Hike Northern Coxcomb Mountains Joshua Tree National Park, CA

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The Coxcomb Mountains are best known for their high point, Spectre Peak, but this rugged range in far western Joshua Tree National Park offers plenty of other worthy summits to explore. About a year ago, we had hiked some of the other larger peaks in the Central Coxcomb Mountains. Today, our plan was to visit some of the smaller ones on the northern side of the range. While each peak can likely be reached individually at a maximum of Class 2+, the traverse we completed added significant route-finding challenges and potentially pushed into low Class 4 territory. The unrelenting scrambling on the massive, mostly solid granitic boulders that compose the range made for an excellent and fun outing.

We parked off the pavement and hiked up a wash on the north side of Peak 2920, where massive boulders provided an early introduction to the slow-moving terrain we would encounter for much of the day. A slope brought us to the ridge crest on the west side of the peak, where we located a steep Class 2 gully to the right of the crest. This route led to the summit far more easily than attempting the cliffy-looking crest proper. Since Peak 2920 was the shortest summit of the day, each subsequent peak appeared increasingly massive as we progressed along the ridgeline.

From the base of Peak 2920, we side-hilled around a lump before ascending a significant slope toward Peak 3625. This portion of the hike was mostly free of boulders compared to later sections, but still required some Class 2/3 maneuvering, along with a detour around a scary-looking outcropping. When we reached what we thought was the summit, we realized we had arrived at merely a sub-peak. While going up and over was probably the best choice, the loss of a couple hundred feet of elevation was noticeable, especially with the complex terrain visible clearly still ahead. An extended Class 2/3 downclimb brought us to the saddle, and from there, we began ascending again, this time to the true high point. The climb was filled with opportunities to scramble over massive granite boulders, including various ramps, crawl-throughs, and other fun obstacles.

The summit of Peak 3625 was guarded by steeper granite. Whiley and Ben wrapped around to the south and found a Class 3 route up, while Matt and I took a more direct approach, requiring a couple of Class 4 moves. From the summit, we could see yet another complex-looking landscape beneath our third objective, Peak 3756. The crest appeared to be the most direct route but looked a bit gnarly, while dropping all the way to a drainage on the left seemed excessive. We opted to side-hill. After a steep descent from Peak 3625, we navigated through light brush on a mostly boulder-free slope and found that the side-hilling was an efficient choice. Rounding a corner, we ascended a wide slope leading to the base of Peak 3756. Choosing a direct approach, we used a key rabbit hole to overcome an initial cliff band, then continued up Class 2/3 terrain to the summit.

The traverse to Peak 3835 turned out to be the most interesting section of the day. From this point on, we alternated between staying left or right of the crest, depending on what made the most sense, as the crest itself became a chaotic mix of Class 5 terrain. From the summit of Peak 3756, we initially dropped left (southeast), then cut back to the right over the ridge crest at the base of two massive, pyramid-shaped granite monoliths. A crumbly Class 2 descent took us below the crest on the right side, bypassing jagged, likely impassable sections with ease.

At the saddle, we found ourselves blocked by a sheer-looking face, which made direct access impossible. Consulting Bob Burd’s route, who had previously completed this traverse and reported nothing exceeding Class 5, we decided to follow his strategy of staying to the right. A bouldery gully wrapped beneath the face and onto a slope, safely returning us to the crest past the initial face. The ridgeline remained wildly dramatic, forcing us to drop left again, navigating tedious terrain until we located another gully. A Class 4 move at the top of this gully brought us back to the ridge crest, followed by mostly straightforward hiking to the summit of Peak 3835.

The sunset views from the top were incredible. Spectre Peak rose directly ahead, and the complex granite formations of the range spread out before us. We decided to follow the ridgeline until we could drop into the major wash to the west. This descent worked out well, never exceeding Class 2 or becoming particularly steep. Once in the wash, we made our way back to the cars through open desert.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Peak 2920

2920 ft

558 rise

Peak 3625

3625 ft

325 rise

Peak 3756

3756 ft

326 rise

Peak 3835

3835 ft

866 rise

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Hiking up an initial wash from the road.

A slope leads up to the ridge crest above.

Once at the crest, we took the gully seen center, right of the crest, to gain Peak 2920.

Class 2+ up the gully.

Summit of Peak 2920, view toward the sub-peak of our next objective.

View back toward Peak 2920 as we side-hill around a lump.

Class 2/3 up the ridge.

Another shot back as we ascend.

This section was less complex than later stuff.

Terrain becomes clunkier higher up.

View back at our progress. Peak 2920 seen top center.

A more serious-looking section of ridgeline ahead. We kept right.

Class 2 to rejoin the crest.

At the false summit, Peak 3625 seen ahead.

Class 3 down from Peak 3625's false summit.

Interesting navigation through a gorgeous granite landscape as we ascend to Peak 3625.

A ramp feature on the way up to Peak 3625.

Various gullies and whatnot.

Summit of Peak 3625 is above. Whiley/Ben kept left and wrapped around its south side, while Matt and I chose a more direct Class 4 option just ahead.

Class 4 stuff beneath Peak 3625.

View back from Peak 3625 summit.

Peak 3625 summit ahead. Peak 3756 top left.

Peak 3756 is next, seen top center. We chose to side-hill at the base of the cliffs in the center, then cut up to the right.

View back toward Peak 3625.

Side-hilling for a bit beneath the ridgeline cliffs.

View back as we ascend a wide slope.

A rabbit hole crawl space seen center, a nice weakness we used to get above this set of cliffs.

Ben scrambling through the rabbit hole, Peak 3625 seen top left.

Class 2/3 to the summit.

Peak 3756 summit, Peak 3835 seen on the right.

First we kept left of the crest to descend, then crossed to the right above these two pyramid-shaped monoliths.

Descending loose Class 2 on the right side of the crest. From the saddle below, we kept right of the sheer face seen center.

Gully we used to the right of the face.

View back as we ascend the gully.

The gully led to the crest again, and now we dropped to the left of the crest instead. Our goal is the clear dark gully left of center.

Class 2/3 up this gully.

Class 4 move at the top.

Along the ridgeline to gain Peak 3835.

Peak 3835 summit ahead.

Peak 3835 summit, view southeast.

Close-up toward the central Coxcombs.

Spectre Peak to the south. Matt seen center navigating the bouldery ridgeline as we descent from Peak 3835.

We kept to the ridge on the left.

And then dropped into a wash, which we took back to the road.

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!