Overview | Sugarloaf Mountain | Hoover Dam Area | Lake Mead NRA, Arizona

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The Magic of Sugarloaf Mountain, Elevation 1,954ft

The summit of Sugarloaf Mountain is the best vantage point to view the Hoover Dam complex from the downstream side in Arizona. Towering above the dam, it’s as if you’re seeing its impressive structure almost immediately below. And as a stand-alone peak, Sugarloaf Mountain, elevation 1,954ft, offers a 360-degree wrap-around view of the entire surrounding volcanic landscape.

Adventure Route Summary

The route to the summit is surprisingly simple. Park on lower Kingman Wash Access Road in Arizona. Then traverse the side of a slope paralleling the road. Finally, ascend the gradual East slope to the summit. To create an interesting loop adventure, we descended a gully from the base of the East slope down to a wide wash skirting the Southern base of the mountain. At the lower edge of the wash, directly above the Colorado River channel through Black Canyon, we explored a fascinating historic platform used in the 1930s to transport building materials for the construction of Hoover Dam. The adventure loop ended by returning up the wash, then taking an adjoining wash and slope back to our starting point. There are a number of alternate routes we will discuss below.

Views from Sugarloaf Mountain Summit

It’s impossible to list all the views you will experience from this spectacular summit vantage point, but here are a few that stand out:

• Hoover Dam Complex
• Fortification Hill, Arizona
• Mt. Wilson and its long ridgeline, Arizona
• Liberty Bell Arch, Arizona
• Colorado River Channel through Black Canyon
• Hoover Peak, Nevada
• Gold Strike Mountain & Canyon, Nevada  

Best Time of Year to Visit Sugarloaf Mountain

Avoid the Summer months with their dangerously high temperatures easily topping 120 degrees. You are likely to become the subject of a Search & Rescue deployment, hopefully, but not always successful! Instead, stick to the months late Fall through early Spring when the mid-day temperatures, often a refreshing 65-75 degrees, will give you the feeling of being transported to a Winter vacation destination.

Route Starting Point Directions | Sugarloaf Mountain | Hoover Dam Area | Lake Mead NRA, Arizona

• From Las Vegas, take I-11 South past Boulder City and over the Colorado River in the Hoover Dam area into Arizona
• The name of the road changes to Hwy 93 in Arizona
• At the Kingman Wash exit (exit 2) at Lake Mead National Recreation Area (about a mile past Hoover Dam and the Bridge) cross under Hwy 93 and take the Kingman Wash Access Road exit (exit #2).
• U-Turn right on Kingman Wash Access Road and continue to the first parking area.

Narrative Guide | Sugarloaf Mountain | Hoover Dam Area | Lake Mead NRA, Arizona

Getting Your Initial Bearings

Take a moment at the parking area to get your bearings. Sugarloaf Mountain towers over you to the North. Its Eastern slope is the most gradual approach. There are a couple possible approach gullies on the South side of the mountain, but these are pretty steep. To the West, toward the Colorado River, there’s a ridge beginning at the parking area. There’s a wash on either side of the ridge, quickly deepening as it descends downward toward the Colorado River. You can see 3 trails branching off from the parking area. 1 trail branches off to the right toward the deep Southern wash. One trail branches off to the left toward that wash. The third trail seems to head along the slope between the washes. 

Parking Area to the Eastern Slope of Sugarloaf Mountain

You want to take the trail furthest to the right. Avoid the temptation to descend into the wash along the Southern base of Sugarloaf Mountain. You’ll quickly end up facing a high barrier dry fall. Instead, traverse the slope parallel and just below Kingman Wash Access Road. There’s a faint trail, but don’t count on it always being easy to pick out. Your goal is a road and some powerlines you can see at the Eastern base of Sugarloaf Mountain, at the point that gradual slope to the summit begins. The faint trail, probably created by both humans and big horn sheep, will offer just enough stability that, with care, you need not experience fear of losing your footing and sliding down the slope toward the gully and wash below. Soon you’ll find yourself at the base of the Eastern slope with a more gradual, open terrain all the way to the summit.

Surprise Appearance of Eleven Big Horn Sheep!

As we approached the base of the Eastern slope, there, standing on a rise immediately to our left, were 22 eyes staring at us! The big horn sheep did not seem agitated with our presence. There was an obvious leader of the flock that stood at attention and never took her eyes off us. The others casually wandered around. One even reclined on the ground to take a rest. Realize, the flock was only about 100 feet from us! They posed the longest time for photos. We were the ones who eventually felt the need to move on and continue our adventure.

Eastern Slope to the Summit!

From the base of the Eastern slope, all the way to the summit the terrain is wide open. It’s just a matter of weaving around scattered boulders as you ascend, step by step. The next step is always evident and easy. The slope is steep, and near the summit it gets steeper, but it’s fairly gradual the entire way. There’s a geological summit marker, small cairn and summit box (a pickle jar!) at the very summit. Take in the spectacular view from the summit! If you have a compass you’ll be able to identify all the surrounding landmarks listed on this page by name, magnetic compass direction and elevation. This will be invaluable help in routing out future adventures in the area. In particular, think about adventures to Lost Man Peak, Justice Peak and the Battleship formation to the South. There are also some nice coves along the banks of the Colorado River in Black Canyon below. If you look carefully, you will be able to pick out a few trails below leading to these destinations.

Experimental Descent

Our next goal was the large historic maintenance platform below, at the Southwestern base of Sugarloaf Mountain. It looked as if we might be able to head directly down the Southwestern slope all the way to the platform, so we started that descent. However, upon carefull study of the area just above the wash at the base of the mountain, it appeared there might be a barrier cliff about 100ft just above the wash. Later, we discovered a possible gully through the cliff face, but we could not see that gully from above. So, we retraced our way to the summit and back down the more gradual Eastern slope. We’ll return to scope out that gully through the lower cliff face. 

Alternately, one could descend the Southwestern slope, then, about half-way down, traverse the side of Sugarloaf Mountain Eastward, just below the high Southern cliffline, then descend into the wash below. But this variation, though interesting, might take longer than just heading back down the gradual Eastern slope.

Descent from the Summit to the Southern Wash

There’s a gully at the base of the Eastern slope, leading to the Southern wash. That gully is pretty easy to descend, though a bit more tricky in places than the gradual Eastern slope. Keep to the left side of the gully, about 50ft above the center of the gully, where you will find an occasional pathway. Near the base of the gully, angle over the low ridge to the left for the easiest final descent into the wash below. Actually, you’ll reach a historic paved road just above the wash. A right turn onto that road will lead you most gradually into the Southern wash. 

Southern Wash to the Historic Maintenance Platform

The Southern Wash is fairly wide with a base of fine, deep gravel. It gradually leads all the way to the historic maintenance platform above the edge of the Colorado River. Along the way, observe the line of cliffs on your right just above the wash and watch for that gully opening we might have taken had we descended the Southwestern slope. We did not explore that gully opening, but it looked possible from below. Once above the cliff line, the Southwestern ascent to the summit is easy. To your left are the cliffs of the Battleship formation.

As you reach the base of the maintenance platform, the historic paved road will reappear, leading you up to the 2-level platform. Along the road you’ll begin to see historic artifacts from the construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s. Some of the artifacts are small, others huge including rail tracks for transportation carts and what look like a couple huge iron gates that might have been used as a stop to the flow of water through the temporary diversion channels during the construction of the dam. That’s a wild guess!

Exploring the Historic Maintenance Platform

From the lower platform, there’s a potential Northern descent to the banks of the Colorado River below. It looks steep with a loose rock surface. We did not check it out so cannot vouch for the stability of that descent. Continuing to explore the maintenance platform, we found what looked like the old tram platform used to ferry materials down to the Colorado River. A historic roadway leads around the West side of the platform, above the Colorado River. Midway, along the platform, there is another potential descent road down to the Colorado River. We did not explore that. The road circles around and ascends to the upper platform.

On the upper platform look toward Liberty Bell Arch for an incredible view of the liberty bell, so clear, with blue sky through its bell shape, that you could almost ring it! Great photo opp! Also watch for trails below to the South, leading to Lost Man Peak, Justice Peak and the long, huge Battleship formation.

Descent from the Platform and Return to Kingman Wash Access Road

Descend the platform along the historic road and re-ascend the Southern wash between the cliffs of Sugarloaf Mountain, now on your left and the Battleship formation on your right. Near the place you originally entered the wash, take a right up an adjoining wash that skirts the Eastern base of the Battleship formation. Why not stay in the original wash and just head straight up to Kingman Wash Access Road? Because you’ll face a huge barrier dryfall in that wash.

As you skirt the wash along the Eastern base of the Battleship formation, about a quarter-mile up that old paved historic road will reappear, branching off to the left above the wash. There’s a white arrow painted on a boulder at the entrance to the road. Ascend the old historic road that eventually reaches the base of Kingman Wash Access Road (there’s a tunnel option there leading under the road). Just before the tunnel, take a left to quickly return to your original parking area.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve just completed an ascent to the best Hoover Dam viewpoint South of the dam in Arizona. In addition, you’ve scoped out some cool future adventures in the surrounding wilderness of canyons, ridges and volcanic peaks. Finally, you explored a historic maintenance platform and seen artifacts from the construction of Hoover Dam. Quite a lot for one day’s adventure!