Hike Dam View Point Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ

Jan 15, 2023 — This cute little outing visits Dam View Point, an excellent viewing perch looking toward the Hoover Dam, and then I added on a less interesting unnamed peak nearby. Any vehicle can make it to the trailhead along Kingman Wash Road. I started out by hiking northwest along an old dirt road until its end, then continued though rocky desert terrain, bypassing a small outcropping by side-hilling on its left. I entered a wide and low-angle gully/drainage and boulder-hopped for a bit before ascending on a Class 2/2+ set of moves on slab and boulders to gain the ridgeline above. Dam View Point was a quick jaunt away, where I got an excellent perspective of the upper face of the Hoover Dam, plus Promontory Point was visible across the Colorado River.

I descended from Dam View Point by following the lumpy terrain to the south and descended a minor drainage to reach the northern base of Peak 1877. From here I hiked up the steep slope, ascended Class 2 loose and rocky terrain, and gained the summit. Peak 1877 is less exciting, but it was nearby so I figured I'd extend the hike a bit. I returned to my car by heading fown Peak 1877's east face, Fortification Hill's colorful slopes a nice backdrop.