Hike Stagecoach Butte and Northern Castle Dome Mountains Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

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Stagecoach Butte was the most interesting peak among this group of summits within the Castle Dome Mountains. The cluster sits just east of US-95 within the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. The landscape is beautiful, the peaks improbable, and we were attacked by cholla for most of the day. A classic desert outing. We turned off the highway here (33.33042, -114.21696), accessible to cars with some clearance, and drove to the wilderness boundary.

The hike began along an old dirt road, but since this didn’t lead toward our peaks, we instead headed through the open desert. As we approached, the base of the peaks formed a gorgeous arc of cool-looking rock faces. Peak 2651 was our first summit, protected by two stacked significant cliff bands. We reached the top of the first tier via a steep Class 2 gully, then wrapped around the base of the upper band until we located a steep, loose ramp that led to the summit.

The descent from Peak 2651 was loose and unpleasant. We headed north, then wrapped around to a weakness on the northeast side of our next peak, Stagecoach Butte. There might be an easier route up one of the various gullies beforehand, but the ridgeline traverse includes some very fun scrambling and we didn’t want to miss out, since Adam Walker recommended it highly. The first few hundred feet of gain were brushy and loose, but once we reached the ridgeline, the fun quickly began. The ridge, composed of a few lumps separated by significant notches, offered plenty of scrambling. Naturally, the high point of Stagecoach Butte was the farthest lump, past all the notches. The two key cruxes were a required Class 3+ face about halfway across and an optional Class 4 section just before the summit, which could be avoided by dropping to the right.

Next up was Little Knoll, not much of a memorable summit, except for its nice views toward Signal Peak. We gained it via a Class 2 gully on the peak’s southwest side, and the brush turned out to be less troublesome than it had appeared from below.

Peak 2680 required a bit more effort, as its southern face looked impassable. So, we gained the ridge earlier on and followed it to the summit, encountering some light scrambling along the way. The views back were nice, with the extended ridgeline snaking down to the desert floor.

Our descent from Peak 2680 followed the most direct feasible route, considering the various cliff bands on the north side. We located a weakness that, had it not existed, would have forced us to backtrack significantly in search of an alternative. We made our way down to the saddle shared with Little Stagecoach Peak, noting that it was a complex-looking peak from this direction. We determined that the best option was likely a ramp on the left rather than a more direct approach. At the top of the ramp, an exposed Class 3 ridge awaited, but with plenty of excellent holds, it never felt particularly unsafe. A short move over a knife-edge led to a brief slope to the summit.

Our final peak, Peak 2116, was located a fair distance away. Rather than backtrack along the same ridge, we decided to drop northwest and hope a viable route would reveal itself. This choice felt a bit contrived, but we managed to descend a few hundred feet without exceeding Class 3+. Once past the scramble, we continued along the ridgeline, side-hilled some desert lumpiness, and made our way to the base of Peak 2116. A straightforward Class 2 jaunt up its southeastern slope brought us to the main crest and then the top. Similar Class 2 terrain led us down the peak’s south ridge to the desert floor, where we hiked back to the cars.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Peak 2651

2651 ft

711 rise

Stagecoach Butte

2380 ft

480 rise

Little Knoll

2240 ft

320 rise

Peak 2680

2680 ft

900 rise

Little Stagecoach Peak

2371 ft

331 rise

Peak 2116

2116 ft

396 rise

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Hiking past the wilderness boundary.

Peak 2651 is first, seen far right.

Approaching our weakness to gain the top of the first cliff band.

View back down.

Approaching the base of the second cliff band. We wrapped around it and continued up steep terrain.

View north from the summit of Peak 2651.

Peak 2651, view south.

Stagecoach Butte seen ahead. Loose and steep descent from Peak 2651.

View back toward Peak 2651 as we descent the unpleasant slope.

Approaching Stagecoach Butte. We kept left of it.

Cholla garden beneath the peak.

View back toward Peak 2651.

Slope weakness on the northeast side of Stagecoach Butte.

View back as we gain the ridgeline.

Stagecoach Butte ridgeline.

Dropping into the first major notch, then reascending Class 3+ on the opposite side.

Tyler coming up the Class 3+.

Some more obstacles along the way to the summit.

Another minor notch.

The next major notch with a Class 4 scramble. This can be avoided by dropping to the right of the ridge crest.

View down at the Class 4 section.

View back along the crest from above the Class 4. The summit is just past here.

Peak 2651 seen from Stagecoach Butte.

Onward to Little Knoll. We ascended the gully on the left.

View down the gully, Class 2.

Summit of Little Knoll. Stagecoach Butte seen left, Peak 2680 right (our next summit).

Close-up toward Summit Peak and Hoodoo Peak to the north.

Approaching Peak 2680. We headed up to gain the ridgeline on the right.

View back toward Little Knoll.

Along the ridgeline to reach Peak 2680.

View back down the east ridge of Peak 2680.

Descending north off Peak 2680.

Shot of Little Stagecoach Peak. We took the ramp seen left, then followed the ridgeline.

Up the ramp.

View back toward Peak 2680 and its tricky summit cliff bands.

Our chosen Class 3 route.

Class 3 up to Little Stagecoach Peak.

Short knife edge to gain Little Stagecoach Peak.

View back at the little knife edge.

Little Stagecoach Peak summit, view back toward Peak 2680.

Our contrived Class 3+ descent route off Little Stagecoach Peak.

Navigating the cliff, which fortunately wasn't too difficult and offered some solid scrambling.

Peak 2116 ahead.

View back down the pleasant Class 2 route we took up Peak 2116. You can see the other peaks of the loop on the horizon.

Close-up of Signal Peak and Summit Peak.

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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!