Tank Mountains High Point and Courthouse Mountain in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Hike Tank Mountains High Point and Courthouse Mountain Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Class 5 3.4 miles 2000 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Dec 9, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Tank Mountains High Point and Courthouse Mountain GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

This trip report covers the Tank Mountains High Point and Courthouse Mountains in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. I don't normally group separate hikes together if they use different trailheads, but these two incredibly remote peaks were short enough that anyone doing one is likely going to do the other, so my stats assume you're doing both. I met up with Bob, Matthew, and Chris for a day to go for these peaks and it was a delightful day of desert frolicking, though overall I didn't care for either of the summits we chose, despite having high hopes after seeing their gorgeous forms. The views are less interesting compared to other peaks in the Kofas and the scrambling is loose and exposed. I guess I should have assumed this would be the case, given my past experiences climbing in the Kofas have pretty much always meant trusting horrible rock. The others seemed to enjoy the peaks more than I did, but I'm very reluctant to trust bad rock and therefore I had minimal fun on the "fun" portions. I happily accepted the bragging right of receiving a belay on the cruxes of both peaks.

The trailhead attached to the the button above is for Tank Mountains High Point. Courthouse Mountain's starting coordinates are here (33.20121, -113.85705), just a bit to the south. To reach both peaks, we drove in using the well-graded King Road, leaving pavement here (33.26690, -114.23893). We kept right here (33.28261, -113.97513) took this less good road here (33.27091, -113.95517), where the road then deteriorates more. If not for a few deep ruts, I'd say a Crossover with really good tires could possibly make it, but even Chris' burly Wrangler tires managed to get a flat so I don't recommend driving out here unless you have a very capable vehicle. The road is overall easy to follow, though a couple of washes with misleading tire tracks could get confusing.

We started with Tank Mountains High Point, a peak recommended by Adam Walker. His group had approached from a horrible road to the north, reportedly bad enough that we decided to come in from King Road instead. The approach we chose from the west uses a typical loose, steep desert slope. The slope led to some Class 2/3 on the south side of the summit and pleasant Class 2 continued along the ridgeline above to the base of the summit block, pretty cool-looking from below.

A Class 3+ crack got us up an initial headwall, the summit just above us, but guarded by a steeper and less featured headwall. We hugged the base of the upper headwall and wrapped to the left through a narrow gully, dropping a few feet, and then found ourselves on the south side of the peak. Here was a Class 5 face that only Matthew and I needed a rope for. Bob decided to scramble up an exposed Class 4 slab to the left of this crux and Chris casually decided to just go for the Class 5 set of moves ropeless. The climb is about 25 feet and low Class 5, maybe 5.2-5.4, but it's definitely loose. We backtracked from the summit the way we came, Bob serving as a meat anchor for us all to rappel/downclimb before taking his Class 4 option back. The nerve.

We got back in the cars and drove south to reach the west side of Courthouse Mountain, where we set out toward a major drainage ahead. On our ascent we used this drainage as our route choice, resulting in some loose terrain and a fun bit of scrambling to escape the drainage. Our descent used a ridgeline just to the south of the drainage, and we agreed this was less brushy and a bit more straightforward, so I only left this on my attached map. Once we reached the south ridge of Courthouse Mountain, we scrambled around and over a series of fun Class 2 and Class 3 obstacles in order to reach the staggeringly steep-looking base of the peak. If not for the poor-quality rock this would be a very cool summit route, but unfortunately that was not the case.

The route utilizes a series of chutes that ascend a weakness on the peak's south side. We started up on straightforward loose Class 2 terrain, taking an initial leftmost chute option when confronted with steeper options on the right, where a Class 3 move up a crack led to steeper terrain above. A second set of chutes presented themselves. We opted to scramble up the left chute again and climb out of it onto an exposed rib as it got too steep (Class 3), though on the descent the others seemed to prefer descending using the chute on the right. Maybe that one's a bit easier? Once past this portion, the ascent grew even more steep, and this is where I decided I wasn't thrilled anymore. This being the crux of the route due to the immense exposure and horrible rock, I was ready to bail. The move requires some Class 3 scrambling to a short step-across using questionable rock before continuing on more near-vertical terrain through a slightly safer-feeling chute. I'd left my harness back at the car thinking I'd have no problem on this peak. I'd just been talking about how cool the route was and did an immediate 180, so that dropped my psych. None of us were wearing helmets. These were decidedly factors that meant I was over it. However, Matthew lent me his harness graciously and Bob was very sweet to not seize the opportunity to take many potential jabs at me as he brightly offered himself up as an anchor. I climbed up and although the moves were certainly not difficult, there's no way in hell I would have done it unprotected. The risk was severe and the rock, again, was horrible.

Once past this Class 4 crux, we continued on easier terrain to a viewpoint toward the twin summits of Courthouse Mountain. The left (western) summit was quick Class 3 jaunt to a view of the (possibly) taller eastern summit. We all agreed we needed to go for the other as well since they're nearly identical in height. Reaching the eastern block required a Class 4 move up a crack with an awkward pull over a chockstone. I was able to upclimb and downclimb this since the rock was actually in decent shape, the face having ample holds and the chockstone solid enough that we all trusted it to raise/lower ourselves. A loose chute hosting hidden cholla barbs led more easily to the summit. Chris and I both sufffered a cholla attack. On the descent, I rappeled twice at both dangerous portions, Bob serving as ameat anchor again (thanks Bob). Once down, bits of rock kept getting knocked down, so took care to zig-zag on the ledges below to stay out of the way. It's a dangerous desert peak for sure.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Tank Mountains High Point
2506 ft
706 rise
2
Courthouse Mountain
2413 ft
833 rise

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!

Starting up the slope on the west side of Tank Mountains High Point, seen ahead in the center.
Starting up the slope on the west side of Tank Mountains High Point, seen ahead in the center.
Class 2 slope to gain the ridge just south of the summit block (summit top left).
Class 2 slope to gain the ridge just south of the summit block (summit top left).
View back toward the wash we parked the cars in.
View back toward the wash we parked the cars in.
Class 2/3 to gain the ridgeline, summit block seen ahead.
Class 2/3 to gain the ridgeline, summit block seen ahead.
Morning light on Courthouse Mountain to the south.
Morning light on Courthouse Mountain to the south.
View back along the ridgeline. You can see the wash where we parked below.
View back along the ridgeline. You can see the wash where we parked below.
Approaching the summit block. The route starts in the center of this photo using a chute.
Approaching the summit block. The route starts in the center of this photo using a chute.
Up a brushy chute leading to a crack.
Up a brushy chute leading to a crack.
Matthew on the crack, Class 3+. Pat the crack, the route leads through the notch left of center.
Matthew on the crack, Class 3+. Pat the crack, the route leads through the notch left of center.
Chris coming up the crack. Just behind me is a narrow gully.
Chris coming up the crack. Just behind me is a narrow gully.
View back at the narrow gully, just before Chris ascends toward me.
View back at the narrow gully, just before Chris ascends toward me.
The Class 5 (less exposed) face is just to the right out of frame. Seen here is Bob scrambling an extremely exposed Class 4 slab to the left of the face we used.
The Class 5 (less exposed) face is just to the right out of frame. Seen here is Bob scrambling an extremely exposed Class 4 slab to the left of the face we used.
Chris preparing to solo the low Class 5 face.
Chris preparing to solo the low Class 5 face.
Close-up toward the upper reaches of the Class 5 portion.
Close-up toward the upper reaches of the Class 5 portion.
Matthew at the top of the face.
Matthew at the top of the face.
Tank Mountains High Point summit, view south. Courthouse Mountain seen on the right.
Tank Mountains High Point summit, view south. Courthouse Mountain seen on the right.
Bob, Chris, Matthew on the summit.
Bob, Chris, Matthew on the summit.
After returning to our cars, we drove down to Courthouse Mountain and started up. The summit is seen on the left.
After returning to our cars, we drove down to Courthouse Mountain and started up. The summit is seen on the left.
We ascended this Class 2 drainage on the ascent, using the ridgeline on the right as the descent.
We ascended this Class 2 drainage on the ascent, using the ridgeline on the right as the descent.
Above the first few hundred feet, almost at the southern ridge. We passed underneath the outcropping ahead.
Above the first few hundred feet, almost at the southern ridge. We passed underneath the outcropping ahead.
View back toward the outcropping pictured previously.
View back toward the outcropping pictured previously.
Fun Class 2/3 along the ridgeline, the summit seen ahead.
Fun Class 2/3 along the ridgeline, the summit seen ahead.
Some Class 3 ahead.
Some Class 3 ahead.
Some fun scrambling.
Some fun scrambling.
Some light route-finding to keep the ridgeline Class 2/3.
Some light route-finding to keep the ridgeline Class 2/3.
Image 25 from gallery
And then we reached the base of Courthouse Mountain.
And then we reached the base of Courthouse Mountain.
The route leads up the weakness just left of center in this photo.
The route leads up the weakness just left of center in this photo.
View back along the ridgeline.
View back along the ridgeline.
At the base of the weakness. The first chute is seen on the left.
At the base of the weakness. The first chute is seen on the left.
View at a Class 3 crack at the top of the first chute.
View at a Class 3 crack at the top of the first chute.
Second chute. We ascended partway, then scrambled to the right onto the exposed rib, Class 3.
Second chute. We ascended partway, then scrambled to the right onto the exposed rib, Class 3.
View down the exposed rib.
View down the exposed rib.
Final set of chutes. The route leads up the initial shadowy crack, then traverses left a few feet before ascending steeply.
Final set of chutes. The route leads up the initial shadowy crack, then traverses left a few feet before ascending steeply.
Taken where I hesitated, watching the others do a step-across more on loose, chunky rock. Matthew seen above after the step-across, continuing the scramble.
Taken where I hesitated, watching the others do a step-across more on loose, chunky rock. Matthew seen above after the step-across, continuing the scramble.
Matthew in the upper reaches of the third chute.
Matthew in the upper reaches of the third chute.
Close-up of Chris scrambling the dangerous third chute.
Close-up of Chris scrambling the dangerous third chute.
View down the loose crap at the top of the third chute.
View down the loose crap at the top of the third chute.
After some more light scrambling, we made it to a viewpoint of both summits of Courthouse Mountain. Chris is visible on the top of the western summit.
After some more light scrambling, we made it to a viewpoint of both summits of Courthouse Mountain. Chris is visible on the top of the western summit.
View toward the eastern summit from the western one.
View toward the eastern summit from the western one.
A shot of Matthew climbing the Class 4 crack.
A shot of Matthew climbing the Class 4 crack.
Bob starting up the Class 4 crack.
Bob starting up the Class 4 crack.
Close-up of Bob at the chockstone move.
Close-up of Bob at the chockstone move.
View down at Chris scrambling up the Class 4 move into the loose chute above.
View down at Chris scrambling up the Class 4 move into the loose chute above.
Summit of Courthouse Mountain, view back, the chute we ascended seen bottom right.
Summit of Courthouse Mountain, view back, the chute we ascended seen bottom right.
Eastern summit, view toward the viewpoint (center) we were at earlier. Western summit on the right.
Eastern summit, view toward the viewpoint (center) we were at earlier. Western summit on the right.

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!