| (From "Arizona's
Mountains" by Bob & Dotty Martin) |
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| Northern
Ranges |
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The Hualapai Mountains form an isolated high mountain
range in the northwestern part of Arizona. Huaiapai Peak, at 8,417 feet is the
high point. The Hualapai Mountain Park, a Mohave County Parks Department
facility is the starting point for a climb of Hualapai Peak.
At the time of
our visit in October 1986, Hualapai Peak was not easily accessible, requiring a
hike up steep eroded roads, bushwhacking, and rock scrambling. You may be
fortunate, however, since the Parks Department has plans to extend its trail
system with a trail going to the top of Hualapai Peak. Therefore, it is
essential to stop at the park ranger station both to get a map of the trail
system and to find out if there is a better way to get to Hualapai Peak than
the one described here. The following description covers the best route at the
time of our visit.
At Kingman, take exit 51 south off of Interstate 10.
Follow Stockton Hill Road south, which becomes Hualapai Mountain Road at Andy
Devine Avenue (Business Interstate 40. Continue eleven miles to the Hualapai
Mountain Park ranger station on the right side of the road. Pick up a trail map
and get the latest information on the status of the trail system.
Drive two
tenths of a mile beyond the ranger station to a junction. Turn right toward a
cabin area. Follow a narrow paved road and then a steep rutted dirt road three
quarters of a mile to a trailhead. There is limited parking on the right side
of the road in front of a locked gate.
Hike up the Aspen Springs Trail. This
excellent well-marked trail winds around and between huge boulders as it makes
its way through the forest. After |
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| Northern
Ranges |
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almost a mile, take the left fork and
follow the Potato Patch Loop Trail. This trail circles high on the east side of
Aspen Peak and offers spectacular views of the valley below. As the trail
descends somewhat on the south side of Aspen Peak it meets a service road. This
dirt road leads to some communications equipment near the top of Hualapai Peak.
Turn left and hike along the service road as it crosses a valley and then
climbs steeply up the south side of Hualapai Peak. The steep, rutted, dirt and
gravel road is really miserable for hiking, but it gets you to within a hundred
vertical feet of the summit. At the end of the road you are south of some
cliffs that are above and behind the communications facilities. Along the road
you come to a locked gate with a sign "No Admittance," The park ranger assured
us that this applies only to vehicles and that hiking is permitted anywhere in
the area. From the end of the road, the climb to the summit is a short but
steep bushwhack and rock scramble. There appears to be no best way to go, but
there has been a good bit of foot traffic to the right of the cliffs. The
highest summit rock with its benchmark is best climbed from the east. |
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