Class 3 11.2 miles 2200 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Dec 4, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mud Peaks Loop GPX Track

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This hike out to the Mud Peaks (Mud Crag, Mud Tower, Mud Hill) was inspired by a route Adam Walker and Paula Paimondi took. Previously these peaks weren't appealing objectives, but ultimately Austin and I were happy to explore the area. A major part of this hike requires following a somewhat boring wash which we made a lot more fun by jogging. Note that there is a lot of cryptobiotic soil out here, so please don't "bust the crust", avoiding it by sticking to washes. We parked just off Northshore Road at a pulloff and headed up the major wash to the north. After a few miles, we reached a fairly major split in the wash and headed left, away from the primary drainage. We would be returning from the right side on the way back. We continued up this smaller and more winding drainage as it ascended to the east side of Mud Crag. The route became more narrow and slightly crumbly, and we had to pull a few easy Class 3 moves to get over chockstones and mini dryfalls. We found ourselves at a minor saddle to the north of Mud Crag. Some Class 2 on crumbly, easy terrain led to the summit of Mud Crag.

Seen from other angles, the Mud Peaks aren't all that cool-looking, but I was pretty impressed at how nice these peaks looked from here. he badlands we'd be traversing later visible to the north seemed a little tedious, but were quite pretty. We traced a potential route to the next peak on our list, Mud Tower. Getting there would require heading west through the desert and re-approaching from the south. So, we dropped down Mud Crag's loose Class 2 south slope and followed a series of drainages. I recommend not hugging the base of the peaks, since the drainages you'd be crossing over create lots of lumps. We headed farther out into the desert and were happy we did to avoid the humpy obstacles. Though it might have added a bit more distance than just hugging the peaks' base, we were able to keep the approach mostly flat. Choose your own adventure, I guess.

Once at the southeastern base of Mud Tower, we left the drainage system and found a path of least resistance (the drainages can get a little deep and hard to get out of) to its southern slope. The Class 2 approach on pretty loose rock led to a Class 3 miraculous break in the U-shaped summit cliff band, and we found ourselves on the summit. We could see Mud Hill to the north, and hoped to make a direct line to get there from Mud Tower, but the north face of Mud Tower's entire ridge was loose Class 4, so we instead backtracked and wrapped around a sub-peak to Mud Tower's east. This involved some side-hilling and easy Class 2 moves. We found ourselves in a drainage heading north into the red badlands separating Mud Tower from Mud Hill. I can't recommend a "best" option, since there are a multitude of drainges/ridges that lead all over the place. I think we did a pretty good job of navigating the labyrinth, but it's not easy to describe. Eventually we found ourselves ascending to the ridgeline of Mud Hill on a Class 2 slope. Looking back toward the badlands from here was interesting since we could mostly trace our route through the maze. The ridgeline leading to Mud Hill had a couple of optional, fun, solid Class 3 moves.

From the summit of Mud Hill, we backtracked along its east ridge and debated heading back into the badlands and route-finding to the main wash that we used earlier to approach the peaks. We both agreed it seemed a little tedious, since no wash/drainage seemed like an obvious option. Instead, we headed north to a dirt road that we followed east for a much easier jog through the desert. This added a bit more mileage, but made it very straightforward route. The road continued south into what formed the head of the primary wash we took to approach the peaks. We continued through the wash for a few miles back to the car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mud Crag
2492 ft
372 rise
2
Mud Tower
2400 ft
311 rise
3
Mud Hill
2520 ft
320 rise

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Starting up the major wash we'd follow for a few miles. Mud Peaks visible distant center.
Starting up the major wash we'd follow for a few miles. Mud Peaks visible distant center.
Boundary of Lake Mead NRA.
Boundary of Lake Mead NRA.
A junction well up the wash. We headed left, returning on the right later.
A junction well up the wash. We headed left, returning on the right later.
Continuing up the drainage, Mud Crag visible ahead.
Continuing up the drainage, Mud Crag visible ahead.
Some colorful stuff within the drainage.
Some colorful stuff within the drainage.
Minor Class 3 obstacles as we approach Mud Crag.
Minor Class 3 obstacles as we approach Mud Crag.
Mud Crag up on the left. We followed the drainage to its head.
Mud Crag up on the left. We followed the drainage to its head.
Final summit ridge to Mud Crag.
Final summit ridge to Mud Crag.
Mud Crag summit, view west toward Mud Tower. On the left you can see the bumpy landscape formed from the drainages. It made more sense to us to head farther into the desert rather than try to hug the base of the peaks in order to avoid the bumps. Also, you can see the red badlands we'd have to traverse later on the right.
Mud Crag summit, view west toward Mud Tower. On the left you can see the bumpy landscape formed from the drainages. It made more sense to us to head farther into the desert rather than try to hug the base of the peaks in order to avoid the bumps. Also, you can see the red badlands we'd have to traverse later on the right.
Class 2 descent from Mud Crag on its south side.
Class 2 descent from Mud Crag on its south side.
Heading through the desert toward Mud Tower. You can see the base of the peaks on the right.
Heading through the desert toward Mud Tower. You can see the base of the peaks on the right.
Approach Mud Tower (left of center).
Approach Mud Tower (left of center).
Path of least resistance to the base of Mud Tower.
Path of least resistance to the base of Mud Tower.
View back into the drainages as we head up to Mud Tower.
View back into the drainages as we head up to Mud Tower.
Mud Tower Class 2 slope.
Mud Tower Class 2 slope.
Looking back at our ascent to Mud Tower.
Looking back at our ascent to Mud Tower.
Class 3 move out of U-shaped cliff band.
Class 3 move out of U-shaped cliff band.
Mud Tower summit, view east.
Mud Tower summit, view east.
We dropped down off Mud Tower and headed east, wrapping around a sub-peak to get into the red badlands. Mud Tower visible above Austin's head.
We dropped down off Mud Tower and headed east, wrapping around a sub-peak to get into the red badlands. Mud Tower visible above Austin's head.
Looking back as we descend into the red bandlands.
Looking back as we descend into the red bandlands.
Red bandlands, Mud Hill visible ahead.
Red bandlands, Mud Hill visible ahead.
Navigating the labyrinth of the badlands.
Navigating the labyrinth of the badlands.
We found an animal trail along one of the ridges and followed it up the slope to gain Mud Hill's east ridge, visible ahead.
We found an animal trail along one of the ridges and followed it up the slope to gain Mud Hill's east ridge, visible ahead.
Looking back into the badlands.
Looking back into the badlands.
Wide shot as we ascend to Mud Hill. Mud Tower far right, Mud Crag far left.
Wide shot as we ascend to Mud Hill. Mud Tower far right, Mud Crag far left.
Optional fun Class 3 along the Mud Hill ridgeline.
Optional fun Class 3 along the Mud Hill ridgeline.
Looking back along the ridge as we approach Mud Hill's summit.
Looking back along the ridge as we approach Mud Hill's summit.
Mud Hill summit ahead.
Mud Hill summit ahead.
View northeast toward the dirt road we'd use rather than navigating through the badlands.
View northeast toward the dirt road we'd use rather than navigating through the badlands.
Running along the dirt road.
Running along the dirt road.
The dirt road headed south and led into the primary wash we used to approach the peaks.
The dirt road headed south and led into the primary wash we used to approach the peaks.
We followed the wash back to the car.
We followed the wash back to the car.

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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!