Ute Mountains Loop in Black Mountains BLM, AZ

Hike Ute Mountains Loop Black Mountains BLM, AZ

Class 2 4.6 miles 2000 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Feb 15, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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After hiking Boundary Cone a couple of years ago, I became interested in the other little peaks in the area. More research led me to understand that this subset of peaks is known as the Ute Mountains. This loop hits three of the smaller peaks adjacent to Boundary Cone. While none are quite as imposing, they're still fun.

Whiley and I parked shortly after leaving Oatman Highway and started up a Class 2 slope to the west of Peak 3360. It soon became clear we'd have to slog up a scree slope, but it ended up not being bad, aided by an animal trail. We continued to wrap around toward Peak 3360's north side, some light side-hilling and steep slope hiking bringing us to a notchy break in the cliffs above. Past the notch was some easy Class 2+ route-finding to make it up some maze-like cliff bands to the summit.

A Class 2 slope led down along Peak 3360's east side toward a small butte obstacle. We had the option to keep right and descend significantly or keep left and hopefully find a way around it. Choosing the latter led to a loose slope and ultimately down to the saddle of Peak 3360 and Peak 3072. All except Peak 3072's southwestern side were looking awfully steep, but a brightly-colored slab along the northeast ridge piqued our interest. Unsure if it would work out, we started up really interesting Class 2+ terraces and made it to the slab. Up-close, this section was unlikely anything I'd seen in the desert. I don't know enough about rock formations to say what was going on, but pictures hopefully do it justice below. This lightly exposed Class 2 ridge brought us to Peak 3072's cholla-riddled summit. This isolated cholla garden was really cool, though we stepped on more than one of these pokey landmines as we made our way across the ridgeline. The descent off Peak 3072 was uneventful.

We began working our way up to Peak 3065, a minor peak that seemed interesting enough to add on. The northeastern ridge took a tiny bit of thought, but can be kept at Class 2 with some fun route-finding around the small maze-like cliff bands. We decided to descend off Peak 3065's loose northwest slope Class 2+, but it might have made more sense to return to its saddle with Peak 3072 and descend from there. The route we chose wasn't particularly fun, but we found ourselves on an old mining road heading back to the car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 3360
3360 ft
600 rise
2
Peak 3072
3072 ft
332 rise
3
Peak 3065
3065 ft
285 rise

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From our parking spot, view toward Peak 3360, center. You can see Whiley ascending the slope leading to the peak.
From our parking spot, view toward Peak 3360, center. You can see Whiley ascending the slope leading to the peak.
Peak 3060 ahead, scree slope visible center.
Peak 3060 ahead, scree slope visible center.
Along an animal trail avoiding the worst of the scree slope.
Along an animal trail avoiding the worst of the scree slope.
Looking back along the scree slope. We ascended from the right. Boundary Cone peeking out top left.
Looking back along the scree slope. We ascended from the right. Boundary Cone peeking out top left.
Wrapping around to the north side of Peak 3060. We headed to the notch left of center.
Wrapping around to the north side of Peak 3060. We headed to the notch left of center.
Looking back from the top of the notch.
Looking back from the top of the notch.
Class 2+ to the summit.
Class 2+ to the summit.
Looking back at the Class 2+ cliff bands, the notch we ascended from visible center.
Looking back at the Class 2+ cliff bands, the notch we ascended from visible center.
Summit of Peak 3060, view toward Peerless Peak (center) and Boundary Cone behind it.
Summit of Peak 3060, view toward Peerless Peak (center) and Boundary Cone behind it.
Close-up toward Mount Nutt and Oatman, AZ.
Close-up toward Mount Nutt and Oatman, AZ.
Continuing down the east ridge from Peak 3060. You can see a butte obstacle coming up on the left. You could avoid it on the right by dropping pretty far down, or head around the left side and descend a loose slope/gully.
Continuing down the east ridge from Peak 3060. You can see a butte obstacle coming up on the left. You could avoid it on the right by dropping pretty far down, or head around the left side and descend a loose slope/gully.
Approaching the butte obstacle.
Approaching the butte obstacle.
Looking back up toward Peak 3360.
Looking back up toward Peak 3360.
Peak 3072 ahead.
Peak 3072 ahead.
Looking back toward the butte obstacle. We descended from the steep slope/gully in the center.
Looking back toward the butte obstacle. We descended from the steep slope/gully in the center.
Ascending Class 2+ terraces on our way up to Peak 3072.
Ascending Class 2+ terraces on our way up to Peak 3072.
View toward Peak 3360 and the butte obstacle (right).
View toward Peak 3360 and the butte obstacle (right).
Very cool rock formation along the ridge to the summit of Peak 3072.
Very cool rock formation along the ridge to the summit of Peak 3072.
Cool curves, Boundary Cone in the distance.
Cool curves, Boundary Cone in the distance.
Ridge to Peak 3072.
Ridge to Peak 3072.
Looking back down the ridge from the summit of Peak 3072.
Looking back down the ridge from the summit of Peak 3072.
Along the cholla-filled summit ridge of Peak 3072.
Along the cholla-filled summit ridge of Peak 3072.
View toward Boundary Cone and Peak 3360 (right).
View toward Boundary Cone and Peak 3360 (right).
On our way down from Peak 3072, Peak 3065 is next.
On our way down from Peak 3072, Peak 3065 is next.
Class 2 on our way up Peak 3065.
Class 2 on our way up Peak 3065.
More fun Class 2 to the summit of Peak 3065. You can make it harder, but we kept the route Class 2.
More fun Class 2 to the summit of Peak 3065. You can make it harder, but we kept the route Class 2.
Peak 3065, view toward Boundary Cone (left) and Peak 3360 (top right).
Peak 3065, view toward Boundary Cone (left) and Peak 3360 (top right).
Descending from Peak 3065. I would probably recommend backtracking to the saddle between 3072 and 3065 and take the more pleasant gully than this descent route.
Descending from Peak 3065. I would probably recommend backtracking to the saddle between 3072 and 3065 and take the more pleasant gully than this descent route.
Our descent route from Peak 3065.
Our descent route from Peak 3065.
Along a mining road, which we took back to the car. You can see Peak 3360's cliffs ahead.
Along a mining road, which we took back to the car. You can see Peak 3360's cliffs ahead.

Hire me or show me some love!

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!