at Peak 2570 on awful rock.
Within the drainage that would lead to the wash/canyon.
Within the drainage that would lead to the wash/canyon.
Within the wash.
Within the wash.
Wash narrows into a canyon.
Wash narrows into a canyon.
Some obstacles as I descend the canyon.
Some obstacles as I descend the canyon.
Image 22 from gallery
Image 23 from gallery
A dryfall stopped me. I couldn't find a way around it.
A dryfall stopped me. I couldn't find a way around it.
I ascended the ridge to Peak 2402, here.
I ascended the ridge to Peak 2402, here.
Looking back at my progress up the ridge. To the left in this photo is the alternative, likely easier ascent option outlined in pink on my map.
Looking back at my progress up the ridge. To the left in this photo is the alternative, likely easier ascent option outlined in pink on my map.
Class 2/3 scrambling on my ridge ascent choice.
Class 2/3 scrambling on my ridge ascent choice.
On the final summit ridge to Peak 2402. The pink link on my map would end up here also.
On the final summit ridge to Peak 2402. The pink link on my map would end up here also.
Peak 2402 ahead.
Peak 2402 ahead.
View back along the ridge from Peak 2402. Black Canyon Wilderness High Point visible left of center, the trailhead left of that. Peak 2570 where I came from is visible right of center.
View back along the ridge from Peak 2402. Black Canyon Wilderness High Point visible left of center, the trailhead left of that. Peak 2570 where I came from is visible right of center.
Continuing along the ridge to Peak 2300, center.
Continuing along the ridge to Peak 2300, center.
Barely Class 2 slope to Peak 2300.
Barely Class 2 slope to Peak 2300.
View back as I ascent Peak 2300.
View back as I ascent Peak 2300.
Peak 2300, view south.
Peak 2300, view south.
Back at the saddle of Peak 2402 and Peak 2300, view toward Burro Wash Road, somewhere in the center.
Back at the saddle of Peak 2402 and Peak 2300, view toward Burro Wash Road, somewhere in the center.
Minor obstacles to bypass as I descend from the saddle.
Minor obstacles to bypass as I descend from the saddle.
I traversed the desert, up and over a couple of hills.
I traversed the desert, up and over a couple of hills.
View back toward the saddle I came down from, center.
View back toward the saddle I came down from, center.
Burro Wash Road visible ahead.
Burro Wash Road visible ahead.
Along Burro Wash Road.
Along Burro Wash Road.
Looking back as I ascend to the rim where my car is.
Looking back as I ascend to the rim where my car is.
Back at my car, view toward Peak 2775.
Back at my car, view toward Peak 2775.
Looking back toward Black Canyon Wilderness High Point and the trailhead (center) as I head up to Peak 2775.
Looking back toward Black Canyon Wilderness High Point and the trailhead (center) as I head up to Peak 2775.
Peak 2775 ahead.
Peak 2775 ahead.
Close-up toward the peaks I did earlier in the day.
Close-up toward the peaks I did earlier in the day.
Ran into Adam on the summit of Peak 2775!
Ran into Adam on the summit of Peak 2775!

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!