Warm Springs Wilderness Loop in Warm Springs Wilderness BLM, AZ

Hike Warm Springs Wilderness Loop Warm Springs Wilderness BLM, AZ

Class 3 10.8 miles 5700 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Dec 10, 2021
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The Warm Springs Wilderness is located south of Mount Nutt, and its interesting topography when viewed on a map got me psyched to check out the area, specifically the little peaklets forming a nice horizontal line. While the area includes a bunch of cool volcanic peaks, it's not as impressive as other nearby stuff. Today I was mostly looking forward to meeting up with a bunch of lovely peakbaggers, one of whom inspired quite a bit of my early excitement for the activity, Bob Burd. I tried to keep my fanboy status to a minimum and likely failed.

My initial plan was to come at these peaks from the north, but Chris Kerth located a road leading in from the south, which would thankfully cut off quite a few miles of boring wash walking. To reach our trailhead, turn off Oatman Highway here (34.90637, -114.42953) and follow an overall good road suitable for Crossover SUVs. However, the road becomes quite bad around here (34.90098, -114.39449), which would add an addition 1.5 miles to the hike. Fortunately we had a couple of burly Jeeps in the party so this additional walking wasn't on the itinerary for today. The trailhead is located at the Warm Springs Wilderness boundary.

The large group of us set out to the northeast through a wash, Peak 2550 the first on our agenda. We headed up its southwest slope, encountering plenty of Class 2 and generally loose terrain. A short Class 3 move over a cliff band led up to the summit ridge, where a short Class 3 notch brought us to the summit block. Much of the group stayed behind on the summit to enjoy the views, so Chris Kerth, Tom Grundy, and I continued ahead of the others with the hope to get all the peaks on our wish list. We backtracked off Peak 2550 since its other faces were all cliffs, and then descended through a somewhat loose gully to the north. Peak 2620 was next, and we reached it by heading through a steep gully on its south side that separated it from an unranked jagged bump on our right. We continued to the east side of Peak 2620, where a short Class 3 weakness led up the cliff band and to the summit. Peak 2645 was next, a Class 2 straightforward jaunt to the northeast.

The descent from Peak 2645 was loose Class 2, but it descended into some colorful volcanic features to the east as we made our way to the base of Peak 2700, which we'd later learn would be the best peak of the day. Initially the west face of Peak 2700 seemed to be too serious to scramble, but Chris spied a potential series of ramps that could work. After some Class 2 and a somewhat exposed Class 3 move on a nice zig-zagging ledge system, we stumbled on a series of unexpected cairns. They weren't very helpful, but it was fun to realize someone else went this way and that there'd likely be a way up. After a few unlikely switchbacks on the excellent-quality Class 2/3 rock, we got to a flatter section at the base of a cliff face below the summit. We kept left around the face and ascended a steep Class 3 section above a serious-looking crack (with some light exposure), leading to the summit.

We descended Peak 2700 via a loose, dirty chute on its south/southeast side, but I recommend going back down the way we'd come up since it's more fun and less gross. All other faces of the peak seemed too fortified to locate another route down. After wrapping around the southern side of Peak 2700, we made our way to its saddle with Peak 2753. A Class 2 slope led around the northwest side of this peak, avoiding cliffy terrain on its west side. Class 2/3 stuff led to the summit area, where a short downclimb just before the high point into a notch and minor Class 3 move brought us to the summit. I recommend backtracking slightly and finding a Class 2/3 descent option from Peak 2753's rugged east face. Heading down directly from the summit would result in loose Class 3/4 terrain.

Just ahead was Peak 3042, the last of our little baby peaks for the day before we continued to the mesa-like summits farther east. We kept to the left of the intimiating west face of Peak 3042 and wrapped to its northwest side. Here we scrambled some loose Class 2 and got to a flat section below the summit cliffs. While there might have been an easier way around around the north side (we didn't check), we headed up a Class 3 chute, navigating somewhat loose rock and entering a notch.  Fortunately, to the left was the high point since the right side was sheer. From the notch, a Class 2/3 section led to the left around a headwall and light Class 2 got us to the summit.

Peak 3042's south/southeast sides are riddled with brushy gullies. The first major one leading down to the ridgeline to Peak 3714 is the most efficient, but a bit brushier than another option farther along the east side. Either way, get back to the ridgeline. We headed east along the crest, making our way to the west slope of Peak 3714, which appeared to be pretty intense from below. Ultimately it went at Class 2 with two small Class 3 cliff bands, which you could easily be made more difficult. Once above the cliff bands, the ridgeline stretched for a half mile, big volcanic boulders making the start a bit tedious and then slowly giving way to easier terrain.

From the summit of Peak 3714, we dropped down Class 2 terrain to the saddle with Peak 3418. More Class 2 took us along a minor ridge and flatter walking brought us to its summit. Peak 3418 has cliffs on pretty much all sides, but Chris had found a potential ramp option in prior research, so we decided to head for it. This required heading south into a drainage and then following the top of a significant cliff until a Class 2 option presented itself via a cemented-looking slope. Along the way we passed a few interesting and out-of-place rock formations. We side-hilled as we slowly descended on loose terrain in order to head over a hump and reach the drainage on the west side of Peak 3418. At the bottom of this drainage we saw a very cool and unlikely standalone pinnacle, and upon looking back noticed quite how severe the western cliffs of Peak 3418 were. Happy to have found that weakness, we continued west through the drainage for a few miles either within the wash or by using burro trails, and got back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 2550
2550 ft
390 rise
2
Peak 2620
2620 ft
280 rise
3
Peak 2645
2645 ft
405 rise
4
Peak 2700
2700 ft
400 rise
5
Peak 2753
2753 ft
353 rise
6
Peak 3042
3042 ft
282 rise
7
Peak 3714
3714 ft
1034 rise
8
Peak 3418
3418 ft
458 rise

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Starting from the wilderness boundary, Peak 2550 (our first objective) visible right of center.
Starting from the wilderness boundary, Peak 2550 (our first objective) visible right of center.
Within a wash leading to the base of Peak 2550.
Within a wash leading to the base of Peak 2550.
Ascending Class 2.
Ascending Class 2.
View north toward Peak 2620 (left) and a jagged unranked bump with cool pinnacles.
View north toward Peak 2620 (left) and a jagged unranked bump with cool pinnacles.
View back the Class 2 slope.
View back the Class 2 slope.
Class 3 cliff band.
Class 3 cliff band.
Summit ridge to Peak 2550, Class 3.
Summit ridge to Peak 2550, Class 3.
We backtracked from Peak 2550 and descended this loose gully, then kept to the left of the jagged-looking peak in the center of this photo.
We backtracked from Peak 2550 and descended this loose gully, then kept to the left of the jagged-looking peak in the center of this photo.
Ascending a gully below Peak 2620, our next peak.
Ascending a gully below Peak 2620, our next peak.
Peak 2620 ahead. We wrapped to the right to find a weakness in its cliff band.
Peak 2620 ahead. We wrapped to the right to find a weakness in its cliff band.
View back down the gully, Peak 2550 where we came from top left.
View back down the gully, Peak 2550 where we came from top left.
Class 3 move to get over a cliff band and gain Peak 2620's summit.
Class 3 move to get over a cliff band and gain Peak 2620's summit.
Peak 2620, view toward Peak 2550 (right of center).
Peak 2620, view toward Peak 2550 (right of center).
Peak 2620, view east toward the peaks to come. The big one top right is Peak 3714. Next up is Peak 2645, left.
Peak 2620, view east toward the peaks to come. The big one top right is Peak 3714. Next up is Peak 2645, left.
Class 2 to Peak 2645.
Class 2 to Peak 2645.
View back toward Peak 2620 (right).
View back toward Peak 2620 (right).
Peak 2700 center. Cool volcanic features on the elft.
Peak 2700 center. Cool volcanic features on the elft.
Class 2 descent from Peak 2645. Peak 2700's crazy-looking face seen ahead.
Class 2 descent from Peak 2645. Peak 2700's crazy-looking face seen ahead.
Looking up at the west face of Peak 2700. Surprisingly, there was a very fun Class 3 route.
Looking up at the west face of Peak 2700. Surprisingly, there was a very fun Class 3 route.
View back, Peak 2645 visible top left.
View back, Peak 2645 visible top left.
Ascending zig-zagging ramps up Peak 2700. There was a somewhat exposed Class 3 move farther down
Ascending zig-zagging ramps up Peak 2700. There was a somewhat exposed Class 3 move farther down
Nearing the end of the zig-zagging ramps.
Nearing the end of the zig-zagging ramps.
A flatter section at the base of a cliff face. We kept left.
A flatter section at the base of a cliff face. We kept left.
Class 3 move with some light exposure.
Class 3 move with some light exposure.
Wide shot of the Class 3 move, Peak 2645 which we just came from visible top center.
Wide shot of the Class 3 move, Peak 2645 which we just came from visible top center.
Summit of Peak 2700, view toward Peak 2550 (left), and Peak 2620 with Peak 2645 (right).
Summit of Peak 2700, view toward Peak 2550 (left), and Peak 2620 with Peak 2645 (right).
Our chosen descent route from Peak 2700.
Our chosen descent route from Peak 2700.
Loose Class 2/3 gully. Far less fun than the ascent.
Loose Class 2/3 gully. Far less fun than the ascent.
Wrapping around Peak 2700 and Peak 2753 comes into view. We kept to the left.
Wrapping around Peak 2700 and Peak 2753 comes into view. We kept to the left.
Ascending Peak 2753, view back toward Peak 2700.
Ascending Peak 2753, view back toward Peak 2700.
Class 2 up Peak 2753, view back.
Class 2 up Peak 2753, view back.
Nearing the summit of Peak 2753.
Nearing the summit of Peak 2753.
Class 3 move out of a notch on Peak 2753.
Class 3 move out of a notch on Peak 2753.
View back toward Peak 2700 (right) and Peak 2550 (left).
View back toward Peak 2700 (right) and Peak 2550 (left).
View toward the peaks to come, Peak 3042 next on the left. We backtracked slightly along the ridge to get down from here.
View toward the peaks to come, Peak 3042 next on the left. We backtracked slightly along the ridge to get down from here.
View toward Peak 3042. We stayed left around its intimidating-looking cliffs.
View toward Peak 3042. We stayed left around its intimidating-looking cliffs.
View back toward Peak 2753.
View back toward Peak 2753.
Class 2 on our way up Peak 3042.
Class 2 on our way up Peak 3042.
Left might have worked, but we ascended this chute, right of center.
Left might have worked, but we ascended this chute, right of center.
Class 3 within the chute.
Class 3 within the chute.
The main drainage on the left in this photo was harder, but a side-chute within the chute was Class 3.
The main drainage on the left in this photo was harder, but a side-chute within the chute was Class 3.
At the top of the chute, in a notch. View east toward a headwall. On the left is a Class 2 option.
At the top of the chute, in a notch. View east toward a headwall. On the left is a Class 2 option.
View back toward the notch.
View back toward the notch.
Peak 3042 summit.
Peak 3042 summit.
I recommend descending from the gully seen center here. The summit of Peak 3042 is top center.
I recommend descending from the gully seen center here. The summit of Peak 3042 is top center.
Onward to Peak 3741, the tallest and most prominent peak of the day.
Onward to Peak 3741, the tallest and most prominent peak of the day.
Approaching the base of Peak 3741. We kept right of the major chute seen center.
Approaching the base of Peak 3741. We kept right of the major chute seen center.
Ascending to the right of the major chute on Class 2.
Ascending to the right of the major chute on Class 2.
Class 3 move over a cliff band.
Class 3 move over a cliff band.
View back, Peak 3042 visible on the right.
View back, Peak 3042 visible on the right.
More Class 3 to gain the ridge.
More Class 3 to gain the ridge.
Long ridge leading to Peak 3741.
Long ridge leading to Peak 3741.
Approaching Peak 3741.
Approaching Peak 3741.
Peak 3741, view northwest.
Peak 3741, view northwest.
Peak 3741, view southeast.
Peak 3741, view southeast.
Peak 3741, view toward Peak 3418, our last peak of the day.
Peak 3741, view toward Peak 3418, our last peak of the day.
Class 2 descent from Peak 3741, loose at times.
Class 2 descent from Peak 3741, loose at times.
Class 2 ascent to Peak 3481.
Class 2 ascent to Peak 3481.
Peak 3481 summit, view northwest toward the little peaks we did earlier.
Peak 3481 summit, view northwest toward the little peaks we did earlier.
Peak 3481, descending to the south.
Peak 3481, descending to the south.
Cool formation on the way down.
Cool formation on the way down.
Side-hilling as we descend to a slope. There is a significant cliff on the right in this photo.
Side-hilling as we descend to a slope. There is a significant cliff on the right in this photo.
Descending a slope leading below the cliffs seen right. We would side-hill beneath the cliff toward the center of this photo and descend a drainage from there.
Descending a slope leading below the cliffs seen right. We would side-hill beneath the cliff toward the center of this photo and descend a drainage from there.
View back toward the cliffs we avoided, and the slope that got us down (right of center).
View back toward the cliffs we avoided, and the slope that got us down (right of center).
Descending the drainage.
Descending the drainage.
View back toward Peak 3481.
View back toward Peak 3481.
Cool pinnacle on the right.
Cool pinnacle on the right.
Another shot back toward the pinnacle and Peak 3481.
Another shot back toward the pinnacle and Peak 3481.
Farther within the wash as we head back to the trailhead, view back toward Peak 3481.
Farther within the wash as we head back to the trailhead, view back toward Peak 3481.

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