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Turtlehead Peak

 Turtlehead Peak - 1927M

184M Prominence

36.180092 -115.446018

February 21, 2025

2H 31M C2C, 2H 8M Moving, 560M Ascent, 6.4KM

Turtlehead peak was a bit of an impulse bag. Its huge cliffed off south side looked quite inspiring from the crags we had been climbing at the day before. After a short bit of research, I found out that it is an easily accessible peak in the Red Rocks park loop. Gabe and I dedicated one morning to get up to the summit and back before an afternoon of cragging at Sandstone Quarry.

The trail started directly at the Sandstone Quarry trailhead. It passed through some flatter terrain with broad gravel flood paths which were easily mistaken for trails. Once we made it past the flatter terrain, the trail began to follow up a sort of gulley between a ridge and the mountain itself. The trail was marked but slightly hard to follow at times. Luckily the desert terrain lends well to off piste hiking. After toping out the gulley, the north face begins to open up. It is broad and wedge shaped, making for an easy hike up on a wide selection of trails. A few small patches of snow remained on the nearly constantly shaded north side of the mountain. The summit provided great views of the Red Rock canyon and Calico hills, where we would be spending the next week. After a nice 20 some minute break on the summit basking in the cooler morning sun, we made our way back down the same way we came up.


First views of Turtlehead peak















Getting closer















Standard desert trail with Wilson, Bridge and Rainbow Mountain in background















Gabe coming up the gulley




















Me on the summit















Route











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