Mouse’s Tank Peak and Fire Canyon Peak in Valley of Fire State Park, NV

Hike Mouse’s Tank Peak and Fire Canyon Peak Valley of Fire State Park, NV

Class 5 5.9 miles 2100 gain 5-7 hrs Out + Back Jan 6, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mouse’s Tank Peak and Fire Canyon Peak GPX Track

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Valley of Fire State Park is home to a bunch of Instagram-famous destinations, as well as some incredibly cool lesser-visited scramble routes. After bagging the majority of the area's peaks, my interest was drawn to some unnamed and completely undocumented summits in the heart of the park around Fire Canyon Wash. This trip report uses photos from two different excursions to the area with different parties. The first trip was with Jon Avery and Scott Kruis, where we were able to reach Mouse's Tank Peak and Fire Canyon Peak – East, while the second was with Sam Grant, where we got Fire Canyon Peak. All three of these peaks took a long time to puzzle out a route. As you'll note by looking at the attached map, they all have a fair amount of zig-zagging. Obviously our actual GPX track was a huge mess, considering we basically circled all the peaks in order to find a route that finally would work, but I've removed all that extra nonsense so it's cleaner to look at. I will also describe only the functional routes, excluding our ramblings. None of these peaks are an easy undertaking, and all are incredibly fun and interesting. We named Mouse's Tank Peak based on its proximity to its nearby namesake feature Mouse's Tank, and Fire Canyon Peak for the same reason.

We set out along the Mouse's Tank Trail through Petroglyph Canyon, where there are plenty of petroglyphs to be seen on the walls along the trail. We reached the "End of Trail" sign marking the Mouse's Tank and bypassed the feature's dryfall just to its left. Back within the wash below, we headed through the sandy drainage until it entered a narrow section of slot. Through here we had to navigate a Class 3/4 short down-climb and continue through more slotty obstacles until we emerged at another dryfall. This one can also be bypassed on the left, leading back into the wash below. Mouse's Tank Peak became visible just ahead, a complex series of sandstone blobs.

The routes we took are pretty complex, so I'll describe them in better detail below in the photo captions. However, a nice overview never hurts.

We located a nice ramp on the northwest side of Mouse's Tank Peak and started up. A couple of switchbacks on a nice ramp system with a Class 3 move led to the first of three cruxes, a Class 3/4 crack followed by a big jug we dubbed "Jon's Jug" that allowed for getting to a higher ledge. Just past this first crux was a second, a headwall above a scary crack. To reach the headwall, we dropped into the crack on the left since the gap was too wide to stretch across. From within the crack, the headwall seemed less daunting, and were the crack not there at all it wouldn't be as scary an undertaking. Jon and I were ready to turn around here, but Scott scrambled up cautiously and dubbed it low Class 5. I took a few minutes before following him, but Jon stayed behind. We could see the summit just ahead. Scott had just come back from scouting ahead and said there was one more scary move. We walked over to it, a wave-like feature covered in desert varnish. He walked me through the committing move and I called him crazy a few times, but I pulled this third crux anyway, though getting down later was more difficult. Class 2 led to the summit.

After coming down from Mouse's Tank Peak, we headed back into Fire Canyon Wash and headed east, then south through a series of gullies and canyons. From below, the peak seemed to have two discernable summits, and the eastern one appeared taller. It was not, but we didn't know it at the time. So I'll first describe our route up the lower east peak, only because the route was incredily cool and worthwhile even though it was ultimately not the high point. We headed along the eastern face of Fire Canyon Peak – East. We could see the face from below and puzzled out a potential route. A Class 2 gully led up beneath the eastern cliff base, and at the top of the gully, a switchback onto solid sandstone led to a series of descending ramps. Unbelievably, these went at Class 2/3, but it was slow-moving due to the exposure. Jon and Scott opted out, but I was thrilled for the whole route. After dropping about a hundred feet on these ramps and ultimately ending up at only around 20 feet above where we started on solid ground below, I rounded a corner and entered a 10-foot Class 3 chimney. Above this was a crack I dropped into and emerged onto another ledge. I followed the ledge to its end and scrambled up a 6-foot Class 4 headwall. Past here another set of ramps led past a Class 3 section and then continued unencumbered for a few hundred feet to a final Class 2 couple of moves to the summit. I learned here that this was not the high point, but I wasn't upset. It was a very cool route.

A couple of weeks later I returned with Sam to try to tackle the true high point of Fire Canyon Peak. Taking much the same route, we now headed south to the western side of Fire Canyon Peak. A tight canyon brought us up to the western face, a Class 4 chockstone along the way adding some scambling. The west face introduced some Class 2 slabs, followed by a few switchbacks on incredibly cool sandstone ramps, mixed with some light Class 3 moves. We reached a headwall separated by a chasm where we thought we'd have to turn back. However, we noticed that if we could somehow pass over the chasm, we could ascend the ramp on its opposite side and likely be able to get to the summit from there. After some deliberation, we headed along the final ramp to a point where the chasm seemed the least deep and pulled out some webbing and dropped in. You'll want to anchor higher up since a massive boulder near the gap didn't seem safe. Without the webbing, coming back out would require a tough stemming-pounce move. On a subsequent summit of this peak I was able to manage this move without webbbing, so I can confirm it's doable dynamic Class 5. We stemmed through the chasm and pulled a short Class 3 move to gain the ramp on the opposite side of where we were standing previously. Class 2/2+ led us up this final ramp to the true summit. An excellent peak.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mouse's Tank Peak
2270 ft
230 rise
2
Fire Canyon Peak - East
2400 ft
120 rise
3
Fire Canyon Peak
2420 ft
300 rise

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Starting along the Mouse's Tank Trail.
Starting along the Mouse's Tank Trail.
One of many petrogylphs within Petroglyph Canyon.
One of many petrogylphs within Petroglyph Canyon.
Within Petroglyph Canyon.
Within Petroglyph Canyon.
Mouse's Tank. Bypass on the left.
Mouse's Tank. Bypass on the left.
Mouse's Tank bypass, leading down into the wash below. Mouse's Tank Peak is visible in the distance, right of center.
Mouse's Tank bypass, leading down into the wash below. Mouse's Tank Peak is visible in the distance, right of center.
View back toward Mouse's Tank.
View back toward Mouse's Tank.
Within the wash past Mouse's Tank.
Within the wash past Mouse's Tank.
Entering some narrows.
Entering some narrows.
Class 3/4 move.
Class 3/4 move.
More narrows obstacls.
More narrows obstacls.
At the base of Mouse's Tank Peak, bypassing a dryfall on a Class 2 slope. The wash leads around to the peak's northwest side.
At the base of Mouse's Tank Peak, bypassing a dryfall on a Class 2 slope. The wash leads around to the peak's northwest side.
Northwest side of Mouse's Tank Peak. We took the ramp on the far right.
Northwest side of Mouse's Tank Peak. We took the ramp on the far right.
Along the ramp.
Along the ramp.
View back down the ramp.
View back down the ramp.
Higher up on the ramp.
Higher up on the ramp.
A Class 3 section to switchback on the ramp system.
A Class 3 section to switchback on the ramp system.
Higher up on the ramp system.
Higher up on the ramp system.
First crux of Mouse's Tank Peak. We squeezed up the crack, Class 3/4.
First crux of Mouse's Tank Peak. We squeezed up the crack, Class 3/4.
Past the crack, a Class 3 move using a massive jug.
Past the crack, a Class 3 move using a massive jug.
View down at the first crux, the massive jug used that we lovingly dubbed "Jon's Jug".
View down at the first crux, the massive jug used that we lovingly dubbed "Jon's Jug".
Just past the first crux, we encountered the second. A crack step-across to a Class 4/5 headwall. We actually wrapped around and entered the crack from below because the step-across was too wide for comfort.
Just past the first crux, we encountered the second. A crack step-across to a Class 4/5 headwall. We actually wrapped around and entered the crack from below because the step-across was too wide for comfort.
A shot toward the Class 4/5 headwall.
A shot toward the Class 4/5 headwall.
View down at the Class 4/5 headwall. Jon seen below within the crack. The climb wouldn't have been been nearly as scary if not for the crack.
View down at the Class 4/5 headwall. Jon seen below within the crack. The climb wouldn't have been been nearly as scary if not for the crack.
Above the second crux, view toward the summit. The route leads to the wave-like feature in the center of this photo.
Above the second crux, view toward the summit. The route leads to the wave-like feature in the center of this photo.
Scott at the wave-like feature, about to pull the final crux.
Scott at the wave-like feature, about to pull the final crux.
Scott on the Class 5 final crux move. It was committing. I wasn't a fan.
Scott on the Class 5 final crux move. It was committing. I wasn't a fan.
Final Class 2 push to Mouse's Tank Peak.
Final Class 2 push to Mouse's Tank Peak.
Mouse's Tank Peak summit, Fire Canyon Peak visible on the right, Crimson Staircase center.
Mouse's Tank Peak summit, Fire Canyon Peak visible on the right, Crimson Staircase center.
Mouse's Tank Peak, view north toward Silica Dome.
Mouse's Tank Peak, view north toward Silica Dome.
Mouse's Tank Peak, view toward Valley of Fire Peak.
Mouse's Tank Peak, view toward Valley of Fire Peak.
We headed back into Fire Canyon and continued onward to Fire Canyon Peak. There are any number of gullies and canyons you can use to access the north side of the peak.
We headed back into Fire Canyon and continued onward to Fire Canyon Peak. There are any number of gullies and canyons you can use to access the north side of the peak.
Close-up toward Fire Canyon Peak. You can see the east and west summits from here. The eastern summit looks taller, right? We thought so too at first. We were wrong.
Close-up toward Fire Canyon Peak. You can see the east and west summits from here. The eastern summit looks taller, right? We thought so too at first. We were wrong.
First up is Fire Canyon Peak - East. This is the drainage system we used to reach its base. We thought it was the high point at the time, but would soon learn it was separated by a big chasm. It was such a cool route that I wanted to describe it regardless.
First up is Fire Canyon Peak - East. This is the drainage system we used to reach its base. We thought it was the high point at the time, but would soon learn it was separated by a big chasm. It was such a cool route that I wanted to describe it regardless.
Wrapping up along the east side of Fire Canyon Peak - East. We hugged the cliff face.
Wrapping up along the east side of Fire Canyon Peak - East. We hugged the cliff face.
I don't normally post photos with lines outlining a route, but this one looked pretty crazy. Scott snagged this shot from below as Jon and I made our way up. This is the route up Fire Canyon Peak - East. The line at the bottom is where we were walking in the previous photo. You can see Jon on the far left.
I don't normally post photos with lines outlining a route, but this one looked pretty crazy. Scott snagged this shot from below as Jon and I made our way up. This is the route up Fire Canyon Peak - East. The line at the bottom is where we were walking in the previous photo. You can see Jon on the far left.
Hugging the face.
Hugging the face.
Higher up, just before the first switchback. Class 2/3 leads to higher ground from here.
Higher up, just before the first switchback. Class 2/3 leads to higher ground from here.
A ramp descends a bit.
A ramp descends a bit.
View back up. Jon is seen above, located in the same spot he is visible in the line-route drawing a few photos back. These ramps are Class 2, but take care.
View back up. Jon is seen above, located in the same spot he is visible in the line-route drawing a few photos back. These ramps are Class 2, but take care.
Toward the end of the ramp descent. Even though we had ascended a couple hundred feet, I was now only about 20 feet off the ground where I started because of how much the ramp descended, but there was no other way up to this spot as far as I could tell.
Toward the end of the ramp descent. Even though we had ascended a couple hundred feet, I was now only about 20 feet off the ground where I started because of how much the ramp descended, but there was no other way up to this spot as far as I could tell.
I rounded a corner and headed up this gully.
I rounded a corner and headed up this gully.
Above the gully, I dropped into a crack.
Above the gully, I dropped into a crack.
View back into the crack.
View back into the crack.
The crack led to a ledge system.
The crack led to a ledge system.
Toward the end of the ledge, this 6-foot headwall made for a Class 4/5 set of moves.
Toward the end of the ledge, this 6-foot headwall made for a Class 4/5 set of moves.
View back down the headwall.
View back down the headwall.
Past the headwall, another ramp system.
Past the headwall, another ramp system.
Class 3 section on the ramp system.
Class 3 section on the ramp system.
Smooth sailing from here, a gorgeous sandstone ramp.
Smooth sailing from here, a gorgeous sandstone ramp.
View back down the ramp. Class 2 led to the summit.
View back down the ramp. Class 2 led to the summit.
Fire Canyon Peak - East summit, view toward the western summit, slightly taller. A chasm separated me. Damn.
Fire Canyon Peak - East summit, view toward the western summit, slightly taller. A chasm separated me. Damn.
Fire Canyon Peak - East summit, view toward Crimson Staircase.
Fire Canyon Peak - East summit, view toward Crimson Staircase.
We pick up another day with Sam. To reach Fire Canyon Peak's true summit, we headed up this tight canyon on the northwest side of the peak. Alternatively, you could wrap around the peak's south side.
We pick up another day with Sam. To reach Fire Canyon Peak's true summit, we headed up this tight canyon on the northwest side of the peak. Alternatively, you could wrap around the peak's south side.
Class 4 move within the slot.
Class 4 move within the slot.
Class 2 to gain the west face. Class 2 slabs ahead.
Class 2 to gain the west face. Class 2 slabs ahead.
Looking back at the Class 2 slabs.
Looking back at the Class 2 slabs.
Class 3 move as we navigate ramp switchbacks.
Class 3 move as we navigate ramp switchbacks.
Another ramp. All Class 2/3 so far, nothing crazy.
Another ramp. All Class 2/3 so far, nothing crazy.
A final switchback on a ramp next to a crack. We wanted to be on the ramp on the left, but the crack prevented easy access. We descended into the crack on the left at the only spot we thought would work.
A final switchback on a ramp next to a crack. We wanted to be on the ramp on the left, but the crack prevented easy access. We descended into the crack on the left at the only spot we thought would work.
Dropping in. We used webbing to ensure we could get back out later.
Dropping in. We used webbing to ensure we could get back out later.
Within the crack, view of Sam coming down. We were very happy to have webbing.
Within the crack, view of Sam coming down. We were very happy to have webbing.
We descended within the crack, then wrapped around on the right.
We descended within the crack, then wrapped around on the right.
View back into the crack as we ascend back out. We were up on the right out of frame just before getting into the crack. Just past here is a Class 2/2+ ramp leading to the summit.
View back into the crack as we ascend back out. We were up on the right out of frame just before getting into the crack. Just past here is a Class 2/2+ ramp leading to the summit.
View back down the summit ramp.
View back down the summit ramp.
Fire Canyon Peak summit, view toward the East peak, slightly lower.
Fire Canyon Peak summit, view toward the East peak, slightly lower.
Fire Canyon Peak summit, view toward Valley of Fire Peak.
Fire Canyon Peak summit, view toward Valley of Fire Peak.

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!