Pittsburg Mines Trail, AZ

Overview
This is a trail that I pulled from the Lake Havasu City Convention & Visitor Bureau website. The "trail" is just east of a growing subdivision. So not only is the information, but the trail itself is in jeopardy of being impacted by the inevitable expansion of the subdivision. I would encourage anyone planning on doing this hike to check the website mentioned earlier for possible changes in the route and or trailhead. This trail is composed of a combination of washes and adopted ATV roads (formerly mining roads). There is no signage indicating where the trail runs so there is no way to confirm whether you are the trail or not.


Warning
The Havasu area can be one of the hotter areas in Arizona. Be prepared. There are no water or bathroom facilities on this hike.

Hike
Currently the hike starts from the bridge that is just to the north of Corte Cabrillo Rd. All the distances given are using this as a starting point. There are homes being built in this vicinity so this may soon change. Once you reach the bottom of the wash you will be heading due east for most of the hike. At .45 miles you will come across the first of several dry waterfalls. All the waterfalls are small and easy to navigate. Immediately after this first waterfall is one of many ATV roads that criss cross the land. Ignore this road and stay in the wash. At 0.70 miles there is a split in the wash. Stay to the right. There is another split in the wash at about ..88 miles. Once again stay to the right. At .98 miles you will encounter another ATV road. Staying in the wash, follow this road. At about 1.05 miles the road "T"'s and exits the wash. One head north and the other head in a more eastward direction. Follow the eastward route. As you climb out of the wash you will begin to see a network of ATV roads that spiderweb the land. You will also powerlines that are running north-south in front of you. Follow the road that takes you to the nearest tower. This tower should be just to the east and a little south of where you exit the wash. Reaching the tower should bring you to about 1.30 miles into your hike. From the tower you will follow an ATV road east. This road will soon curve to the north and run between some foothills. At about 1.60 miles you will reach a hub of intersecting roads. Just to the north of this hub you should be able to see a mound of grey tailings from the abandoned Pittsburg Mine. Take the road the road that heads in that direction. (In my mind, there are two roads that are heading east from this hub you should take the second road for the most direct route to the mine. Total distance to the mine is about 1.95 miles.

There are 3 mines in the general area. None of which get much on the WOW scale. Frankly, I've seen more impressive mines in South Mountain and in the McDowells. Still the hike in is pleasant, especially the wash portion of the hike, and you get an nice view overlooking Lake Havasu.

The return trip can be done as an in and out, but the Lake Havasu web site suggests making this hike as a lasso. This can be done by returning to the "hub" and instead of going south on the road you came in on, take the road that is heading west. You'll know that you are on the correct road if within a few yards you see an open "Pitt" just to the left of the road. This road will shortly "T" into another ATV Road. Follow this road south and it will return you to the wash that you had left earlier. The rest of the hike is a simple retracing of your footsteps.

Water Sources
None

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