Class 3 8.2 miles 3700 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Apr 30, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Dean Peak GPX Track

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Dean Peak is the slightly smaller eastern neighbor to Hualapai Peak, but it looks more interesting from the surrounding roads because of its rocky summit area. Without having a trail to its summit, Dean Peak sees very little visitors. I initially planned to skip the peak today since I heard there was a fire near Hualapai Peak, but I'm glad I didn't bail since the only remainers of the fire were a few visible tendrills of smoke.

It might be tempting to approach the peak from the west from its saddle with Hualapai Peak, but apparently that route is brushy. That route also might be shorter, but there are lots of ups-and-downs that bring the elevation gain to being similar to the route described here. I drove to the trailhead, signing into a register along the main road (I believe since the hike crosses private property they just want to see who's on their land). Reaching the trailhead is doable by pretty much any vehicle, except the last mile or so has a slightly higher hump between the tire tracks.

I started up a very obvious ATV road, which winds around the eastern ridge of Dean Peak. The views weren't particularly nice until about halfway up when Hualapai Peak came into view. Aside from a short section that seemed overgrown and out of character for the rest of the road, it was just easy walking so far. The road continued into coniferous forest, finally giving me some shade. At the base of the steeper southeastern slope, the road basically disappeared and I just started up the slope, some very minor ankle-high bushwhacking required. I thought the approach from here to the summit was really pretty, but it could have just been my excitement to finally get into a new mountain environment desert after a long desert season. About 1000 feet of vertical brought me to the base of Dean Peak's fun-looking summit, where unfortunately some prickly bushwhacking comprised pretty much the final quarter mile. Aside from the the brush, there was a bit of easy Class 3 on good rock that helps to avoid some of the thickest brushy stuff. You can likely keep the route Class 2, but be prepared for even more scratches. There are multiple options for navigating the cliffy terrain to gain the summit, neither route that I took feeling better than the other. Aside from the summit area, the bushwhacking on the rest of the route was nothing to complain about.

Back at the base of Dean Peak, I realized I had a lot more time before sunset and decided to continue along its northeastern ridge to Peak 7141. I might just be a junkie for ridgelines, but I'm so glad I did this bonus! The route I chose started down steeply on forested terrain. As the slope angle reduced, a barbed wire fence continued along pretty much the entire ridgeline, but it never got in the way. I passed some Class 2 granitic bouldery stuff and some really light bushwhacking and found myself at the straightforward approach slope to Peak 7141. The summit block of the peak is a stiff Class 3 heart-shaped (at least it appears as such from the angle I approached from) boulder move. I continued east from the summit along the ridge, some more very minor bushwhacking and pretty views along the way. Rather than continue along the ridgeline, I dropped south into a drainage. I don't know if it would have been better to stay along the ridge longer, but descending from the ridge looked potentially steeper and more brushy. The descent I took was overall fine, just some light bushawhacking and then boulder-hopping within my drainage of choice (Class 2) back to the main wash that would utlimately lead to my car. Once in the main wash, I stumbled onto a very old road that kept getting interrupted by erosion, but it helped to avoid a couple of minor dryfalls. There was also some sections of water trickling in the watercourse.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Dean Peak
8013 ft
1493 rise
2
Peak 7141
7141 ft
301 rise

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View from my parking spot. I headed left up the ATV road. I'll be returning from the right. Dean Peak poking up top right.
View from my parking spot. I headed left up the ATV road. I'll be returning from the right. Dean Peak poking up top right.
Along the good ATV road.
Along the good ATV road.
View back down the ATV road.
View back down the ATV road.
Making progress up the ATV road. Not much to report, it's pretty straightforward.
Making progress up the ATV road. Not much to report, it's pretty straightforward.
A turn in the ATV road. You can see the drainage I'll be descending from Peak 7141 later on the distant right.
A turn in the ATV road. You can see the drainage I'll be descending from Peak 7141 later on the distant right.
A small dip in the ATV road.
A small dip in the ATV road.
View back along the winding ATV road.
View back along the winding ATV road.
Hualapai Peak comes into view.
Hualapai Peak comes into view.
Dean Peak comes into view.
Dean Peak comes into view.
The ATV road continues to wind around as it approaches Dean Peak.
The ATV road continues to wind around as it approaches Dean Peak.
Close-up toward Dean Peak.
Close-up toward Dean Peak.
View back toward the trailhead, center left.
View back toward the trailhead, center left.
Entering a short section of forest. There were a couple of downed trees, but otherwise the road continues to be easy walking.
Entering a short section of forest. There were a couple of downed trees, but otherwise the road continues to be easy walking.
Close-up toward Dean Peak.
Close-up toward Dean Peak.
The ATV road continues sporadically past these boulders, but really it just peters out. I recommend just heading up the slope from here.
The ATV road continues sporadically past these boulders, but really it just peters out. I recommend just heading up the slope from here.
Heading up the slope after the ATV road ended.
Heading up the slope after the ATV road ended.
Looking back. I came up via the forested section in the center.
Looking back. I came up via the forested section in the center.
Some ankle-high bushwhacking up the slope.
Some ankle-high bushwhacking up the slope.
Dean Peak ahead.
Dean Peak ahead.
At the base of Dean Peak.
At the base of Dean Peak.
The last bit has quite a bit of prickly brush. It's not super fun.
The last bit has quite a bit of prickly brush. It's not super fun.
Some Class 2/3 scrambling helps to avoid the brush.
Some Class 2/3 scrambling helps to avoid the brush.
Nearing the summit area on one of many ascent options.
Nearing the summit area on one of many ascent options.
Summit of Dean Peak, view toward the way I came (right). Peak 7141 visible on the left.
Summit of Dean Peak, view toward the way I came (right). Peak 7141 visible on the left.
Dean Peak, view toward Hualapai Peak.
Dean Peak, view toward Hualapai Peak.
Dean Peak, close-up toward Hualapai Peak. You can also see the ridgeline that could serve as an approach from the west from the saddle of Dean/Hualapai, if you would prefer that route option.
Dean Peak, close-up toward Hualapai Peak. You can also see the ridgeline that could serve as an approach from the west from the saddle of Dean/Hualapai, if you would prefer that route option.
Dean Peak, view north.
Dean Peak, view north.
Back at the base of Dean Peak, I continued toward Peak 7141 down a steep, forested slope.
Back at the base of Dean Peak, I continued toward Peak 7141 down a steep, forested slope.
View back toward Dean Peak from the base of the steep slope.
View back toward Dean Peak from the base of the steep slope.
Some Class 2 bouldery stuff.
Some Class 2 bouldery stuff.
Peak 7141 ahead.
Peak 7141 ahead.
Base of Peak 7141.
Base of Peak 7141.
Nearing the summit area of Peak 7141, view toward Dean Peak.
Nearing the summit area of Peak 7141, view toward Dean Peak.
Peak 7141 heart-shaped summit boulder visible ahead.
Peak 7141 heart-shaped summit boulder visible ahead.
Stiff Class 3 bouldery move onto the summit boulder. Dean Peak visible top right.
Stiff Class 3 bouldery move onto the summit boulder. Dean Peak visible top right.
From the summit of Peak 7141, headed east along the ridge.
From the summit of Peak 7141, headed east along the ridge.
View back as I continue along the ridge toward Peak 7141 (right) and Dean Peak (left).
View back as I continue along the ridge toward Peak 7141 (right) and Dean Peak (left).
Steep descent to a saddle with an unranked bump ahead. I dropped into a drainage from the saddle, on the right.
Steep descent to a saddle with an unranked bump ahead. I dropped into a drainage from the saddle, on the right.
Heading into the drainage.
Heading into the drainage.
Class 2 boulder-hopping within the drainage. This drainage led to the main wash that would bring me back to my car.
Class 2 boulder-hopping within the drainage. This drainage led to the main wash that would bring me back to my car.
Some ruins within the main drainage.
Some ruins within the main drainage.
Within the main drainage, view back the way I came. It was easy walking back to my car from here.
Within the main drainage, view back the way I came. It was easy walking back to my car from here.

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