 |
| I met another hiker along the way. I raced him to the top but he had no chance with those stubby legs. |
- For GIERS MOUNTAIN el 1888, take highway 95 north from Parker to a gas station on the right at mp 155.6. There is an RV enclosure to the right of the station. Drive around it on the right to get behind it on a 4wd road. In a quarter mile is a bad spot el 450, but a good loop hike can be done from there. There are two ways to start out. The first is to walk up the main road, keeping right at any tricky forks. The last parking spot in case you're driving is at a fork reading N34 14175, W114 08835 el 850. Hike the left fork up a wash for a fifth mile to the pass el 1000. The second and more interesting way to start is to walk the road 700 feet past the bad spot then go up a foot trail el 550 on the left. Follow that until it fades at a large wash then follow the easiest ground to a game trail on a ridge at 14655, 08969 el 700. It's easiest to stay low on the right side of that ridge for the last tenth mile to the trail. That trail goes shortly to a crag then veers right thru a saddle where roads are in view. Drop down to the main wash and go up a jeep trail in the bed and it will merge with the main road right next to the last parking spot mentioned above and then walk to the pass. From the pass, walk the ridgetop on a game trail toward the peak. Go left of a fin on the game trail then soon it puts you back on the ridgetop. Go on up and keep left around any cliffs but never go right. The last cliff band has a break at 13994, 08321 el 1700. It's class 3 and 8 feet high but not too difficult. Then it's a stroll to the reg at 14108, 08178. On the return, go back the same way to the fin then head straight down to a trail at 14056, 08621 el 1000. It soon goes thru a saddle then fades, but it's easy to walk down to a mine trail on the right bank at 14485, 08692 el 750. Follow the trail and it dumps you back into the easy wash. I went on down and to 15106, 08827 el 450 where some paint is on the right wall. On the left opposite the paint is a gully that goes shortly up to the road at the bad spot. Or you can stay in the wash to the gas station. It's much nicer returning in the wash, which is easy to see from the summit area. 3 and a half hours, less than 2000 gain if starting at the bad spot in the road. 2 hours, 1000 gain from the last parking spot. A couple hundred feet near the summit is very steep. A mine tunnel is on the way in at 14804, 08920 el 550. Posted 2018.
- PEAK 2113 via Giers Wash - a loop can be done up the main wash and over the highest peak in the wilderness then return in the west fork. Take highway 95 to mp 156.7 and park at a day use sign on the river side of the highway. Walk across the highway to a dirt road running north a tenth mile into Giers Wash. The correct creekbed is on the south side of a housing community running along a concrete wall, but its posted. Use the rim along the south side of the creekbed which the BLM map clearly shows to be public. It adds 100 feet of gain each way. To get on it, go up a trail at N34 15544, W114 07391 el 450 then stay on the high ground for nearly half a mile then drop down to the main creekbed. I had to go left near the bottom to find an easy spot for the last bit. Then just follow power lines up the main canyon to where it tops out at The Jumpoff el 1550. An unused road runs along the banks of the canyon but the wash works better. Once on top, follow the road to a side canyon at 13104, 05471 el 1500. I went up the rocky south rim but it has a hidden dip with class 3. The canyon looked better. Just go up and stay right at a fork and top out at the NW saddle at 12830, 05990 el 1900. The go up to a cliff band and walk around the right side to get up to the reg. Then return to the NW saddle and go up the other side and stay slightly right of center to skirt a minor peak. The go north on a broad ridge to a stairway at 13245, 06185 el 1900. Drop down and angle to the right to a saddle el 1650 then use a sheep trail along the right of crags. Just past the crags, drop left at 13488, 06219 el 1550 into a drainage where the only route down that isn't blocked is an easy gully at 13576, 06323 el 1300. That gully leads into the main wash of the west fork then it's a stroll back to the start. That took 6 hours with nearly 2000 gain, not steep. I wasted nearly an hour looking for routes. The reg is at 12801,05899. The west fork is the best canyon in the whole wilderness. The main fork is good but the lines are an eyesore. An ATV made it thru the main fork, but must have had a key for a gate at The Jumpoff. Posted 2020.
- GIERS WASH LOOP - an easy hike across the north end of the wilderness starts up the west fork of Giers Wash then out in the main wash on the south side of Giers Mountain. Take highway 95 to mp 153.8 and turn at the sign for Resort Rd. Drive down to a T and leave a car there. Then drive to mp 156.7 and park at a day use sign on the river side of the highway. Walk across the highway to a dirt road running north a tenth mile into Giers Wash. The correct creekbed is on the south side of a housing community running along a concrete wall, but its posted. Use the rim along the south side of the creekbed which the BLM map clearly shows to be public. To get on it, go up a trail at N34 15544, W114 07391 el 450 then stay on the high ground for nearly half a mile then drop down to the main creekbed. I had to go left near the bottom to find an easy spot for the last bit. Then go up to a main fork at 15338, 06867 el 550. Go right and soon a minor fall blocks the locals. But it's easy to bypass then go on up the main wash to 13894, 06845 el 950 on the right bank. From there, a saddle el 1250 can be seen a half mile to the south on the west rim of the canyon. Walk toward it and a drainage angles up to the right into it with a game trail on the left bank. Walk down the creekbed on the other side and get on the left bank at 13277, 07172 el 1100 to pass a short rough section. Keep going down that same wash to a side canyon on the right at 13669, 09071 el 750. Go up that and it bends left past a mine and on to a saddle el 850 where cairns mark a route down to the right to get into the creekbed. The creekbed soon smooths out and it's an easy stroll on out to Resort Rd. That took nearly 4 hours with 2 or 300 feet of noticeable gain. Hikers like lists so someday I'll compile a list of best wuss hikes and this will be near the top. The first saddle is at 13479, 07012 and the last is at 13852, 09148. Posted 2020.
- SPRING MOUNTAIN el 1900 is what I call the next peak east of Giers Mtn. Park along highway 95 at mp 156.3. The fence has a hiker's gap at some fat wooden posts. Hike to a main wash at N34 15093, W114 08147. There is a pipe spring where I filled up about 10 more minutes up the wash. Keep going to a main fork where the peak can be seen. Go left about 800 feet to another fork reading 14353, 07678. Go up the right one, using the right bank. When the bank fizzles, cross over to the left and walk a sheep route at the base of cliffs to get around a little fall. Keep going to the main saddle el 1300. Now a little bump is in the way. Use a trail to go around the right side of it then get up on the ridge top and walk a short way to the final slope. It's not as loose as it looks. Move right to a wide gully at 14223, 07359 and go straight up that on the right side. Go almost up to the final cliff band then angle to the right and top out at 14222, 07272 el 1850. I left some ducks along here to get thru the cholla. It's a short stroll to the spot where the reg would be if there was one. 4 hours, 1500 gain. I tried coming down the fork with bright cliffs but it had a fall. It didn't look hard to walk over to Giers Mtn and walk around the south side to get to the route up. Posted 2015.
- GRAY EAGLE PEAKS el 1926 is what I call the twin summits south of Giers Mountain. Drive north from Parker to mp 149.4 and turn at the sign for Cienega Springs Rd. Stay on the widest road for 3.2 bumpy miles to a kiosk then go left on the Gray Eagle Mine road. It's easy 4wd and firm enough for mtn bikes but dippy. Go a bit over 2 and a half miles on that road to another kiosk then go left a quarter mile to the last parking spot before the road turns bad just before a divide. The reading there is N34 12972, W114 08879 el 900. Walk the road on past the divide to a trail at 13091, 08495 el 950. It goes a tenth mile then right up to a mine then on up to the rim el 1400. Then just walk east up the rim to the west summit at 12363, 07095. The rim can be walked all the way to peak 2113 but I made a shorter loop by dropping off the rim at 12451, 06810 el 1650 then angled down to the right to get into the north side canyon. I walked that down and cut thru a gap at 13436, 08436 el 900 to get back on the starting road. That took 4 hours with about 1000 gain and not strenuous. The canyon is the major attraction here. That's a top notch hike in an unspoiled area. I should have thought of it sooner. The road goes on north past Giers Mtn to the highway at mp 155.6, but the worst spot is a quarter mile before the highway. I saw jeeps go up and down it. Posted 2018, 2022.
- EAGLES NEST MINE, CARNATION MINE - this area is infested with mines and trails. A chunk of private land with a popular bar and grill sits between the two mines, but a loop can be done around it. It should only be done on winter weekends when the bar is open. See thedesertbar.com. Drive north from Parker to mp 149.4 and turn at the sign for Cienega Springs Rd. Stay on the widest road for 4.5 bumpy miles to a kiosk el 800 at a fork and park, just before the bar. Walk the left fork in a wash and stay on the lowest road to the first trail at N34 12442, W114 08990 el 900. Walk that up to a rock house ruins and the second trail is 150 feet past that on the left at 12553, 08831 el 1100. Follow that trail up past the Eagles Nest Mine then thru a saddle el 1350 then down to a spaghetti bowl of mine trails. For what I call the Cliff Mine, follow a faint trail to 12889, 08441 el 1400 where a trail goes along a cliff base for a tenth mile to the mine. Then retrace back to the spaghetti bowl. There's a trail from there that goes shortly to a tunnel at 12639, 08399 el 1350. The trail ends another 200 feet at another tunnel that might connect to the first one. From there, a trail can be seen climbing up the slope 300 feet to the west. Walk that to a fork at 12516, 08504 el 1300. The high trail goes on to a road that runs down the rim to the bar. Or walk the lower trail down to cabin ruins at the creekbed. Follow that trail downstream to where it exits up the right rim, but stay in the creekbed on down canyon to where it opens up then shortly you're at the bar. The Carnation Mine can be seen from there. After a beer, walk a road up to the mine and get on a trail behind it at 11892, 08795 el 1050 that goes up to a tunnel el 1150. Then it's easy to walk west on a rim below the tunnel to a plateau then go to a drainage at 11894, 09238 el 1100 that goes back down to the start. 3 hours and maybe 1000 easy gain.Walking directly back from the bar makes for a 2 hour hike. Start at 10 AM or later to avoid arriving at the bar before it opens at noon. Posted 2018, 2022.
- One access for the wilderness is an OHV area off Shea Road. Take 95 south from Parker and turn left at the sign for Shea Rd. Go several miles on pavement then turn left onto a 4wd road at N34 07823, W114 10025 that goes to Mammon Mine. Drive the 4wd road for a couple miles on the flats and it bends left to the main wash and then cross to a better road on the far side at 09072, 09565. Head NE on easy 4wd for 2 miles and park at the wilderness boundary el 900. GIBRALTAR MTN at 10061, 07442 el 1500 can be climbed from here. Just walk around the right side and up a draw. Come down the west ridge. 1 hour. The best hike is PEAK 1983. Hike the main wash past Gibraltar to a canyon at 09296, 06715. Get on the left bench and go on up to a unique guzzler at 08644, 06652 in a recess and some potholes in bedrock. Go on up the right fork to the peak and reg at 08357, 06620 el 1983. A cave about 400 feet down the north ridge from the summit has a hole in the top you can come down thru on the way back. Some bighorn remains are there. 3 hrs, 1000 gain. Posted 2018.
- PEAK 1635 is outside the wilderness near the Carnation Mine. The easy south ridge can be used for a loop. Take 95 south from Parker and turn left at the sign for Shea Rd. Go several miles on pavement then turn left onto a 4wd road at N34 07823, W114 10025 that goes to Mammon Mine. Drive the 4wd road for a couple miles on the flats and it bends left to the main wash and then cross to another road on the far side at 09072, 09565. Head NE on easy 4wd for about a mile to a main wash then turn up that. Drive 1.2 miles up that then start walking up a left fork at 10157, 08173 el 850 or use the right bank. Go on up canyon to 10740, 08341 where the left bank works for a stretch. Get on the left bank again at 10913, 08283 then go bank to bank for a while. The next good bank to bank is at 11442, 08173 starting on the left. Keep going up the easy canyon to near the main saddle el 1400 then go up the right slope and circle back to the summit at 11899, 07981. Then go down the easy south ridge for nearly half a mile where it splits. Stay right and soon comes another split then stay left there. Now just follow the main ridge on down and don't take any ridges going off to the left. At the end of the ridge is a smoother slope to the left that makes it easy, but it's obvious. It's only 5 or 10 minutes back to the start. 3 hours with about 200 feet of noticeable gain and it's easy. I expected to be stumbling on rocks down the south ridge but they are mostly dispersed and with some pavement. This a top notch wuss hike, best done when flowers are out in Feb or March. I'll do this when I'm 100. PEAK 1384 is nearby. An easy route goes up the south ridge then back in the west canyon. Drive the same as peak 1635 to the road at 09072, 09565 then go a third mile NE up the road. Then walk up the ridge on the left side of the road. It goes up parallel to the road at first then bends left and rocks thin out. At 10466, 09017 el 1250 there is a trail running left of center that helps. The summit is at 10703, 08810. Then go NW along a divide to a smooth ridge at 10766, 09208 el 1200. Go south and the ridge splits, stay left to an obvious descent route on the right at 10468, 09262 el 1100. It's easy to go on down canyon but it doesn't pay to use the high banks until 10125, 09474 el 900. Once on the flats it's half a mile back to the start. I stumbled on an Indian trail at 09386, 09450. 2 and a half hours, 600 gain and all easy. Posted 2020.
- PEAK 1464 sits alongside Shea Rd and makes an easy hike. It's rocky, but you can usually step between rocks. Leave a car or bike at mp 1 then drive to mp 3 and start walking to the obvious saddle el 1000 on the long, south ridge. Then it's easy up to the reg at N34 07762, W114 11093. Keep walking the main ridge north toward a ranch then drop down to a camp with some old cans at 08232, 11759 el 900. Try and figure that one out. It's a short hike on to mp 1. Figure on 2 hours for the hiking part. Posted 2018.
- BLACK TANK INDIAN TRAIL is 2 and a half miles long in the southern part of the wilderness. Take Shea Rd to mp 8.2 and leave a bike then drive to mp 9.2 and start hiking to the faint trail at N34 07585, W114 04647. Go on to 07636, 04746 then 07666, 04799 and then the trail goes a short way into the canyon where the tank is shown on the map at a minor fall reading 08169, 04975. There was no sign of water in modern times. Retrace back out of the canyon then get on a trail at 07813, 04969 then 07580, 05082 then 07382, 05279 then mp 8.2. That's an easy hike taking 1 or 2 hours. This trail likely connected the Bill Williams River to villages near Parker. Posted 2018.
- PEAK 1787 has an easy SE ridge then a loop back by way of peak 1611 is easy. Take Shea Rd to mp 9.2 and park where a graded road branches left. Walk north a few feet to get on the SE ridge and keep going up to the surveyor junk on the summit at N34 09196, W114 05385. Stay slightly left of center a quarter mile before the summit to skirt a minor bump. Then retrace back down until the saddle el 1500 connecting to peak 1611 is in view. Go across and up to the peak then down the NW ridge to 08353, 05474 el 1400 where bedrock leads down to the flats. Then circle left to an overgrowing road and follow it out along a wash. Get on the left bank at 07713, 05610 el 1000 and follow the lowest ground back to the start. 3 and a half hours, 1000 gain, all easy. The SE ridge starts at 07623, 04534 el 1050 and peak 1611 is at 08226, 05378. Posted 2020.
- PLANET PEAK el 3139 is a dominant peak in the area with quite good views. A mine trail goes up the south ridge to el 2400. Take Shea Rd to mp 9.2 then turn on a graded road. Go 4 miles to the CAP then keep going another 1.4 miles to a fence. Turn there on easy 4wd for 3.8 miles to a fork then keep right for nearly half a mile to the end el 2000. Walk a few more feet to the mine trail and it goes to a mine el 2300 and seems to fade, but stay on the same trajectory past the mine a few feet and the trail appears again and goes up to the south ridge el 2400. Then go up the ridge to the reg at N34 10034, W114 58901. It had a USGS sheet saying the el is 3139. 2 hours, 1200 gain. Mtn bikes could make all but the last mile of road. Posted 2018.
 |
| Black Tank Indian trail |
 |
| Cliff Mine |
 |
| Desert garden on the west rim of the Gray Eagle Peaks |
 |
| Giers Mtn and Spring Mtn |
 |
| Carnation Mine and the Desert Bar |
