Mohave: Culture, Trails and the Colorado River

Mohave brings together cultural history, experiences with the Hualapai Tribe, trails through mountain landscapes and the Colorado River. As you plan your trip, it’s worth first considering what matters most to you: historical topics, outdoor activities or a stay connected to the water.

Cultural History and a Hualapai Experience

The Arizona Route 66 Museum traces the route’s history, from its origins as a prehistoric trade route and its role as an escape route for Dust Bowl refugees to its revival in American culture. This historical arc spans early trade routes, a defining period in U.S. history and more recent cultural memory.

Grand Canyon West is located in Mohave County and belongs to the Hualapai Tribe, which also operates the area. A culturally immersive experience with the Tribe is offered there. At Hualapai Point, a zipline stretches 1,100 feet over the canyon walls. The cultural aspect and this activity offer different focuses: you can center your plans on the experience with the Hualapai Tribe or include the zipline as a specific activity.

Trails and Landscapes

The Hualapai Mountain Park offers 10 miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The Monolith Garden Trail near Kingman is an 8.5-mile series of loop trails for hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders and trail runners. These figures provide a comparison of the scale of the offerings, but describe different types of trails: the Monolith Garden Trail is specifically described as having loop trails.

The Dolan Springs Trail System is open to hikers, joggers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. It is located on 480 acres of BLM land at the northern end of the Mount Tipton Wilderness in the Cerbat Mountains. The Mount Tipton Wilderness includes the Cerbat Pinnacles, considered its main scenic attraction. This brings together a designated trail system and a distinctive landscape.

Other wilderness areas in Mohave County appeal to different interests. Wabayuma Peak Wilderness offers challenging hikes, backpacking trips, horseback riding and opportunities to observe nature. In Warm Springs Wilderness, hiking and horseback riding along an old historic trail, as well as numerous burro trails, are among the original recreational opportunities. Mount Nutt Wilderness offers a variety of challenging opportunities for hiking, camping, photography and rock climbing. Mount Wilson Wilderness is home to a population of desert bighorn sheep.

The Colorado River and Planning Your Trip

The 20-mile-long Topock Gorge contains one of the last remaining natural stretches of the lower Colorado River. Davis Camp is a Mohave County park within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It is located on the Colorado River north of Bullhead City and offers a launch and takeout site for paddlecraft and small boats. This provides two distinct points of interest: a natural river landscape and a specific place to launch and take out boats.

In Peach Springs, Diamond Creek Road provides direct public access to the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. When choosing where to stay, you can first decide which experiences you want to define your visit: cultural history and the Hualapai experience, trails and outdoor activities, or a connection to the river. If paddlecraft or small boats are part of your plans, Davis Camp is a specific point of reference because it offers a launch and takeout site.

Discover more destinations: Lake Havasu City, Kingman, Bullhead City, Colorado City, Peach Springs, Mohave Valley, Yucca, Dolan Springs, Meadview.

For the broader travel overview: Arizona.