Lizard Peak and Aubrey Hills in SARA Mountain Park, AZ

Hike Lizard Peak and Aubrey Hills SARA Mountain Park, AZ

Class 3 9.6 miles 2500 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Nov 18, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Lizard Peak and Aubrey Hills GPX Track

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This hike is located just south of Lake Havasu City. It's located within the Special Activities and Recreation Area (SARA), and is far more popular and developed than it appears online or on a map. Mountain biking trails spider web around the area and although pretty, it's not the wilderness experience we were expecting. Overall I'd say this is a nice area to check out, but only use our route as a rough outline of what to do. As you can see from my attached map, it's sort of a mess. Because of the existence of so many mountain biking trails, I added the few off-trail sections we did in blue for reference. You can likely formulate a unique loop that sticks to trails completely by staring at a satellite map and inspecting the trails from there. Our main goal was to bag Peak 1379, but we ended up failing at that. Instead this ended up being just a bit of an exploratory ramble through the desert. Hopefully you can at least use the pictures to get a sense of what to expect out here if planning to visit the area.

The first objective for us would be to take the official trail loop that heads up to Lizard Peak. This route starts along a very wide trail, which leads into a wash. A trail marker points out of the wash and started to ascend the east slope of Lizard Peak. On the way, we took a small detour to visit what SARA Park advertises as the "Lizard Geoglyph". It's just a modern-made lizard sculpture, not a petroglyph. Back on the trail, we ascended the steep trail and encountered a fun, short Class 3 move to get over a cliff band and reach the saddle on the north side of Lizard Peak. Class 2 along the trail led to Lizard Peak's summit. To continue the loop, we started south on tight trail switchbacks, which wrapped around a buch of little cliffs and then continued at the base of the major cliff band that surrounds much of Lizard Peak. The views here were the best of the day, accentuated by the pleasant sesnsation of walking on a trail.

The trail system led down into an unnamed wash, where we started to ascend east through it. We came this far because we wanted to check out a feature known as SARA's Crack. I suppose someone thought the acronym combined with Crack sounded funny. The child in me couldn't help but shake my head with slight amusement. It's a pretty slot canyon with pink walls and a similar vibe to canyons found near Lake Mead. It's also complete with broken ladders and a rope for ascending. Without this additional gear getting through the canyon would be light Class 3. Once through The Crack, we continued through the drainage and decided to leave it in order to ascend a small hill and enter the region marked on maps as Aubrey Hills. We were only off-trail for a short time before we stumbled on a mountain bike trail. We followed it generally southeast, enjoying the pleasant desert scenery and trail. In my experience, trails are difficult to come by in the desert surrounding the Colorado River, so I was surprisingly more happy than I thought I'd be.

Peak 1379 came into view, and we both got pretty excited to try to summit. Not knowing anything about this peak, we wrapped around to its east side where the substantial cliff band at the peak's base seemed like it would be less severe, but no luck. I included this section on my attached map, but ultimately the peak is Class 5. We found a pile of rocks at the lowest point on the south side of the peak. We added more boulders to it and Craig scrambled up, but he reported that there were more severe cliffs above. We backed off. If you manage to ascend this one, please let me know any info! We descended off-trail down to a Water Tank feature below. I incuded an alternative trail route on my map to avoid our mishap that's possible to use to get to the Water Tank.

At the water tank, we realized we were running out of daylight and couldn't explore deeper into the Aubrey Hills. Instead we followed a trail to the base of Peak 1240 and decided to use this as a consolation prize. It ultimately ended up being a bit of fun and had great views. To reach the summit, we ascended the steep southern slope, wrapped around the peak's east face on Class 2/3 terrain, and then used a Class 3/3+ chute to gain the ridgeline. From here it was a short and narrow ridge walk to the high point. To get down, we backtracked down the chute and decided to descend to the north, a loose, steep, and ugly scree/talus slope. If you have time, I recommend looking for a better route. There is a mountain biking trail that wraps round the eastern and northern base of Peak 1240, and while this leads a bit out of the way, it might provide a more pleasant experience. Either way, we ended up in a wash below and followed it west, then another wash north until we encountered another trail. We took this trail back to the trailhead just as the sun set.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Lizard Peak
1360 ft
500 rise
2
Peak 1240
1240 ft
320 rise

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View from the trailhead toward Lizard Peak. We took the trail on the left, which led into a wash.
View from the trailhead toward Lizard Peak. We took the trail on the left, which led into a wash.
A sign points out of the wash and onto the Lizard Peak Trail.
A sign points out of the wash and onto the Lizard Peak Trail.
A short detour to "Lizard Geoglyph".
A short detour to "Lizard Geoglyph".
View back along the Lizard Peak Trail.
View back along the Lizard Peak Trail.
The trail wraps beneath the cliffs.
The trail wraps beneath the cliffs.
A short Class 3 section along the Lizard Peak Trail.
A short Class 3 section along the Lizard Peak Trail.
More wrapping along the cliffs, now above, to reach the saddle visible on the left.
More wrapping along the cliffs, now above, to reach the saddle visible on the left.
View back from the saddle.
View back from the saddle.
At the saddle, view at the trail leading up the north ridge of Lizard Peak, Class 2.
At the saddle, view at the trail leading up the north ridge of Lizard Peak, Class 2.
Summit of Liard Peak, view toward the saddle we came up from (left) and Lake Havasu City in the distance. Crossman Peak also visible up top.
Summit of Liard Peak, view toward the saddle we came up from (left) and Lake Havasu City in the distance. Crossman Peak also visible up top.
Starting down the south side of Lizard Peak. You can see the other little peaks on the left of the Aubrey Hills we hoped to go for today.
Starting down the south side of Lizard Peak. You can see the other little peaks on the left of the Aubrey Hills we hoped to go for today.
Very pretty trail. Our next summits visible center.
Very pretty trail. Our next summits visible center.
View back up toward Lizard Peak.
View back up toward Lizard Peak.
Very nice trail on the south side of Lizard Peak.
Very nice trail on the south side of Lizard Peak.
The trail drops down into the wash below.
The trail drops down into the wash below.
Dropping down to the mouth of SARA's Crack.
Dropping down to the mouth of SARA's Crack.
SARA's Crack, a pretty little slot canyon.
SARA's Crack, a pretty little slot canyon.
Image 17 from gallery
Remains of some old ladders, now more of an obstacle than a help.
Remains of some old ladders, now more of an obstacle than a help.
Image 19 from gallery
Image 20 from gallery
Image 21 from gallery
View back down SARA's Crack.
View back down SARA's Crack.
A short section with a rope if you need it.
A short section with a rope if you need it.
View back at the head of SARA's Crack.
View back at the head of SARA's Crack.
Continuing through the wash.
Continuing through the wash.
We left the previous wash leading to SARA's crack, ascended a short hill, and picked up a mountain biking trail.
We left the previous wash leading to SARA's crack, ascended a short hill, and picked up a mountain biking trail.
Along the trail.
Along the trail.
Peak 1379 right of center. Ultimately we wouldn't be able to summit that one.
Peak 1379 right of center. Ultimately we wouldn't be able to summit that one.
View back, Lizard Peak visible top right.
View back, Lizard Peak visible top right.
Peak 1379 ahead.
Peak 1379 ahead.
We left the trail here to ascend to Peak 1379, visible top. Alternatively, stick to the wash in the center and follow it to reach the Water Tank. I left both options visible on my attached map.
We left the trail here to ascend to Peak 1379, visible top. Alternatively, stick to the wash in the center and follow it to reach the Water Tank. I left both options visible on my attached map.
Approaching Peak 1379 from the west. We wrapped around it on a trail.
Approaching Peak 1379 from the west. We wrapped around it on a trail.
East side of Peak 1379. The only viable option we saw was on the far left in this photo, but it was ultimately too scary.
East side of Peak 1379. The only viable option we saw was on the far left in this photo, but it was ultimately too scary.
We dropped down to this Water Tank.
We dropped down to this Water Tank.
Close-up of the cool formations to the east.
Close-up of the cool formations to the east.
View back again after picking up another trail.
View back again after picking up another trail.
Peak 1240 comes into view.
Peak 1240 comes into view.
Ascending Peak 1240. Peak 1379, our failure *cries*, visible top center. We came from a trail within the valley on the left in this photo. The Water Tank is somewhere top left in this photo.
Ascending Peak 1240. Peak 1379, our failure *cries*, visible top center. We came from a trail within the valley on the left in this photo. The Water Tank is somewhere top left in this photo.
Fun Class 2/3 to wrap around to the east side of the peak.
Fun Class 2/3 to wrap around to the east side of the peak.
Peak 1240's Class 3 chute.
Peak 1240's Class 3 chute.
Fun scrambling.
Fun scrambling.
View back down the Class 3 chute.
View back down the Class 3 chute.
Ridgeline to the summit of Peak 1240.
Ridgeline to the summit of Peak 1240.
Peak 1240 summit, view east.
Peak 1240 summit, view east.
A mountain biking trail wraps around Peak 1240's north side and continues west. I recommend following it and finding a better way back to the trailhead. We just descended to the right into the wash below, followed a couple of washes back to a trail and then the trailhead.
A mountain biking trail wraps around Peak 1240's north side and continues west. I recommend following it and finding a better way back to the trailhead. We just descended to the right into the wash below, followed a couple of washes back to a trail and then the trailhead.
View back toward the Aubrey Hills before reaching the trailhead.
View back toward the Aubrey Hills before reaching the trailhead.

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