North Wilson Ridge and Canyon Ridge Loop in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ

Hike North Wilson Ridge and Canyon Ridge Loop Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ

Class 3 16.8 miles 6200 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Mar 13, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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North Wilson Ridge was my primary objective for the day, but it's a bit of work to reach from any direction. Unable to easily determine an obvious best approach, I poked around some more and realized Canyon Ridge (another peak) was located just to its north, and then of course that there were multiple other peaks nearby, all significantly lower than North Wilson Ridge. After mapping out a potential route, I determined it made the most sense to do them all as one big loop. I noticed I'd pass over the Cohenour Loop Road a couple of times, but the loop mileage was similar to just out-and-backing each of the peaks individually from the road. If it's your first time to this part of Lake Mead, you might be more interested in checking out Arch Mountain instead.

The roads leading out to the trailhead were fine overall, except for a couple of short sandy/rocky spots along Cohenour Loop Road, but mid-clearance would be fine. I parked where I did since it was the point of lowest elevation for the loop. I started clockwise, my reason being that I wanted to be able to scope out a route from below up to North Wilson Ridge rather than blindly descend that way.

First up was Peak 3448, which seems to have equally tall summits, each very different in character. I took the major drainage to their north, ascending to the saddle separating the twin summits. The northern peak had plenty of Class 2 and a nice view to the north. The southern peak had a small cliff to wrap around, but was mostly just a wide and uninteresting lump.

I continued to Peak 3602 along the sweeping mesatop, the terrain very pleasant for travel here. Peak 3602 required a steep Class 2 slope, followed by a bit of route-finding to locate a Class 2/2+ ascent option on its northeast side. I descended a Class 2+/3 route on the south side and slipped down loose terrain to Cohenour Loop Road. Looking at North Wilson Ridge far above, I was faced with a similar issue in person as I was when staring at it on a map. None of the spur ridges leading to the main crest were a good fit. Some seemed rocky or steep, while others required too much trudging through little arroyos to reach. I sort of just gave up and decided to take the most direct ridge to gain the crest and then traverse from there, efficiency pretty impossible to determine without knowing anything about the peak. In hindsight I still couldn't say if there would have been a better option. Maybe another one farther south would prevent all the extra ridgeline scrambling I'd soon have to do?

My ascent ridge choice worked nicely, starting as a steep slope with some Class 2 mixed in. Granitic boulders were introduced higher up and then the last quarter mile required some true Class 2/3 boulder-hopping to gain the crest. Here I got a fantastic view toward Lake Mead and Fortification Hill far below. North Wilson Ridge was still very far away, and it seemed to be separated by a spine of endless boulders. I scrambled around and over many obstacles, annoyed that this hike would probably be more effort than I thought, and all this extra tedious work could force me to run out of water and need to bail. Fortunately, the heavily-packed boulders only lasted a short time and I was able to make quicker progress after that.

The ridgeline had pockets of boulders, as well as a few undulations that I'd have to repeat on the way back. While there was nothing particularly dangerous to note, this traverse was certainly no quick feat. The last half mile was the most riddled with boulders, but I was able to weave in and out of them for the most part and only occasionally pulled a Class 3 move. The summit area was mostly sandy and had some sort of small human-made structure. I could also see Mount Wilson to the south.

After a long slog back along the ridgeline, I passed the point I'd joined the crest earlier and then continued north, now descending toward Indian Pass. Nothing exceeded Class 2, but the going was steep in a few sections. This portion was thankfully less muddled by boulders, but I did have to wrap around a few cliffy outcroppings and boulder clusters to keep the descent more tame. I also stumbled on an occasional animal trail that helped expedite my descent.

Indian Pass is an unimpressive overlook toward Fortification Hill, but a dirt road leads to it and a few small campfire rings have been constructed, so I guess people do come out here. I continued north, Canyon Ridge my next peak. I was surprised to find an excellent trail leading much of the way up to the summit, speeding up my progress significantly and helping me to willingly ignore my dwindling water supply. The views of Lake Mead improved the higher up I hiked, and this peak turned out to easily be my favorite of the day. At around 3800' I reached a rocky section of spine along the crest that can be avoided on the right as Class 2. I chose to stick to the ridge and was able to locate a short scramble puzzle with some exposure, though not exceeding Class 3. I'd recommend adding this little bit of fun if scrambling is your thing, but it would have been trivial to keep to the right of the ordeal and instead use the less dangerous slope option. A short dip led down to a final, steep slope to the summit of Canyon Ridge. This was acually a pretty amazing viewpoint, the Muddy Mountains and their various minion peaklets clearly visible across the Colorado River.

I backtracked to the dip and descended Class 2 into the wash below. There were a couple of avoidable (or fun Class 2/3) dryfalls along the way. I followed this wash for a mile or so until it opened into the desert floor. Peak 3091 was next, my final peak of the loop. The wash I was in would lead me in the wrong direction, so I left it and hiked up to a humpy, low, eroded ridge. The humps shifted from white to orange to green, and blooming wildflowers kept my waning mood from dehydration high. After more navigating over the lumpy terrain, I ascended Peak 3091 via its southwest ridge, which became steeper and rocky toward the top. My descent back to the car was trivial, a nice wash leading me all the way back.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 3448
3448 ft
430 rise
2
Peak 3602
3602 ft
354 rise
3
North Wilson Ridge
5358 ft
502 rise
4
Canyon Ridge
3871 ft
459 rise
5
Peak 3091
3091 ft
401 rise

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From my parking spot, I headed up the wash in the center.
From my parking spot, I headed up the wash in the center.
Class 2 up to the saddle of the twin summits of Peak 3448.
Class 2 up to the saddle of the twin summits of Peak 3448.
Up to the rocky, northern Peak 3448 summit.
Up to the rocky, northern Peak 3448 summit.
Class 2.
Class 2.
View down into the drainage I just came up. Peak 3091 (last summit of the loop) seen center. Muddy Mountains in the distance.
View down into the drainage I just came up. Peak 3091 (last summit of the loop) seen center. Muddy Mountains in the distance.
View north toward Arch Mountain.
View north toward Arch Mountain.
Almost up the southern summit of Peak 3448, view back to the northern summit.
Almost up the southern summit of Peak 3448, view back to the northern summit.
Along a pleasant mesatop. North Wilson Ridge seen far left. Peak 3602 seen center.
Along a pleasant mesatop. North Wilson Ridge seen far left. Peak 3602 seen center.
Peak 3602 seen center. The loop road  seen on the right.
Peak 3602 seen center. The loop road seen on the right.
Steep slope up to Peak 3602.
Steep slope up to Peak 3602.
Class 2+/3 up to Peak 3602.
Class 2+/3 up to Peak 3602.
View back toward the mesatop traverse from Peak 3448.
View back toward the mesatop traverse from Peak 3448.
I dropped off Peak 3602 to the saddle on the right. North Wilson Ridge seen top left. I gained the ridge crest at the hump on the right.
I dropped off Peak 3602 to the saddle on the right. North Wilson Ridge seen top left. I gained the ridge crest at the hump on the right.
View back toward Peak 3602.
View back toward Peak 3602.
Starting off as a steep, Class 2 ascent.
Starting off as a steep, Class 2 ascent.
Some rockiness.
Some rockiness.
View down at my progress so far.
View down at my progress so far.
It's a bit of work higher up, more granitic boulders in the way.
It's a bit of work higher up, more granitic boulders in the way.
View back, Peak 3602 seen right of center.
View back, Peak 3602 seen right of center.
Rocky stuff to gain the ridge crest.
Rocky stuff to gain the ridge crest.
Along the ridge crest, view toward North Wilson Ridge.
Along the ridge crest, view toward North Wilson Ridge.
A view toward Fortification Hill and Lake Mead.
A view toward Fortification Hill and Lake Mead.
A view east. Peak 3602 seen far left.
A view east. Peak 3602 seen far left.
Along the ridgeline, which starts off painfully slow from boulder-hopping.
Along the ridgeline, which starts off painfully slow from boulder-hopping.
North Wilson Ridge ahead. The boulders peter out.
North Wilson Ridge ahead. The boulders peter out.
View back along the ridgeline.
View back along the ridgeline.
Mostly pleasant terrain for much of the ridge.
Mostly pleasant terrain for much of the ridge.
And then more rockiness. You can see the summit of North Wilson Ridge ahead.
And then more rockiness. You can see the summit of North Wilson Ridge ahead.
The last half mile to the summit is the most boulder-filled.
The last half mile to the summit is the most boulder-filled.
The worst of it.
The worst of it.
Just below the summit of North Wilson Ridge, view north along the ridgeline. Fortification Hill seen left. The nubbin of Peak 3602 seen on the right.
Just below the summit of North Wilson Ridge, view north along the ridgeline. Fortification Hill seen left. The nubbin of Peak 3602 seen on the right.
Close-up toward Fortification Hill.
Close-up toward Fortification Hill.
The summit is just behind the human-made structure.
The summit is just behind the human-made structure.
A view south toward Mount Wilson.
A view south toward Mount Wilson.
Back at where I joined the ridge crest, now continuing north.
Back at where I joined the ridge crest, now continuing north.
View back up at the initial drop.
View back up at the initial drop.
Sometimes rocky along the way down, but nothing like the traverse had been.
Sometimes rocky along the way down, but nothing like the traverse had been.
View back as I avoid a rocky outcropping.
View back as I avoid a rocky outcropping.
Another shot back at my progress.
Another shot back at my progress.
Descending to Indian Pass, seen center. Canyon Ridge seen above it.
Descending to Indian Pass, seen center. Canyon Ridge seen above it.
A view back from Indian Pass.
A view back from Indian Pass.
Indian Pass, view toward Fortification Hill.
Indian Pass, view toward Fortification Hill.
Starting up a good trail from Indian Pass, a view back toward the ridgeline I just came down from. Peak 3602 seen on the left.
Starting up a good trail from Indian Pass, a view back toward the ridgeline I just came down from. Peak 3602 seen on the left.
Canyon Ridge seen right of center.
Canyon Ridge seen right of center.
The trail seemed to end here at the base of this rocky ridgeline. You can easily avoid it by keeping to the right and using the steep Class 2 slope. I headed up the crest, adding some Class 3 to the mix.
The trail seemed to end here at the base of this rocky ridgeline. You can easily avoid it by keeping to the right and using the steep Class 2 slope. I headed up the crest, adding some Class 3 to the mix.
A Class 3 gully.
A Class 3 gully.
Class 3 along the crest. Class 2 bypass seen on the right.
Class 3 along the crest. Class 2 bypass seen on the right.
View back along the Class 3 puzzle.
View back along the Class 3 puzzle.
At the top of the Class 3 (or Class 2 slope used to avoid the Class 3), a view toward Canyon Point.
At the top of the Class 3 (or Class 2 slope used to avoid the Class 3), a view toward Canyon Point.
Canyon Point, view back. North Wilson Ridge seen left of center.
Canyon Point, view back. North Wilson Ridge seen left of center.
Muddy Mountains and Callville Bay.
Muddy Mountains and Callville Bay.
Wider shot of Lake Mead and the Muddy Mountains.
Wider shot of Lake Mead and the Muddy Mountains.
I dropped down into a wash.
I dropped down into a wash.
Some Class 2/3 obstacles along the way.
Some Class 2/3 obstacles along the way.
The wash was straightforward for a while.
The wash was straightforward for a while.
And then it opened into the desert. I left the wash to head up to my final peak, Peak 3091.
And then it opened into the desert. I left the wash to head up to my final peak, Peak 3091.
Colorful scenery on my way up to Peak 3091, seen on the right.
Colorful scenery on my way up to Peak 3091, seen on the right.
Eroded, humpy hills.
Eroded, humpy hills.
View back, North Wilson Ridge seen up top left.
View back, North Wilson Ridge seen up top left.
Peak 3091 ahead.
Peak 3091 ahead.
Steeper toward the top.
Steeper toward the top.
Peak 3091 summit, view toward North Wilson Ridge, Peak 3448 also visible on the left (first peak of the day).
Peak 3091 summit, view toward North Wilson Ridge, Peak 3448 also visible on the left (first peak of the day).
Twin summits of Peak 3448 (top right). My car is seen center. The way back was a pleasant wash walk, seen bottom center.
Twin summits of Peak 3448 (top right). My car is seen center. The way back was a pleasant wash walk, seen bottom center.
View north toward the Muddy Mountains, seen from Peak 3091.
View north toward the Muddy Mountains, seen from Peak 3091.

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