Dynamite Canyon Whipple Mountains 2.0

An easy and very enjoyable run through the gorgeous Whipple Mountains and deep Dynamite Canyon.

This is one of our favorite trails in this Region.  It is an easy run and the scenery is great - Whipple Mountains, Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City and Dynamite Canyon.

We followed the powerline northwest through the mountains, then dropped down toward Lake Havasu and Havasu Palms.  We then went both directions through Dynamite Canyon and finished by exiting southeast on the Havasu Palms Road.

There is a GPS - gpx track file at the bottom of the page.

Approaching Dynamite Canyon

There are powerline roads all over the West, but this is one of the best.  It winds back and forth along mostly high ground and offers spectacular views of the mountains and the lake.  The southwest side of the road forms the boundary of Whipple Mountains Wilderness.  The road was well graded when we visited in December, 2017.

Road along powerline

Whipple Mountains Wilderness

The non-wilderness side of the road is nothing to sneeze at.  The more rugged mountains are a dark brown contrast to lesser hills.  Lesser hills dominate the northwest extent of this trip, but they are also enjoyable.

Non-wilderness side

Northwest portion of powerline road

The powerline road drops down off high ground into a wash.  This is where you leave the powerline road and turn down the wash toward Lake Havasu.  This is one of the 2.0 rated sections.  We did not find a road all the way to the lake.  Water from the lake has made for very thick vegetation along the shore.

Drop into a wash

Drive down a wash

Come out of the wash and follow a series of graded roads up from the lake to an overlook of Havasu Palms.  There are trails and roads that lead to Havasu Palms if you want to visit.  This track does not go to the community.

Up from Lake Havasu

Havasu Palms

Head for Dynamite Canyon.  The opening photo shows the approach to it from the Havasu Palms side.  Deep and rugged, but not very long.  We liked it!

Deepest part of Dynamite Canyon. Note the Jeep.

Leaving deepest part of Dynamite Canyon

We continued south up the same wash to the powerline road we came in on, then turned around and drove back through Dynamite Canyon.  White bedrock in the base of the wash was a stark contrast to the dark brown of the canyon walls.  The road from the deepest section of the canyon to the road we came in on is the other 2.0 rated part of the trip.

This natural cave can be driven in but we chose not to on this trip.

Contrasting rock colors

Cave south of deepest part

Go back to the north end of Dynamite Canyon and turn southeast on Havasu Palms Road through another canyon.  Follow this road to the road you came in on.

​Page updated 2017.

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