Canyon of the Waterfalls
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| | Difficulty:3A II (v3a1 II) Raps:1-3, max ↨150ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Mixed volcanic - Dacite, Rhyolite, Tuff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 18 Feb 2025
"Would call it 2.5 if we could. Its not a banner route, but fun enough for what it is - an easy, noncommitting route with some fun drops, close to the |
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| Best season: | Oct-Apr
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33.4596, -111.4778
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Nearby photosIntroduction
Beginner-friendly, easily-accessed, quick, and non-committing cliffaneering route on the northwest side of Superstition Mountain. 3 straightforward but fun rappels down a typically dry watercourse. Fantastic approach/exit hike through pinnacles and watercourse, with nonstop great views to the north. Nice option for locals looking for some technical fun, but with just a few hours on their hands.
Approach
The route can be accessed from the Lost Dutchman parking lot (along with the usual fee), or for free with a minimal hike distance penalty from one of the pullouts on First Water road just north of Lost Dutchman.
Embedded kml is for the approach on a clear trail through Praying Hands. Continue east to the drainage, then south up well-worn trail along the watercourse.
Alternatively, follow a well defined trail southeast from a pullout on First Water road, past a cool slotted pinnacle, to Canyon of the Waterfalls. Where the loop begins in the kml is the bottom of R3.
Follow kml to explore a little of the watercourse, then leave trail and climb northwest to get above the R1 cliff. Rappels follow in quick succession. All have easy starts, with feet on wall almost all the way down. Any can be bypassed by hiking around.
Descent
R1: 150' over a sloped seasonal fall from a boulder pinch. Veer slightly LDC to avoid cacti/agave
R2: 70' dryfall from a deadman anchor (a long dacite block pinned by a pair of deep willows and more rocks)
R3: 50' dryfall from a boulder pinch
Exit
Exit trail is a few feet RDC from R3 landing. From there, backtrack (or loop through some new terrain using the web of trails in this area) back to your ride.
Red tape
Lost Dutchman State Park entry fee, if approaching from there.
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Background
FD unclear. Scraps of webbing found near base of R1 suggest prior descent. Justin Weih and Shane Bezzant built the 3 anchors in February, 2025.
