Petroglyph Canyon, Mount Sutor, Canine Crag, Ecru Peak Loop in Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Hike Petroglyph Canyon, Mount Sutor, Canine Crag, Ecru Peak Loop Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 3 8.6 miles 3200 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Jan 17, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Petroglyph Canyon, Mount Sutor, Canine Crag, Ecru Peak Loop GPX Track

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Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area has a nice trail system, Petroglyph Canyon being one of the more popular spots. This route summits a few little peaks, most just locally named: Mount Sutor (aka Sutor Benchmark), Canine Crag, Feline Fang, Ecru Peak (aka Silvar Dollar Peak), Mystic Mountain, and High Topper Mountain.

The trail heads south from the trailhead through the desert for a bit before entering the wash to the east, Petroglyph Canyon. I continued along this trail/wash, a couple of Class 2/3 dryfall obstacles keeping it interesting. At the top of the biggest dryfall along the trail, I got to check out some of the petroglyphs for which the canyon is named. Along the way I passed two forks, keeping left at each. The second fork left the official trail. On another day, I ran the official trail and it's really pretty. It leads southwest to the west side of Feline Fang and cna serve as a good alternative descent if you're not thrilled about completing the whole loop.

Once the wash I took that departed from the main trail started opening up a bit, I left the drainage and headed southeast to Mount Sutor on a Class 2 volcanic rocky slope. The summit had some nice views toward the rest of my proposed route, so I excitedly continued on without a break, heading down the steep west slope of Mt. Sutor. At the bottom of the progressively mellowing slope, I encountered a small section of some interesting badlands, where fun rock formations served as a tiny maze to get to the base of my next objective, Canine Crag.

I decided to keep to the south side of Canine Crag, where I scrambled a short section of Class 3 to gain the summit, then headed off the north side on more light Class 3 down to the saddle of Canine Crag and Feline Fang. The latter ended up being best approached from the north, another short Class 3 move to gain the summit. I continued west from Feline Fang. I passed over the aforementioned official trail that leads back into Petroglyph Canyon, but I didn't take it, instead continuing to my next peaks. A social trail continued toward Ecru Peak. I left this social trail to stay along the ridge crest, where a short Class 2/3 knife edge led me to a small bump before the peak. Ecru Peak is also called Silver Dollar Peak by some. I continued along the ridge and dropped north into a minor drainage, which brought me to the base of Mystic Mountain.

The biggest bit of vertical gain for the day was the slope up to Mystic Mountain. Within the summit registry was also a geocache with mystic-themed stuff (tarot cards, etc.). I continued east and up to Big Topper Peak, a minor bump that I did to add some more gain in for the day. I headed north down its slope and met back up with the Petroglyph Canyon Trail.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Sutor (Sutor Benchmark)
4186 ft
706 rise
2
Canine Crag
3982 ft
342 rise
3
Feline Fang
3920 ft
80 rise
4
Ecru Peak (Silver Dollar Peak)
3975 ft
295 rise
5
Mystic Mountain (Peak 3970)
3970 ft
530 rise
6
High Topper Mountain (Peak 3742)
3742 ft
262 rise

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Along the Petroglyph Canyon Trail. Mount Sutor visible top left.
Along the Petroglyph Canyon Trail. Mount Sutor visible top left.
The Petroglyph Canyon Trail drops down into the canyon after heading through the desert for a short time.
The Petroglyph Canyon Trail drops down into the canyon after heading through the desert for a short time.
Petroglyph Canyon.
Petroglyph Canyon.
Class 2 dryfall obstacle.
Class 2 dryfall obstacle.
Class 2/3 dryfall obstacles in a narrower section of Petroglyph Canyon.
Class 2/3 dryfall obstacles in a narrower section of Petroglyph Canyon.
Looking back through the narrow section in Petroglyph Canyon.
Looking back through the narrow section in Petroglyph Canyon.
Petroglyphs for which the canyon is named. There are a ton of them. Please respect them.
Petroglyphs for which the canyon is named. There are a ton of them. Please respect them.
Shortly after the petroglyphs, I kept left at a fork and left the official trail. The resulting wash seen here is less wide, but still easily traveled.
Shortly after the petroglyphs, I kept left at a fork and left the official trail. The resulting wash seen here is less wide, but still easily traveled.
I decided to leave the wash to ascend to Mount Sutor. There's no one "correct" spot to do so. The slope is pretty much consistent the whole way up.
I decided to leave the wash to ascend to Mount Sutor. There's no one "correct" spot to do so. The slope is pretty much consistent the whole way up.
View down into Petroglyph Canyon as I ascend Class 2 to Mount Sutor.
View down into Petroglyph Canyon as I ascend Class 2 to Mount Sutor.
Mount Sutor ahead.
Mount Sutor ahead.
Mount Sutor ahead, view toward the route to come on the right. I continued along the Mount Sutor south ridge for a bit before descending to the west, where the terrain was less steep and loose.
Mount Sutor ahead, view toward the route to come on the right. I continued along the Mount Sutor south ridge for a bit before descending to the west, where the terrain was less steep and loose.
Canine Crag is next.
Canine Crag is next.
Badlands before Canine Crag.
Badlands before Canine Crag.
Cute section of fun badlands navigation before reaching the base of Canine Crag.
Cute section of fun badlands navigation before reaching the base of Canine Crag.
Summit of Canine Crag, view toward Mount Sutor.
Summit of Canine Crag, view toward Mount Sutor.
Summit of Canine Crag, view toward Feline Fang (left) and Mystic Mountain (top right).
Summit of Canine Crag, view toward Feline Fang (left) and Mystic Mountain (top right).
Class 3 for Feline Fang.
Class 3 for Feline Fang.
Feline Fang, view toward Canine Crag.
Feline Fang, view toward Canine Crag.
Feline Fang, view toward Ecru Peak. You can see the official Petroglyph Canyon Trail bottom left. Taking this trail would lead back to the trailhead, but I wanted more peaks.
Feline Fang, view toward Ecru Peak. You can see the official Petroglyph Canyon Trail bottom left. Taking this trail would lead back to the trailhead, but I wanted more peaks.
Short knife-edge-like section on the way up to Ecru Peak. View toward Feline Fang. Mount Sutor visible in the background.
Short knife-edge-like section on the way up to Ecru Peak. View toward Feline Fang. Mount Sutor visible in the background.
Ecru Peak summit, view toward Mystic Mountain, center. I descended into the clear section on the left in this photo.
Ecru Peak summit, view toward Mystic Mountain, center. I descended into the clear section on the left in this photo.
Descending the slope to the base of Ecru Peak, where this wash separated me from Mystic Mountain. Now for one of the bigger vertical sections of the day.
Descending the slope to the base of Ecru Peak, where this wash separated me from Mystic Mountain. Now for one of the bigger vertical sections of the day.
On the way up Mystic Mountain's south slope, view back toward Ecru Peak (center). I descended from the slope on the right in this photo. You can descend from Ecru Peak using all sorts of route options.
On the way up Mystic Mountain's south slope, view back toward Ecru Peak (center). I descended from the slope on the right in this photo. You can descend from Ecru Peak using all sorts of route options.
Summit of Mystic Mountain, view toward Mount Sutor (far left), Canine Crag, Feline Fang, and Ecru Peak (far right).
Summit of Mystic Mountain, view toward Mount Sutor (far left), Canine Crag, Feline Fang, and Ecru Peak (far right).
Continuing to High Topper Peak, just a bump along the ridge.
Continuing to High Topper Peak, just a bump along the ridge.
High Topper Peak summit, view toward Canine Crag and Feline Fang (far left) and Mystic Mountain (far right). From the summit of High Topper Peak, I could see the trailhead (behind me in this photo). I descended the Class 2 slope, which was just more volcanic bouldery stuff like I'd experienced for much of the day already. I picked up the trail and got back to my car from there.
High Topper Peak summit, view toward Canine Crag and Feline Fang (far left) and Mystic Mountain (far right). From the summit of High Topper Peak, I could see the trailhead (behind me in this photo). I descended the Class 2 slope, which was just more volcanic bouldery stuff like I'd experienced for much of the day already. I picked up the trail and got back to my car from there.

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