Keystone Tower (Peak 2340) and Peak 2740 in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Hike Keystone Tower (Peak 2340) and Peak 2740 Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Class 4 6.9 miles 2400 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Feb 27, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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This being the final day of our Sonoran Desert trip, we were looking forward to a shorter outing with hopefully fun scrambling after the extended tour of the Southern Castle Dome Mountains yesterday. Our two-peak hike today would lead to the unnamed monolith Peak 2340 (which we renamed Keystone Tower due to its proximity to the Keystone Mine), followed by a ridgeline traverse over to the high point of this area, Peak 2740. I thought this was an excellent hike in a colorful and remote area of Kofa National Widllife Refuge. If you decide to skip Keystone Tower to skip the scary scrambling and instead just enjoy the views, this route would be reduced to Class 2/3.

Reaching the trailhead turned out to be far less rough than we thought it would be, but it's about an hour on mostly good dirt roads from pavement. Starting east on King Road here (33.26706352, -114.23900), we continued to this junction (33.1793182, -114.021716) with Wellton-Kofa Road. We took this south to another junction here (33.0636244, -113.958594) with Chain Tank Road. Wellton-Kofa Road cannot be accessed from the south since it's barred by a wilderness sign and also goes straight through Yuma Proving Grounds, despite what maps may say otherwise. Overall the roads were fine: King Road good for any vehicle, Wellton-Kofa Road needing some clearance and slower-moving due to a bunch of ins-and-outs of tiny drainages, and Chain Tank Road surpisingly no worse than Wellton-Kofa Road.

Keystone Tower seemed to be riddled by complex terrain on its south and southeast sides, so rather than spend time navigating all of that, we thought it made more sense to approach the peak from the southwest. We followed a wash until we could see the colorful cliffs lining the rim of our ridgeline traverse later in the day. First we wanted to get to Keystone Tower, the more exciting endeavor of the two peaks for the day. We chose a Class 2 gully with some light Class 3 toward its head for the ascent. There was some catclaw, boulder-hopping, and loose rock, but I enjoyed it enough to say its a decent route. On our descent later we used the saddle separating our two peaks, and that was more straightforward.

A lump to the south of Keystone Tower served as an excellent viewpoint toward the gorgeous hunk of volcanic rock we'd be attempting, despite being an obstacle adding vertical gain on the way back later. Class 2/3 brought us down to the base of Keystone Tower. We headed up the peak's mellow slope and wrapped around the eastern base with the hope to find some sort of weakness, since the west was clearly a sheer face. We were ignorantly confident there'd be a way up. We all separated, poking around at numerous options before settling on a route that somehow did indeed keep working out.

A Class 3 well-featured slab next to a crack led beneath a small cave from the ground, followed by some Class 3/3+ scrambling to a ledge with a small indentation in the volcanic rock. A Class 4 set of moves led from this indentation through a short chimney with a pull move at the top. From here Class 2/3 on very steep terrain took us up a combination of solid rock slabs and loose steppy ledges up to a wider walkable ledge higher up beneath an impassable headwall. We traversed to the right along this ledge and pulled a Class 4 lip move (not exposed). The ledge continued to a quite exposed Class 4 move on solid rock. Class 2 brought us up the subsequent slope and into an incut feature at the base of a headwall, which turned out to be the summit block. Wrapping around to its left, we almost circled the summit block entirely before Class 2+ got us up on the north side. We couldn't believe how excellent this route was, especially with how cryptic it seemed from below.

With enough time in the day, we all agreed we should head over to Peak 2740, despite our sore legs. The high point of the area, we figured we'd get some scenic views. We backtracked from Keystone Tower, passing over the lump we descended earlier, and then down to the saddle separating Keystone Tower and Peak 2740, some loose terrain on the way down. We'd use this saddle for our descent later. Ahead was the base of a serious-looking cliff, and after a steep slope ascent we side-hilled to the base of this cliff and wrapped around it on its left (south) side. Class 2 got us to the ridgeline above. A bit of navigating weaved us in and out of rock outcroppings and to flatter ground (Class 2/3).

We followed the colorful rim we'd noted from below earlier in the day, generally heading southwest. A couple of little lumps along the way and we were at the base of Peak 2740. A notch on its south side seemed like the best ascent option, so we hiked up the steep slope where we found the ridgeline to be a bit cliffy. Keeping to the left of the ridgeline initially, we decided to ascend as soon as the terrain became Class 2. Once along the ridgeline, we headed north to the high point. Nearby Castle Dome Peak and Thumb Peak were very cool viewed from this angle, especially with the complex terrain surrounding them.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Keystone Tower (Peak 2340)
2340 ft
440 rise
2
Peak 2740
2740 ft
660 rise

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From the trailhead heading toward the wash on the right.
From the trailhead heading toward the wash on the right.
Within the wash, a view up at the colorful rim we'll be hiking along later on the way to Peak 2740.
Within the wash, a view up at the colorful rim we'll be hiking along later on the way to Peak 2740.
First, we wanted to head up to Keystone Tower. On our ascent, we used a gully right of center. On the descent we took the saddle seen center. Both options are fine, but the gully had more brush and boulder-hopping.
First, we wanted to head up to Keystone Tower. On our ascent, we used a gully right of center. On the descent we took the saddle seen center. Both options are fine, but the gully had more brush and boulder-hopping.
Class 2/3 gully route.
Class 2/3 gully route.
View back down the Class 2/3 gully route, where a Class 3 move at the top added some fun.
View back down the Class 2/3 gully route, where a Class 3 move at the top added some fun.
Above the gully, a view of Keystone Tower from a lump along the way.
Above the gully, a view of Keystone Tower from a lump along the way.
Close-up of Keystone Tower. We wrapped to its right.
Close-up of Keystone Tower. We wrapped to its right.
View back toward the lump (left) as we ascend Keystone Tower's slope. You can also see Peak 2740 right of center.
View back toward the lump (left) as we ascend Keystone Tower's slope. You can also see Peak 2740 right of center.
Wrapping beneath Keystone Tower's right side.
Wrapping beneath Keystone Tower's right side.
Matt on the first set of Class 3 moves, a well-featured slab.
Matt on the first set of Class 3 moves, a well-featured slab.
A view of the route, sort of. There's so much complex rock that it's hard to see. Matt is seen on the left on the route. The lower portion of the route is obscured by the ground. From where Matt is, Class 3/3+ leads to the ledge where Tyler is (white shirt). However, he and Chris are off-route in this photo. The route continues through a Class 4 chute to the left of Tyler.
A view of the route, sort of. There's so much complex rock that it's hard to see. Matt is seen on the left on the route. The lower portion of the route is obscured by the ground. From where Matt is, Class 3/3+ leads to the ledge where Tyler is (white shirt). However, he and Chris are off-route in this photo. The route continues through a Class 4 chute to the left of Tyler.
Tyler (left) at the start of the Class 4 chute. I recommend climbing into it from where Matt is standing.
Tyler (left) at the start of the Class 4 chute. I recommend climbing into it from where Matt is standing.
View down into the Class 4 chute after pulling a lip move. The route photos are taken with my phone since my DSLR always gets in the way on tougher scrambles.
View down into the Class 4 chute after pulling a lip move. The route photos are taken with my phone since my DSLR always gets in the way on tougher scrambles.
Matt after pulling the lip move out of the chute.
Matt after pulling the lip move out of the chute.
Steep Class 2/3 on steppy ledges and slabby stuff.
Steep Class 2/3 on steppy ledges and slabby stuff.
View down at friends on the steppy ledges.
View down at friends on the steppy ledges.
At the top of the steppy ledges, view back at the steepness. This shot was taken on the way down, hence friends looking the wrong way.
At the top of the steppy ledges, view back at the steepness. This shot was taken on the way down, hence friends looking the wrong way.
We left the steppy ledges and used this walkable ledge. Seen ahead is the next Class 4 section, a lip move.
We left the steppy ledges and used this walkable ledge. Seen ahead is the next Class 4 section, a lip move.
Matt pulling the Class 4 lip move.
Matt pulling the Class 4 lip move.
Past the Class 4 lip move, Matt seen at a second Class 4 move, this one exposed.
Past the Class 4 lip move, Matt seen at a second Class 4 move, this one exposed.
Tyler on the exposed Class 4 move. The rock was quite solid. Past here was some Class 2 up a slope.
Tyler on the exposed Class 4 move. The rock was quite solid. Past here was some Class 2 up a slope.
View back toward the top of the Class 2 slope. We entered this undercut headwall.
View back toward the top of the Class 2 slope. We entered this undercut headwall.
Top of the undercut headwall on the south side of Keystone Tower.
Top of the undercut headwall on the south side of Keystone Tower.
Wrapping around the west side.
Wrapping around the west side.
North side, Class 2+ to gain the summit.
North side, Class 2+ to gain the summit.
Keystone Tower summit, view toward Peak 2740 (top right).
Keystone Tower summit, view toward Peak 2740 (top right).
After backtracking from Keystone Tower, we continued along the ridgeline. You can see Keystone Tower on the left, as well as the lump we had to go up and over in the center.
After backtracking from Keystone Tower, we continued along the ridgeline. You can see Keystone Tower on the left, as well as the lump we had to go up and over in the center.
Onward to the base of this serious-looking cliff. We wrapped to the left around it.
Onward to the base of this serious-looking cliff. We wrapped to the left around it.
Wrapping around the cliff base.
Wrapping around the cliff base.
Class 2 around the cliff base, then we ascended to the ridge/rim ahead.
Class 2 around the cliff base, then we ascended to the ridge/rim ahead.
View back as we ascend Class 2 away from the cliff base to gain the ridge/rim.
View back as we ascend Class 2 away from the cliff base to gain the ridge/rim.
Along the ridge, some Class 2/3 outcropping obstacles to weave around.
Along the ridge, some Class 2/3 outcropping obstacles to weave around.
Along the ridgeline, some cool volcanic slickrock terrain. Peak 2740 seen on the left.
Along the ridgeline, some cool volcanic slickrock terrain. Peak 2740 seen on the left.
View back along the short, somewhat complex little section of ridgeline.
View back along the short, somewhat complex little section of ridgeline.
Peak 2740 seen ahead. The summit is on the right somewhere.
Peak 2740 seen ahead. The summit is on the right somewhere.
View back the way we came. The cliff we wrapped around is seen top center.
View back the way we came. The cliff we wrapped around is seen top center.
We ascended to the notch left of center to gain the south ridge of Peak 2740.
We ascended to the notch left of center to gain the south ridge of Peak 2740.
Wrapping around to the left side of Peak 2740's cliffy ridge.
Wrapping around to the left side of Peak 2740's cliffy ridge.
Left side, avoiding cliffs.
Left side, avoiding cliffs.
We ascended to the ridgeline when the terrain became Class 2.
We ascended to the ridgeline when the terrain became Class 2.
View back along the ridgeline, Garden Benchmark seen on the left, as well as our unnamed peaks from the day before on the right.
View back along the ridgeline, Garden Benchmark seen on the left, as well as our unnamed peaks from the day before on the right.
Peak 2740 summit, view along the ridge. Keystone Tower seen left.
Peak 2740 summit, view along the ridge. Keystone Tower seen left.
View toward Thumb Peak (left), Thumb Peak Benchmark (center), and Castle Dome Peak (right).
View toward Thumb Peak (left), Thumb Peak Benchmark (center), and Castle Dome Peak (right).
Thumb Peak Benchmark (left) and Castle Dome Peak (right).
Thumb Peak Benchmark (left) and Castle Dome Peak (right).
Back at the saddle, our descent route back into the wash below.
Back at the saddle, our descent route back into the wash below.

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