Chocolate Hills Loop - 1/14/24

Chocolate Hills

Old Arrowhead Road

Chocolate Hills climb to Saddle

Hiking around the Cottonwood Spring Dryfall

Sixteen hikers drove out Northshore Road to MM 18 for a hike out to Pinto Valley. It was a beautiful day and the pace was set right away to "swift." We were all up to it and we made quick work of the first mile to Cottonwood Springs. Most of the hikers did the go around on the right side but a few scrambled up the dryfall that is getting more and more slippery. All together, we passed the junction with the Razorback Ridge wash and, keeping to the right, we found ourselves on the Old Arrowhead Road as it wound through the narrowing wash beneath the end of Razorback Ridge. We stopped for a short breath at the Hamblin Mountain Trail junction. 

Small break at the Hamblin Mountain Trail Junction

Following the road and Wash

High Point just after road Switchback

Following the Old Arrowhead Road

Continuing, we wound around between the gypsum-filled embankments to the old road's switchback where we could see how the road was built up with rocks underneath. Next, the road dropped down through one of the many beautiful areas of Lake Mead NRA. The colors of the hills and landscape are otherworldly as we hit the 3 mile mark. As we continued down the road, sometimes the road jumped up on the left side of the wash. We followed the road without taking heed of the wash below. The pace was still quick but the scenery slowed us down sometimes! Up to the right, we pointed out the "Eagle" rock. Next, we dropped back into the wash and followed it past the overhanging wash wall. 

Road Scenery

Old Arrowhead Road

Road lies above the Wash

Permanently hidden Ram's Head

Finally after about 4.5 miles, we turned left. This junction was found where the wash came into a much larger "valley." This was Pinto Valley but we didn't have much time to take note of it. The wash we turned into was much smaller and it wound back and forth until we came to a large bumpy waterslide. Just before the waterslide, there is a small crack on the left side. A few of us stepped up into the crack and found a male bighorn's skull and horns. This trophy has been lying here behind rocks for as long as I have been coming out here. CH always made sure it was hidden from view. Now, you couldn't take it out of its place if you tried! A large boulder lies over the top edge of it, pressing it into the dirt. It is rotting now but still something to admire. 

Climbing up the Waterslides

Entering the Chocolate Hills

Climb up to break Spot

Taking a Break

We returned to the wash and climbed the waterslide. At the top, the terrain opened out and the main Chocolate Hill faced us squarely in front. There are two large dryfalls in this area and you must climb the ridge in between these to get past them. The ridge is usually marked by a cairn but today, the cairn was not seen. We built another one and started the long steep climb. At the top, the trail continues down to the left side of the hill. We followed the wash in front of us up another waterslide and found a nice place to sit for our long David Hardy lunch break! After the break, we wound our way through the chocolate colored hills in front of us to a precarious trail up the side of one of the mud hills. This trail is somewhat of a feature of this hike! 

Entrance wash to the Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills Maze

Climbing up to the Saddle

Landscape Design

The ridge above is very skinny and allows everyone to simply climb up to it and start down the other side. At the bottom, you find yourself in a maze of washes where you eventually hike right into the bottom of the Old Arrowhead Road's switchback. From here, all you have to do is retrace your steps for about 2-2.5 miles. Again, some hikers used the go around for the Cottonwood Springs dryfall. Then, we raced back down the wide wash using the cut-acrosses whenever we could. This was a wonderful day of hiking with David and other great people. 

Stats: 8.1 miles; 1000' gain; 4 hours

Returning down the Old Arrowhead Road

Widening Pinto Valley Wash

Hiking the last of 8.1 Miles