Powell Peak and Eastern Havasu National Wildlife Refuge in Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Hike Powell Peak and Eastern Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Class 2 7.3 miles 2600 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Feb 16, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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To wrap up my obsession with the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge region, I recruited Whiley to head to the high point, Powell Peak. We decided to add on a couple of minor peaks in its proximity, creating a nice loop in the eastern reaches of the Refuge. While this isn't a good first visit to the area since the peaks aren't particularly unique, it was a nice loop overall. The road leading  to our starting point was fine for any mid-clearance vehicle, the road in surprisingly good shape and less sandy than other roads I've encountered in this area. Google will navigate you here (34.644376480597494, -114.34041486689166), but past that it's just a matter of following the most obvious road leading northwest. We passed a sign that read no vehicles allowed Jan – Apr past this point (34.64413, -114.34019), but I'm not sure if this is accurate or monitored.

From our parking spot, we headed first to Peak 2274, navigating easy sandy foothills and gaining its east ridge (Class 2), following it to the peak's twin summit blocks. The southern one was higher. Without lingering, we headed down Peak 2274's northwest steep and loose slope (Class 2) and continued along the base of the ridge crest on its right. Although we thought it might be tricky, the route ended up only introducing a Class 2+ move here or there, obstacles created from the rocky terrain. While dropping down to lower and less rocky terrain would have worked, it would have introduced a bit more vertical gain. Once off the ridge, we worked our way through the foothills for a short time before landing in a major wash to the east of Powell Peak, our next objective. We crossed over an ATV road and made our way into a smaller wash to the south of Powell Peak and then continued up its pleasant Class 2 south slopes. At first glance, I got really excited about a cool-looking rocky outcrop that I thought was Powell Peak, but this was just a false summit and not the true peak. We kept to the left of the cool feature and continued on a pleasant ridge to the summit of Powell Peak. There was a single Class 2+ move below the summit block. Tumarion Peak to the west looks far more daunting from here than it actually is.

Whiley and I debated on the best way to get down from Powell Peak. We could return the way we came, but that would require lots of backtracking. Instead, we found the least steep option (Class 2+) on Powell Peak's east face that led down a loose and somewhat unpleasant slope. This was the least fun part of the day, but it still wasn't bad or even sketchy, just slow and loose. Our desert stroll on the way to Peak 1900 to the east began nicely, but we began to realize the many, many bumps and foothills beneath the peak would slow us down quite a bit, the obstacles becomes larger the closer we got to the peak. The bumps aren't obvious on a topo, and caused the approach to Peak 1900 more of an undertaking than anticipated. Our goal was what looked like some old mining ruins at the base of the peak. These turned out to possibly be part of an active mine, a notice on a post reading "Goldspeck 2011". A really nice miner trail brought us to the ridgeline, an unexpected treat. While it will be tempting to side-hill to get to the summit to the north, I recommend sticking to the ridgeline as much as possible. The terrain is loose and slow otherwise. Class 2 brought us to the summit of Peak 1900.

We backtracked along Peak 1900's ridge and followed a miner trail south which led to a dirt road that wouldn't lead us back to the car. Instead, some more winding around and over foothills added some minor annoyance as we made our way back.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 2274
2274 ft
694 rise
2
Powell Peak
2349 ft
909 rise
3
Peak 1900
1900 ft
360 rise

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From the car, we headed toward Peak 2274 to the south, visible ahead.
From the car, we headed toward Peak 2274 to the south, visible ahead.
Along the Class 2 ridge leading to Peak 2274.
Along the Class 2 ridge leading to Peak 2274.
Peak 2274 ahead.
Peak 2274 ahead.
View back along the ridge. Peak 1900 top left, our last peak of the loop. The car is hidden somewhere in the center of this photo.
View back along the ridge. Peak 1900 top left, our last peak of the loop. The car is hidden somewhere in the center of this photo.
Summit of Peak 2274 ahead.
Summit of Peak 2274 ahead.
After coming down from Peak 2274, we continued along its northwest ridge, keeping just to the right of the rocky crest.
After coming down from Peak 2274, we continued along its northwest ridge, keeping just to the right of the rocky crest.
There were a couple of Class 2+ moves just below the ridge crest.
There were a couple of Class 2+ moves just below the ridge crest.
Looking back toward Peak 2274.
Looking back toward Peak 2274.
Major wash running along the east side of Powell Peak visible running left to right in this photo. Powell Peak visible center, the side-wash running south below Powell Peak visible to the left of the peak.
Major wash running along the east side of Powell Peak visible running left to right in this photo. Powell Peak visible center, the side-wash running south below Powell Peak visible to the left of the peak.
Heading up the wash that's just south of Powell Peak.
Heading up the wash that's just south of Powell Peak.
Heading up the Class 2 slope to Powell's Peak's south ridge. I was excited that rock outcrop was the peak initially, but it's just a cool formation, unfortunately.
Heading up the Class 2 slope to Powell's Peak's south ridge. I was excited that rock outcrop was the peak initially, but it's just a cool formation, unfortunately.
Looking back as we make our way to Powell Peak's south ridge.
Looking back as we make our way to Powell Peak's south ridge.
Heading up to Powell Peak, Class 2 ridge.
Heading up to Powell Peak, Class 2 ridge.
Looking back. We ascended from the right. Outcrop I mentioned earlier visible top left. Peak 2274 visible top left.
Looking back. We ascended from the right. Outcrop I mentioned earlier visible top left. Peak 2274 visible top left.
Class 2 to Powell Peak.
Class 2 to Powell Peak.
Class 2+ move below the summit block.
Class 2+ move below the summit block.
Powell Peak summit, view south along the ridge. Peak 2274 visible top left, Crossman Peak in the distance.
Powell Peak summit, view south along the ridge. Peak 2274 visible top left, Crossman Peak in the distance.
View toward Tumarion Peak and The Needles.
View toward Tumarion Peak and The Needles.
Close-up of Tumarion Peak (left) and Gold Dome (right).
Close-up of Tumarion Peak (left) and Gold Dome (right).
We decided this would be the most reasonable route down Powell Peak's east face. Loose and slow, but Class 2.
We decided this would be the most reasonable route down Powell Peak's east face. Loose and slow, but Class 2.
Almost down the slope.
Almost down the slope.
View back up toward Powell Peak. We descended from the slopes on the right.
View back up toward Powell Peak. We descended from the slopes on the right.
And now a traverse through the desert to Peak 1900, visible center.
And now a traverse through the desert to Peak 1900, visible center.
Looking back toward Powell Peak as we pass one of a few ATV roads along the way to Peak 1900.
Looking back toward Powell Peak as we pass one of a few ATV roads along the way to Peak 1900.
Foothills serving as somewhat annoying obstacles below Peak 1900.
Foothills serving as somewhat annoying obstacles below Peak 1900.
Peak 1900 top left. We decided to head to the mining ruins in the center of the photo.
Peak 1900 top left. We decided to head to the mining ruins in the center of the photo.
Mining ruins, likely still active.
Mining ruins, likely still active.
Along a mining trail (yay!) that brought us to the ridgeline.
Along a mining trail (yay!) that brought us to the ridgeline.
Peak 1900 ahead. Just follow the ridge crest, don't side-hill.
Peak 1900 ahead. Just follow the ridge crest, don't side-hill.
Close-up toward Peak 1900.
Close-up toward Peak 1900.
Class 2/2+ on the way up to Peak 1900.
Class 2/2+ on the way up to Peak 1900.
Peak 1900 summit, view toward Powell Peak (right) and Peak 2774 (left).
Peak 1900 summit, view toward Powell Peak (right) and Peak 2774 (left).
We backtracked across the ridge from Peak 1900 and continued down a mining trail leading to this road. The road ended shortly after and we had to navigate the foothill obstacles again to make it back to the car.
We backtracked across the ridge from Peak 1900 and continued down a mining trail leading to this road. The road ended shortly after and we had to navigate the foothill obstacles again to make it back to the car.
View back from the foothill obstacles just before reaching the car, toward Peak 1900.
View back from the foothill obstacles just before reaching the car, toward Peak 1900.

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