Castle Dome Peak in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Hike Castle Dome Peak Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Class 3 5.5 miles 2100 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Jan 20, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Castle Dome Peak GPX Track

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Matt and I drove along the good-quality Castle Dome Mine Road, Castle Dome Peak shooting out on the horizon ahead. Our GPS tried taking us past the Castle Dome Mine Museum, but we were blocked by a roadblock. We inquiried at the museum, and were told by a woman that we had to go back and use another road. I assume that recently the road was closed off because it runs along private property, but who knows. So, don't expect as easy of a drive to get to the trailhead anymore. The new turn-off is located at 33.02983, -114.20242, a much less good dirt road, but still passable by my Subaru.

Once at the trailhead, we started east through the wash until Castle Dome Peak came into view. A massive cairned arrow marked the exit from the wash. The social trail then hugs the wash as it tcontinues to travel east. It is easy to miss this social trail and instead continue up a side-wash, but that leads away from the route. The trail becomes quite clear and continues to the northern base of Castle Dome Peak on pleasant Class 2 scree as it wraps around to the east. We passed a lone pinnacle of rock on our left and soon after, we entered a gully critical to gaining access to the peak. It was well-marked, and wide enough to be fairly obvious. A few fun Class 2 moves led up the gully to a notch on the east side of Castle Dome Peak. If you make it to this notch, you'll get some wonderful views to the east, but note that the Class 2/3 standard route is about 50 feet back down the gully. We initially missed the standard route and from the notch, took an optional Class 4 scramble, meeting up with the standard route. It was quite fun and had solid holds and I'd recommend it to add some spice to the peak. Either way you end up going, the route continues around to the southeast side of Castle Dome Peak and ascends on colorful rock to the summit. I know it's a route marked as Class 3 by most, but it's very straightforward, easy Class 3 if you stay on route. The views from the summit are amazing, and looking out into the KOFA, we were immediately inspired to go for all the pinnacles in the area.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Castle Dome Peak
3788 ft
2088 rise

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Starting up the wash from the trailhead.
Starting up the wash from the trailhead.
Image 1 from gallery
Castle Dome Peak ahead.
Castle Dome Peak ahead.
A massive arrow marking the route into a side-wash. Don't follow the wash too long - a social trail leads to the left out of the wash.
A massive arrow marking the route into a side-wash. Don't follow the wash too long - a social trail leads to the left out of the wash.
Along the social trail heading to the base of Castle Dome Peak. The rock pinnacle visible on the left is our first waypoint.
Along the social trail heading to the base of Castle Dome Peak. The rock pinnacle visible on the left is our first waypoint.
Class 2 slope leading to the base of Castle Dome Peak.
Class 2 slope leading to the base of Castle Dome Peak.
Image 6 from gallery
Looking back as we ascend the Class 2 social trail. You can see the wash we came in on from the trailhead, center right.
Looking back as we ascend the Class 2 social trail. You can see the wash we came in on from the trailhead, center right.
Rock pinnacle ahead.
Rock pinnacle ahead.
Crazy colors below.
Crazy colors below.
Hugging the northeast side of Castle Dome Peak, just before the Class 2 gully.
Hugging the northeast side of Castle Dome Peak, just before the Class 2 gully.
Class 2 gully ascent. Going all the way to the notch leads to an optional Class 4 scramble.
Class 2 gully ascent. Going all the way to the notch leads to an optional Class 4 scramble.
Looking back down the gully as we start to ascend.
Looking back down the gully as we start to ascend.
At the notch, a look to the right at the optional Class 4 section.
At the notch, a look to the right at the optional Class 4 section.
Looking down at Matt as he comes up the optional Class 4 section.
Looking down at Matt as he comes up the optional Class 4 section.
Alternative to the Class 4, the standard Class 2/3 scramble out of the gully. This was about 50 feet back down the gully from the notch.
Alternative to the Class 4, the standard Class 2/3 scramble out of the gully. This was about 50 feet back down the gully from the notch.
Wrapping around to the southeast side on the social trail.
Wrapping around to the southeast side on the social trail.
Image 17 from gallery
Class 2/3 scrambling to gain some more elevation to the summit.
Class 2/3 scrambling to gain some more elevation to the summit.
Image 19 from gallery
Castle Dome Peak summit ahead.
Castle Dome Peak summit ahead.
Castle Dome Peak summit, Thumb Peak visible to the east.
Castle Dome Peak summit, Thumb Peak visible to the east.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!