Southern Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Loop in Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Hike Southern Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Loop Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Class 2 8.1 miles 2900 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Dec 7, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Matt and I set out for the southern end of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge to see Dead Burro Canyon and the peaks in the area. We turned off at 34.60413811340223, -114.36389520379934 and followed the progressively more sandy road until we reached our start point. I'd say 2WD shouldn't have an issue with some momentum. There was an RV parked next to us, after all. We continued along the road (which became an ATV road) and onto a wide mesa-like hill. The road continued west and dropped down into a major wash, reascending on the opposite side. A burro trail led us down to the mouth of Dead Burro Canyon. We intended to head up the canyon, but I think you can only access it by bypassing a major dryfall on the left. We chose to go to the right on a cairned social trail and couldn't find a way back into the canyon from above, the cliffs too sheer. Instead we continued on the gradual slope to Peak 1520, and got some nice views into the canyon from above.

From Peak 1520, we located a Class 2 loose break in the cliff band to the west and continued down to the head of Dead Burro Canyon. We encountered a cairned social trail, likely part of the Dead Burro Loop, an unofficial loop trail that accesses this area. We continued west toward Peak 1460, popping between a big butte reminiscent of Utah's monoliths and a minor pinnacle. We wrapped around to the peak's southern ridge at the base of its cliffs. Class 2 led to the summit, and we couldn't find a reasonable way down on the north/northwest side in order to access the next peak in our route. We backtacked and wrapped around Peak 1460's northeast side, then ascended a Class 2 gully/slope to the saddle of an unnamed/unranked Class 5 peak (left) and Peak 1652 (right). We attempted a route up the unnamed peak, but were cliffed out severely a bit below the summit. We bailed and continued onward to Peak 1652, side-hilling on the right of the cliffy ridge crest. We made it to the summit via a Class 2 drainage.

The ridgeline from Peak 1652 to its saddle with Peak 1665 was the most interesting portion of the route, I thought. From the summit of Peak 1652, stay directly on the ridge crest to locate a Class 2 break in the cliff band. The descent was slabby and slanted, creating lots of Class 2/2+ fun. The ascent to Peak 1665 was easy Class 2, and the views toward The Needles and Tumarion Peak were quite nice from here. The cliffs on the east face of Peak 1665 were daunting, so we instead headed down the peak's south slope, where there were some Class 2 obstacles. Following the ridgeline required us to ascend a minor hill, and then descend on a slope with colorful rock into the drainage separating Peak 1665 from Peak 1520 (our first peak of the day). We continued generally southeast in a significant wash, eventually merging with an ATV road. The road took us back up the wide mesa/hill and then back down to our cars.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 1520
1520 ft
360 rise
2
Peak 1460
1460 ft
320 rise
3
Peak 1652
1652 ft
332 rise
4
Peak 1665
1665 ft
505 rise

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Dropping off the wide mesa-like hill into a major wash, reascending on the opposite side.
Dropping off the wide mesa-like hill into a major wash, reascending on the opposite side.
Along a burro trail toward Dead Burro Canyon (center).
Along a burro trail toward Dead Burro Canyon (center).
Social trail leading up the right side of Dead Burro Canyon. Dryfall visible left of center, preventing access directly up the canyon's mouth.
Social trail leading up the right side of Dead Burro Canyon. Dryfall visible left of center, preventing access directly up the canyon's mouth.
Along the right side rim of Dead Burro Canyon.
Along the right side rim of Dead Burro Canyon.
Close-up into Dead Burro canyon. Unnamed peak we failed on visible right of center, big butte reminiscent of Utah's monoliths visible next to it on the left.
Close-up into Dead Burro canyon. Unnamed peak we failed on visible right of center, big butte reminiscent of Utah's monoliths visible next to it on the left.
Looking back down at our progress toward Peak 1520.
Looking back down at our progress toward Peak 1520.
Peak 1520 summit ahead.
Peak 1520 summit ahead.
Break in the cliff band on loose Class 2 to get down to the head of Dead Burro canyon. Peak 1460 visible left, Peak 1652 visible top right.
Break in the cliff band on loose Class 2 to get down to the head of Dead Burro canyon. Peak 1460 visible left, Peak 1652 visible top right.
Pak 1460 ahead.
Pak 1460 ahead.
Big butte on the right, minor pinnacle left. We headed between them - you can see Matt up there.
Big butte on the right, minor pinnacle left. We headed between them - you can see Matt up there.
Working along the base of Peak 1460.
Working along the base of Peak 1460.
View back toward Peak 1520. The weakness we descended from is visible on its left in this photo. Big butte visible far left.
View back toward Peak 1520. The weakness we descended from is visible on its left in this photo. Big butte visible far left.
Heading up to Peak 1460.
Heading up to Peak 1460.
Looking back down the Class 2 ridge leading to Peak 1460.
Looking back down the Class 2 ridge leading to Peak 1460.
Peak 1460 summit, view toward unnamed peak we failed on (left) and Peak 1652 (our next peak, far right). The Needles visible in the distance.
Peak 1460 summit, view toward unnamed peak we failed on (left) and Peak 1652 (our next peak, far right). The Needles visible in the distance.
Just past the summit of Peak 1460, a cool perspective down toward the big butte.
Just past the summit of Peak 1460, a cool perspective down toward the big butte.
View toward the Colorado River.
View toward the Colorado River.
We wrapped back around Peak 1460 and headed between the peak and the big butte.
We wrapped back around Peak 1460 and headed between the peak and the big butte.
Unnamed peak we failed on visible left of center, Peak 1652 top right. We headed to the saddle of the two, but you could instead chose to head up another Class 2 drainage to go directly to the peak.
Unnamed peak we failed on visible left of center, Peak 1652 top right. We headed to the saddle of the two, but you could instead chose to head up another Class 2 drainage to go directly to the peak.
Looking back toward Peak 1460 and the big butte as we ascend to the saddle.
Looking back toward Peak 1460 and the big butte as we ascend to the saddle.
View toward the failed unnamed peak. Loose Class 5, no thanks.
View toward the failed unnamed peak. Loose Class 5, no thanks.
View along the ridge toward Peak 1652.
View along the ridge toward Peak 1652.
Side-hilling at the base of Peak 1652 to avoid the cliffy crest.
Side-hilling at the base of Peak 1652 to avoid the cliffy crest.
View toward Peak 1460 and an alternate approach drainage.
View toward Peak 1460 and an alternate approach drainage.
Class 2 gully to gain the summit of Peak 1652.
Class 2 gully to gain the summit of Peak 1652.
Ridge to Peak 1652, The Needles and Tumarion Peak visible in the distance.
Ridge to Peak 1652, The Needles and Tumarion Peak visible in the distance.
Wide shot toward  Peak 1520 (left) and Peak 1460 (right).
Wide shot toward Peak 1520 (left) and Peak 1460 (right).
Close-up of The Needles and Tumarion Peak.
Close-up of The Needles and Tumarion Peak.
Dropping down along the ridge crest from Peak 1652.
Dropping down along the ridge crest from Peak 1652.
Looking back toward Peak 1652. The cliffs guard the descent off the summit well, but just above Matt was a nice Class 2 option.
Looking back toward Peak 1652. The cliffs guard the descent off the summit well, but just above Matt was a nice Class 2 option.
Peak 1665 ahead.
Peak 1665 ahead.
Heading down the slabby slope.
Heading down the slabby slope.
Almost at the saddle with Peak 1665.
Almost at the saddle with Peak 1665.
Class 2 slope up to Peak 1665.
Class 2 slope up to Peak 1665.
Looking back toward Peak 1652.
Looking back toward Peak 1652.
The Needles and Tumarion Peak.
The Needles and Tumarion Peak.
Summit of Peak 1665, view toward its southern slope. We ascended the minor hill in the center to follow the ridgeline since everything on the left is cliffy and daunting.
Summit of Peak 1665, view toward its southern slope. We ascended the minor hill in the center to follow the ridgeline since everything on the left is cliffy and daunting.
Looking back up toward Peak 1665 and the Class 2 descent along its south slope.
Looking back up toward Peak 1665 and the Class 2 descent along its south slope.
Colorful landscape as we headed down to the saddle separating Peak 1665 from Peak 1520.
Colorful landscape as we headed down to the saddle separating Peak 1665 from Peak 1520.
Looking back up the colorful descent.
Looking back up the colorful descent.
Burro trail leading to a major drainage.
Burro trail leading to a major drainage.
We followed this drainage for a while until we merged with an ATV road, and then made our way back to the car.
We followed this drainage for a while until we merged with an ATV road, and then made our way back to the car.

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