Big summit view (including the city of Las Vegas) with some nice hiking terrain past the biggest seasonal-pond (tinaja) in the Calicos. Finish with some thoughtful scrambling to the summit - (but the pond and most of the best views can be obtained without the summit scramble). 

  Perhaps there's some way to get to the top while keeping the difficulty at the 3rd class level, but it's likely quicker and perhaps more fun (and safer?) if plan on doing some 4th class sequences. 

  . . (some say the WSW face route gets to the summit shorter and with easier climbing). 

details:   There's several different variations that work. Find your own way as best you can, and backtrack as needed.   Here's my memory of what I did ...   From the rock outcrop (N36.1608 W115.4378) by Calico / Tank Pass, up NE about 70 ft (perhaps a nicer view is a bit to the right). Next a bit NW perhaps 30 ft, then again NE another 130 ft, and N about 300 ft to the summit. 

  More photos with different details on SummitPost.org. 

descent:   Return the same way.

SSW face

NorthWest Ridge direct

Lots of interesting climbing and navigation if try to stay close to the ridge crest and climb as many of the high point nubs (like ten of them?) along the way. What I mean by the "direct" NW Ridge. 

  Some people (likely correct) have said there's an easier way ("indirect") to traverse between Red Cap and Tank Peak. I suspect this goes mostly along (below) the left (NE) side of the ridge. Hope someone will give more details in the Comments to this page -- or post that as a separate NW Ridge "indirect" route. 

details:   The main navigational problem is to get down from the summit of Red Cap, then up onto the ridge connecting Red Cap to Tank Peak. The obstacle is a chasm on the SE side of the summit cap. Turns out to be complicated ... 

  Walk to the W side of the summit cap, then NW down a short vertical groove / chimney - thoughtful sequence (5.3). Next walk past small "tank" pond (tinaja) and around the N + NE side of the cap, then scramble down SE (5th class with some exposure) into chasm. Next up SW about 45 feet to high point of chasm -- now roughly ENE from Red Cap summit around (N36.1661 W115.4425).  

  Next continue over this high point and down the other side about 40 feet SE + E. Turn Right and down 130 ft generally S into another gully, then exit left and traverse ESE into another gully and about 25 feet SE down this to its bottom (N36.1658 W115.4421). Next a bit south, then east to get on the crest of the ridge at around (N36.1654 W115.4418). 

  Continue 1800 ft (0.35 mile) generally SouthEast along the ridge, trying to climb up over as many high-point nubs as possible (could be 10? depends on how you count) - staying close to the crest as much as possible and finding interesting climbing moves (several 5.4 segments, can also find some 5.6 and harder). Where "direct" progress seems blocked, usually it's easiest to bypass them below on the left (NE) side of the ridge. 

descent:   Easier to descent the SSW face (or WSW face?) of Tank Peak, then return to Sandstone Quarry parking by the maintained Calico Tanks trail.

East above one of the largest "tanks" (depression that collects rain-water - "tinaja") in the Calicos. 

  Top section is white limestrone, and it's the second (or third?) highest peak in Calico Hills proper. 

  . . . (more info see on SummitPost). 

  Some possible climbing routes: 

 WSW face - from near the tank - (see variation on SummitPost.org). . . (? perhaps leave the CT trail around (N36.1613 W115.4386) W of the big tinaja, say 250 ft before below the Pass, then around the NW + N sides of the tinaja, up roughly ENE then NE to the summit ?) 

SSW face - from near Calico / Tank Pass. traverse from Red Cap from NW - (more difficult and trickier than it looks).

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in f. Tank Peak