Part of a long meandering route up and down the Calico Hills on a perfect April day. Lots of possible ways up this thing -- I ended up getting "On The Red" via a class-3 route up the SE side.
Went up the west and south route described on this page. Didn't enjoy the class 4 wall but that's part of the deal. Traversed over to Calico Tank PK afterward.
SarahThompson - Nov 30, 2015 3:07 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2015
Fun little peak
Scrambled up this when 65mph winds nixed our climbing plans. Fun route finding and quite scenic. Had to crawl at some points near the top!
philadendron - Nov 15, 2014 7:54 pm Date Climbed: Nov 15, 2014
Part of loop
First stop on a loop of Red Cap, Grey Cap, and Turtlehead. Went up the standard way, then went down a gully on the North side (White Gully??). The gully was a fantastic descent choice. Quick, safe, and direct. I would consider it for a future ascent.
Again on 11/22/14 as part of a shorter, 2 peak day (Turtlehead Jr. and Turtlehead Sr.). Up from Sandstone Quarry, down White Gully, then over to the standard Turtlehead route.
Again on 2/16/15 with a friend in from out of town. This is such a great intro to scrambling route. It's short, interesting, fun, and challenging. Descent via White Gully.
Again on 10/9/16, just a quick trip up to the top, then down White Gully.
Again on 10/29/16, traversing over from N Calico Tanks Peak, then down White Gully. GPS tracks
Bob Sihler - Feb 7, 2014 2:27 pm Date Climbed: Feb 5, 2014
From Calico Basin
Went up from Calico Basin, traversed to Calico Tank Peak, and then descended via Ash Canyon. Fun outing that only took 2.5 hours RT, including time spent taking pictures.
This was my sixth time up the peak and the fourth different route I've done on the peak. Always a great little peak.
Shortly after I moved here in 1999, I climbed nearly every sandstone formation in the Calico Hills without even knowing their names or what the "routes" were, I just went up them. This was one of them.
Tracy - Oct 20, 2012 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2012
from Calico Basin
I hiked this one solo on a beautiful fall afternoon while my wife read a book in the vehicle parked in the northwesterly parking area of Calico Basin. It took me 2.25 hours up and back.
Stu Brandel - Mar 19, 2012 11:04 pm Date Climbed: Mar 18, 2012
Beware Two Headed Turtle
We ascended from the big red rock area on the Calico tanks trail and ended up due south of the summit. We found a challenging route up southeast of the summit only to find we ascended the slightly smaller east summit. DOH! Down we went, curling around back to the west, where we ascended the class 3-4 crack to the Red Cap area, and went on to the summit. Very fun and scrambling heaven - even in 38 degree weather and a bitter wind.
jmatthys - Oct 22, 2010 9:08 pm Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2007
Many Routes
Have been up many different ways, generally included as a scramble from calico tanks
Vasler - May 16, 2010 3:44 pm Date Climbed: May 3, 2010
Red on the head
Very cool tank at the top. I did some troubleshooting route finding from the NorthEast. It's workable but probably not the best way up.
Several times with Richard, Peter, etc. Nice climb when snow keeps one away from the higher peaks
Also:
1-19-11 Climbed from Red Springs with Peter, Doyle and Tom
3/10/13 w/Peter,Harlan,Tom,Judy&Susan
11/5/14
Several times from Calico Tanks trailhead and once starting at Calico Basin. Fun little peak.
Enjoy one of my slideshows: Turtlehead Junior from Calico Basin
One of the most scenic routes winds a complicated, mainly class 2 path on the N side; goes through a tunnel till you get with 100' (vert) of the top. That's when the fun begins.
This is always a rewarding short hike/scramble. Awesome views from the top (and along the route).
-1st time: several years ago, solo;
-2nd time: with Mike Cressman (and someone else, I think);
-3rd time: with a group of local hikers;
-4th time: with DB;
-5th time: with DB, Ko and Tyler;
-6th time: with DB and Aron Ralston, as part of a highly enjoyable 3-peak loop.
RaymondShevsky - Nov 29, 2021 9:14 am Date Climbed: Nov 28, 2021
Scramble from Calico BasinSweet scramble from Calico Basin via gully south of New Peak.
Padiddle - Mar 18, 2020 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Mar 3, 2019
Many routes possibleDone a bunch of times... multiple fun ways to scramble there and down.
RoryKuykendall - Dec 23, 2017 11:51 pm Date Climbed: Dec 22, 2017
White GullyStout little peak
tbaranski - Apr 14, 2017 3:51 pm Date Climbed: Apr 14, 2017
Good timesPart of a long meandering route up and down the Calico Hills on a perfect April day. Lots of possible ways up this thing -- I ended up getting "On The Red" via a class-3 route up the SE side.
bechtt - Dec 31, 2016 6:22 pm
Short loopWent up the west and south route described on this page. Didn't enjoy the class 4 wall but that's part of the deal. Traversed over to Calico Tank PK afterward.
SarahThompson - Nov 30, 2015 3:07 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2015
Fun little peakScrambled up this when 65mph winds nixed our climbing plans. Fun route finding and quite scenic. Had to crawl at some points near the top!
philadendron - Nov 15, 2014 7:54 pm Date Climbed: Nov 15, 2014
Part of loopFirst stop on a loop of Red Cap, Grey Cap, and Turtlehead. Went up the standard way, then went down a gully on the North side (White Gully??). The gully was a fantastic descent choice. Quick, safe, and direct. I would consider it for a future ascent.
Again on 11/22/14 as part of a shorter, 2 peak day (Turtlehead Jr. and Turtlehead Sr.). Up from Sandstone Quarry, down White Gully, then over to the standard Turtlehead route.
Again on 2/16/15 with a friend in from out of town. This is such a great intro to scrambling route. It's short, interesting, fun, and challenging. Descent via White Gully.
Again on 10/9/16, just a quick trip up to the top, then down White Gully.
Again on 10/29/16, traversing over from N Calico Tanks Peak, then down White Gully. GPS tracks
Bob Sihler - Feb 7, 2014 2:27 pm Date Climbed: Feb 5, 2014
From Calico BasinWent up from Calico Basin, traversed to Calico Tank Peak, and then descended via Ash Canyon. Fun outing that only took 2.5 hours RT, including time spent taking pictures.
This was my sixth time up the peak and the fourth different route I've done on the peak. Always a great little peak.
jdmorehouse - Mar 21, 2013 3:45 pm
In a land long ago, but not so far awayShortly after I moved here in 1999, I climbed nearly every sandstone formation in the Calico Hills without even knowing their names or what the "routes" were, I just went up them. This was one of them.
Tracy - Oct 20, 2012 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2012
from Calico BasinI hiked this one solo on a beautiful fall afternoon while my wife read a book in the vehicle parked in the northwesterly parking area of Calico Basin. It took me 2.25 hours up and back.
Stu Brandel - Mar 19, 2012 11:04 pm Date Climbed: Mar 18, 2012
Beware Two Headed TurtleWe ascended from the big red rock area on the Calico tanks trail and ended up due south of the summit. We found a challenging route up southeast of the summit only to find we ascended the slightly smaller east summit. DOH! Down we went, curling around back to the west, where we ascended the class 3-4 crack to the Red Cap area, and went on to the summit. Very fun and scrambling heaven - even in 38 degree weather and a bitter wind.
jmatthys - Oct 22, 2010 9:08 pm Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2007
Many RoutesHave been up many different ways, generally included as a scramble from calico tanks
Vasler - May 16, 2010 3:44 pm Date Climbed: May 3, 2010
Red on the headVery cool tank at the top. I did some troubleshooting route finding from the NorthEast. It's workable but probably not the best way up.
jimegan - Apr 18, 2009 11:00 am
Red CapSeveral times with Richard, Peter, etc. Nice climb when snow keeps one away from the higher peaks
Also:
1-19-11 Climbed from Red Springs with Peter, Doyle and Tom
3/10/13 w/Peter,Harlan,Tom,Judy&Susan
11/5/14
Anya Jingle - Apr 17, 2009 10:20 pm
A few timesSeveral times from Calico Tanks trailhead and once starting at Calico Basin. Fun little peak.
Enjoy one of my slideshows:
Turtlehead Junior from Calico Basin
MoapaPk - Apr 17, 2009 4:13 pm
many ways, most badOne of the most scenic routes winds a complicated, mainly class 2 path on the N side; goes through a tunnel till you get with 100' (vert) of the top. That's when the fun begins.
cp0915 - Apr 17, 2009 12:38 pm
Several TimesThis is always a rewarding short hike/scramble. Awesome views from the top (and along the route).
-1st time: several years ago, solo;
-2nd time: with Mike Cressman (and someone else, I think);
-3rd time: with a group of local hikers;
-4th time: with DB;
-5th time: with DB, Ko and Tyler;
-6th time: with DB and Aron Ralston, as part of a highly enjoyable 3-peak loop.