Arachnophobia Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:10, max ↨170ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Required 20 min Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 7 Dec 2025
"Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road is closed due to flood damage, so we hiked in from the road exit, adding time to the approach.. Replaced several cair |
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| Best season: | Nov-Mar (avg for this region)
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36.3898, -116.8202
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Introduction[edit]
A beautiful half day canyon in the badlands of Death Valley. It starts with a series of ledges finally giving way to a fun 170' free-hang. This is followed by a sequence of shorter rappels and some great views of the badlands and the salt pan. The canyon narrows up near the end before it ends in Desolation Canyon, a destination on it's own.
Approach[edit]
Follow the approach for Scorpion Canyon. From the 20 Mule Team road take the wash at: 36.3915, -116.7785. Follow this drainage up until you are in the Scorpion drainage at: 36.3855, -116.7901.From here there are two options. On the first descent we went up a side drainage at: 36.3877, -116.7994 However this will require you to cross 3-4 drainages and the accompanying ups and downs. The other option is to stay in the wash in Scorpion for a bit longer and take a ridge on the left (LDC) at 36.3884, -116.8050 (Alt Ridge Approach on the .kml). Climb up this ridge and you'll be in the drainage that leads to Arachnophobia. This second option is detailed on BluuGnome (link at bottom of page). The pictures he posted are very helpful in finding the right line. This approach, while pretty straightforward is a bit steep with some minor exposure at times and has some loose rock, so just be prepared for that. Once you're over the ridge, it's smooth sailing from there.
Note: See condition report from 02/18/2018 for details. Third alternate. Stay in Scorpion valley and take the wash LDC just past the Climb up to Vinegaroon.
Descent[edit]
The canyon drops precipitously over some ledges. It would be possible to break up the first two rappels if you are worried about getting your rope stuck on the pull.
Rappel 1: 100' from a cairn anchor. Be mindful of the rope pull here, as there are some ledges and some horns for the rope to catch.
Rappel 2: 80' two-stage, from a cairn anchor. You may also want to consider a rope protector at rap 2 as there are some sharp edges on lip.
This puts you at the top of the 170' rappel for rappel 3. This cairn anchor is on a small flat section of an otherwise sloping ledge. This cairn anchor has washed away in rain events in the past. Make sure anchor 3 is built and reliable before you pull your rope from anchor 2. You might need to farm rocks from above.
Rappel 3: 175' from a cairn. This rappel goes into a free-hang almost immediately. Great rappel! Don't forget to look down.
Rappel 4: 60'
Rappel 5: 90' from a cairn. Vertical rappel portion is about 80' Beautiful views from here down the rest of the canyon and into the badlands and salt flats
Rappel 6: 15' Anchored off a large boulder RDC. Fun simul-rappel (be wary of the rope pull).
Short down-climb. Easiest to do it LDC.
Rappel 7: 25' from a deadman/cairn. This is followed by a short down-climb and then immediately a nice slot rappel.
Rappel 8: 60'
The canyon turns hard right as it is joined by another short branch and rappel 9 & 10 in quick succession.
Rappel 9: 50' Vertical rappel is 20' anchored 30' from the edge. Before pulling the rope on rappel 9 make sure you have enough anchor material for rappel 10.
Rappel 10: 70' A bit of a free-hang. Rappel is about 45' anchored 25' back.
There are two more down climbs after the last rappel.
Exit[edit]
As you continue down you will begin to see more footprints of people coming up from the bottom. This eventually turns into a heavily used path winding through Desolation Canyon and is quite scenic.
Eventually the canyon opens up. Follow the wash back to your car shuttle.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
BluuGnome.com : Arachnophobia Canyon
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
Discovered and named by Alden Anderson. First descent, 14 February 2016: Alden Anderson, Kirk Belles, Francis Andrew Butler, Mike Cressman, Mika Enriquez, Aysel Gezik, Steve Irvin, Rick Kent, Ania Moll, Justin Pugh, Norma Ryan, Scott Swaney, Tina Tretina. (Alphabetical order.)