White Rock Canyon Peak and Fortress Peak in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ

Hike White Rock Canyon Peak and Fortress Peak Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ

Class 5 6.1 miles 2600 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Mar 7, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

White Rock Canyon Peak and Fortress Peak GPX Track

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This route visits two peaks best accessed via the Arizona Hot Springs Trail, White Rock Canyon Peak (Class 4/5) and Fortress Peak (Class 3). Neither have trails to their summits and both are exposed, loose, and dangerous. But of course somehow still fun. Just a quick note that my trip report combines two different outings to form a more cohesive route, so you may notice lighting differences in the photos. The photos and description outlined below are the result of my third attempt to get White Rock Canyon Peak, followed by a description of Fortress Peak.

To summarize the mishaps for attempting White Rock Canyon Peak, I discovered that the east and south faces of the peak are sheer cliffs on my first solo attempt. I returned the next day for my second attempt with Adam Walker, who brought some trad gear, and we attempted it via the west. This would ultimately be the correct route, but we failed due to being scared of the loose rock at the crux. Attempt three included myself and Kailey. I was obviously immensely determined to get the summit at this point, but I don't think she quite understood why. Although a badass climber and wonderful friend/person, peakbagging isn't her thing, especially a loose blob like White Rock Canyon Peak. I promised her a little add-on trip to soak in nearby Arizona Hot Springs after the peak and she agreed, clearly just humoring me.

We took the Arizona Hot Springs Trail through the initial sandy wash, followed it as it ascended a bit to an overlook toward Fortress Peak, and then down all the way until it entered the sandy wash that houses Arizona Hot Springs. Just after entering the drainage, Kailey and I headed left the trail by following a side drainage on the right and starting north. We followed this drainage on Class 2+ obstacles until it became an easier slope. We continued up the slope heading generally northwest, and worked around to the west side of White Rock Canyon Peak on straightforward, loose, Class 2.

Once at the base of White Rock Canyon Peak's western summit block cliff face, we headed around it to the left (north side) along its base by following a wide ledge/slope until we couldn't go any farther. Once on the north side, incredible views down into White Rock Canyon were impossible to miss, especially because that drop is partially why I didn't attempt the crux without gear on my first time. At what seemed like the end of the road, an exposed Class 2 move wrapped around a rock outcropping and into a gully on the peak's north side. This gully is short and has a massive chockstone at the top of it. Since the rock quality is too loose to place gear, we took turns belaying each other by simply tossing a rope over the rock outcropping, where the belayer was on the opposite side of the rock outcropping and the climber scrambled up next next to the chockstone within the gully. After 15 feet of Class 4+/5 on absolutely crap rock, Class 3 scrambling led to the summit. The views were wonderful.

You might notice I've included an alternative route to reach White Rock Canyon Peak in blue on my attached map. This is a viable route (Class 2/3) that doesn't use the Arizona Hot Springs Trail, but I didn't take photos of it. It felt worthwhile to include anyway.

Like I mentioned, I did Fortress Peak a different day, so I'll pick up from within the Arizona Hot Spring drainage. Fortress Peak hovers over the Arizona Hot Springs Trail, but somehow I never really noticed it until making it a peak bagging objective. It's a volcanic rubble heap, but has great views from the top and is aesthetically pleasing from below.

From the drainage housing the hot spring, I headed south leading up a different drainage that took me to the northern base of Fortress Peak. I chose one of any number of possible slopes to get to the northernmost feature of the formidable-looking face. Cairns mark the way up the brittle Class 2/2+ initial slope and I was soon confronted with a ledge. It's a sketchy Class 2+/3 section, and while the climbing is minimal, the exposure is scary and the slope is angled enough to feel like I could possibly slide off. After a couple of zig-zags on various steep and loose ledges, I got to a final section of Class 2+ moves to gain the lip and reach the flattish summit area.

You can also continue to Arizona Hot Springs after returning to the trail, which makes for a nice relaxing add-on to this otherwise adventurous little outing.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
White Rock Canyon Peak
1783 ft
343 rise
2
Fortress Peak
1884 ft
284 rise

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Starting from the White Rock Trailhead, follow the standard trail (initially just a wash with lots of footprints) toward Arizona Hot Spring.
Starting from the White Rock Trailhead, follow the standard trail (initially just a wash with lots of footprints) toward Arizona Hot Spring.
Headed along the Arizona Hot Springs Trail. The trail leaves the wash up ahead.
Headed along the Arizona Hot Springs Trail. The trail leaves the wash up ahead.
The trail leads out of the wash and up into higher ground.
The trail leads out of the wash and up into higher ground.
Arizona Hot Springs Trail, Fortress Peak visible center.
Arizona Hot Springs Trail, Fortress Peak visible center.
Continuing down along the Arizona Hot Springs Trail as it descends into a wash below.
Continuing down along the Arizona Hot Springs Trail as it descends into a wash below.
About to enter the wash that eventually leads down to Arizona Hot Springs.
About to enter the wash that eventually leads down to Arizona Hot Springs.
We turned right just after entering the main canyon and instead went up the drainage in the center of this photo. White Rock Canyon Peak visible top left.
We turned right just after entering the main canyon and instead went up the drainage in the center of this photo. White Rock Canyon Peak visible top left.
Kailey scrambling out of the drainage, Fortress Peak visible top right.
Kailey scrambling out of the drainage, Fortress Peak visible top right.
Class 2 slope. White Rock Canyon Peak visible top right.
Class 2 slope. White Rock Canyon Peak visible top right.
Looking back the way we came, Fortress Peak visible center.
Looking back the way we came, Fortress Peak visible center.
Approaching west side of White Rock Canyon Peak.
Approaching west side of White Rock Canyon Peak.
Wrapping around the north side of White Rock Canyon Peak.
Wrapping around the north side of White Rock Canyon Peak.
Wrapping further around the peak until we couldn't go anymore, and we came to this gully, which I'm standing in. Kailey checking out White Rock Canyon below and the drop just below the crux.
Wrapping further around the peak until we couldn't go anymore, and we came to this gully, which I'm standing in. Kailey checking out White Rock Canyon below and the drop just below the crux.
Close-up into White Rock Canyon.
Close-up into White Rock Canyon.
Kailey climbing next to the chockstone on the sturdier rock. We tossed the rope over the rock outcropping visible on the right. I belayed her from the opposite side of the rock (out of frame on the right).
Kailey climbing next to the chockstone on the sturdier rock. We tossed the rope over the rock outcropping visible on the right. I belayed her from the opposite side of the rock (out of frame on the right).
Class 3 scrambling ahead after the initial Class 5 below. You can see the chockstone on the left.
Class 3 scrambling ahead after the initial Class 5 below. You can see the chockstone on the left.
Looking back down, chockstone visible right. Kailey belayed me from the left in this photo, and I climbed up from on the right. Obviously I'm not longer protected in this photo after emerging over the rock outcropping, but I was still attached to the rope.
Looking back down, chockstone visible right. Kailey belayed me from the left in this photo, and I climbed up from on the right. Obviously I'm not longer protected in this photo after emerging over the rock outcropping, but I was still attached to the rope.
White Rock Canyon Peak summit, view south toward Fortress Peak.
White Rock Canyon Peak summit, view south toward Fortress Peak.
White Rock Canyon Peak, view north toward the Hoover Dam.
White Rock Canyon Peak, view north toward the Hoover Dam.
The lighting changed here because it's a different day. This is a shot toward Fortress Peak on the way down from White Rock Canyon Peak. I headed into the wash on the top left in this photo to access the north side of Fortress Peak.
The lighting changed here because it's a different day. This is a shot toward Fortress Peak on the way down from White Rock Canyon Peak. I headed into the wash on the top left in this photo to access the north side of Fortress Peak.
Just off the Arizona Hot Spring Trail heading toward the base of Fortress Peak, seen center.
Just off the Arizona Hot Spring Trail heading toward the base of Fortress Peak, seen center.
Northern slope leading up to the weakness in Fortress Peak.
Northern slope leading up to the weakness in Fortress Peak.
Looking back toward the Arizona Hot Spring canyon (left). The trail came from the hills on the right. You can see white Rock Canyon Peak on the left.
Looking back toward the Arizona Hot Spring canyon (left). The trail came from the hills on the right. You can see white Rock Canyon Peak on the left.
Approaching some loose Class 2.
Approaching some loose Class 2.
Move slowly on this brittle rock.
Move slowly on this brittle rock.
Here's the sketchy Class 2+/3 section. While the climbing is minimal, the exposure is scary and the slope is angled enough to make me hold my breath.
Here's the sketchy Class 2+/3 section. While the climbing is minimal, the exposure is scary and the slope is angled enough to make me hold my breath.
Looking down the second section of sketchiness. It's just steep, loose rock with a big drop below.
Looking down the second section of sketchiness. It's just steep, loose rock with a big drop below.
A series of Class 2+ on somewhat sturdier rock leads to the lip of Fortress Peak. This was taken at the lop, looking toward the Arizona Hot Spring canyon (left), the trail comes down from those hills in the center.
A series of Class 2+ on somewhat sturdier rock leads to the lip of Fortress Peak. This was taken at the lop, looking toward the Arizona Hot Spring canyon (left), the trail comes down from those hills in the center.
Approaching the Fortress Peak summit.
Approaching the Fortress Peak summit.
Fortress Peak summit, looking southeast.
Fortress Peak summit, looking southeast.
Fortress Peak summit, looking northwest. Fortification Hill on the distant right.
Fortress Peak summit, looking northwest. Fortification Hill on the distant right.
Add-on photo: Sunset looking toward White Rock Canyon Peak's east face (and White Rock Canyon on the right) on the way across the northeast ridge (alternate approach, seen as a blue line on my attached map).
Add-on photo: Sunset looking toward White Rock Canyon Peak's east face (and White Rock Canyon on the right) on the way across the northeast ridge (alternate approach, seen as a blue line on my attached map).

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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!