Location and Description
The 27,660-acre Mount Nutt Wilderness is located in Mohave County, 15 miles west of Kingman, Arizona and 12 miles east of Bullhead City, Arizona.
This wilderness encompasses an eight-mile-long stretch of the central (and highest) portion of the Black Mountains. Nutt Mountain, at 5,216 feet, presides over a colorful and wild terrain. Along the main ridgeline, prominent mesas have been cut into a series of steep maze-like canyons. Outward from the main ridgeline, numerous huge volcanic plugs ring the entire wilderness.
This wilderness is home to desert bighorn sheep. Scattered springs sustain small oases of large cottonwoods, willows, and oaks. Hiking, camping, hunting, photography, and rock scrambling opportunities are varied and challenging.
Access
With the exception of the Cave Springs Access, 4-wheel drive transportation is recommended for all access routes. (See Map)
- Cottonwood Canyon Access: About one mile north of Oatman, on Route 66, turn north onto the Silver Creek Road (milepost 26). Follow the Silver Creek Road for 1.2 miles to an obscure jeep trail located in a sand wash on your right. Follow this jeep trail northeast for 1.0 mile to a small turnaround/parking area in Cottonwood Canyon.
- Twin Springs Access: From Highway 93 north of Kingman, turn west onto Highway 68. Follow Highway 68 to Estrella Road. Follow Estrella Road south for 4.7 miles to Shinarump Road. Turn right onto Shinarump Road and proceed 0.5 miles to Kaibab Road. Turn left (south) on Kaibab Road and proceed 2.4 miles to a jeep trail on your right. Turn right on this jeep trail and proceed about one mile, following the wilderness boundary, to trailhead parking.
- Secret Pass Arch Access: From Highway 93 north of Kingman, turn west onto Highway 68. Follow Highway 68 to Estrella Road. Follow Estrella Road south for 2.7 miles to Bolsa Drive. Turn right onto Bolsa Drive and proceed 2.8 miles to Gisela Road. Turn left on Gisela Road, proceed 0.5 miles to Chuar Drive, and turn right. Go about 0.2 miles and turn right again on Ganado Road, adjacent to a range fence. Follow the fence 0.2 miles to a cattleguard. Go through the cattleguard and follow the jeep trail south and west for 1 mile. At this point bear left, leaving the wash and crossing under the powerline, and follow this jeep trail south 2.8 miles to the end of the road in Secret Pass Wash. Bear left when you encounter intersections on this jeep trail. A large stone arch is hidden in the rock outcrop located on top of the hill on your left as you near the end of the jeep trail.
- Cave Spring Access: From Highway 93 north of Kingman, turn west onto Highway 68. Follow Highway 68 to Estrella Road. Follow Estrella Road south for 4.7 miles to Shinarump Road. Turn right onto Shinarump Road and proceed 2.0 miles to Guthrie Road. Turn right on Guthrie Road and park at the small rock-lined parking area on your left. This is a good day-hiking area and access can be made with any type vehicle.
- Mossback Wash Access: Turn north onto the Silver Creek Road, off Route 66, about one mile north of Oatman (milepost 28). Follow the Silver Creek Road for 4.8 miles to an obscure jeep trail located on your right. Follow this jeep trail down into Silver Creek Wash, then proceed east up the wash for about 0.5 miles (stay on the left side of the wash). Turn left (northeast) into Mossback Wash and follow it about 2.4 miles to the wilderness boundary. The jeep trail in Mossback Wash forks at several points. Take the right fork in each case and stay in the main wash. Jeep trails leading north and south from this point define the boundary.
Limitations
The summer climate in this wilderness unit is harsh. Daytime temperatures during the summer months are over 100 degrees. Temperatures are more moderate between October 1 and April 30th.
The terrain in Mount Nutt Wilderness is extremely rugged. A few old vehicle ways provide hiking routes in some places, but the most commonly used routes are the sand washes which dissect the area. Bighorn sheep and burro trails can often be located and followed on uplands.
Water is relatively scarce in this part of the Black Mountains. Springs shown on topographic maps can generally be relied upon for drinking water. Following rainy weather, pothole water is available, but can dry up quickly. Purification of all water is a necessity.
Nonfederal Lands
Some lands around and within the wilderness are not federally administered. Please respect the property rights of the owners and do not cross or use these lands without their permission.
Related Maps
- 7.5-minute Topographic: Mt. Nutt, Oatman, Union Pass, Secret Pass
- 1:100,000 BLM Surface Management: Davis Dam
- Game and Fish Management Unit 15D
For more information contact:
Bureau of Land Management
Kingman Field Office
2755 Mission Boulevard
Kingman, AZ 86401-3629
(928) 718-3700
"We simply need wild country available to us, even if we do no more than drive to its edge and look in. For it can be a means of reassuring ourselves of our sanity as creatures, a part of the geography of hope."
Wallace Stegner
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