Hightower Loop runs through the desert washes and low rock ridges east of the Colorado River near Parker Dam, tracing a section of power line service road before looping back through open desert terrain. The route mixes maintained gravel with rougher, one-vehicle-wide sections cut by washes and short rocky climbs. It's a solid half-day run for a stock high-clearance 4x4, with steady elevation changes and a few spots where tire placement matters.
Trail Summary
- Location: Near Lake Havasu City, AZ, off Parker Dam Road and CA-62, north of Parker Dam
- Distance: 23.3 miles (loop)
- Difficulty: Level 3 - Best suited for a high clearance 4x4
- Minimum Elevation: 442 ft
- Maximum Elevation: 1,322 ft
- Elevation Gain: 2,360 ft
- Travel Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (recorded)
Difficulty
Best suited for a high clearance 4x4
Stock vehicles with high ground clearance, 4WD capability, and off-road tires are recommended. The road surface is rocky and undulated in sections, with obstacles under 12 inches such as ledges, dips, and short climbs. Loose rock and sandy washes call for careful tire placement, and some stretches run one vehicle wide with limited passing room.
Elevation
The loop climbs from a low point of 442 feet near the desert floor to a high point of 1,322 feet as it works through the ridgelines north of Parker Dam. Total elevation gain over the route is 2,360 feet, with 2,403 feet of loss on the return, reflecting the repeated up-and-down character of the wash crossings and ridge sections rather than one sustained climb. Since the route is a loop, start and end elevation are nearly identical.
Terrain
Expect desert and foothill terrain throughout: hard-packed dirt and gravel road punctuated by rocky washes, short rock ledges, and low ridgelines. Much of the route follows a power line service road, which stays wider and better maintained, while side sections narrow to a single lane through sandy wash bottoms. Traction is generally good on the maintained sections but loosens considerably in the washes, especially after rain.
4WD Experience
Hightower Loop is a good test for a stock 4x4 without pushing into modified-rig territory. The maintained power line road sections are straightforward, but the connecting trail segments bring rockier surfaces, short ledges, and rutted wash crossings that reward low-range gearing and deliberate tire placement. Ground clearance matters more than raw power here. Watch for soft sand in the washes, particularly after storms.
Travel Time
The recorded run covered the 23.3-mile loop in about 2 hours 15 minutes, including stops. For a high-clearance 4WD vehicle taking a more deliberate pace through the rocky and wash sections, plan on 3 to 3.5 hours to complete the full loop with time for photos and scouting lines through the tougher spots.
Highlights
The route offers open desert views toward the Whipple Mountains and the Colorado River corridor, with the power line road providing a straight, scenic run through the wash country. Rock outcrops along the trail are a highlight for photography, and the loop's remote setting makes for a quiet, low-traffic run outside of peak weekends.
Trail GPS File
Map