Conditions:Acheron Canyon (Hellsgate Wilderness)-20250324050926

Latest:	22 Mar 2025 (1 month ago)

Reported by:	RFontaine (254 reports)
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:
Difficulty:
Time:	4 hours

Team: 2 people

Trip report URL:

Comments: Rugged, remote and scenic.

We drove in via the South trail from Young. These trails are rough and rocky. I believe a stock high clearance midsize 4x4 with aired down offroad tires would be fine. 4Lo and careful driving needed in a few spots. Both of our trucks (Frontier and 4runner) are lifted and did fine. Trails are too tight for a fullsize truck. Drove past the “car park” way-point all the way up to the cow tank up top and camped. Drive in took 1.5hrs on dirt.

A 20min hike brought us to the first rappel. Water seeping and dripping in canyon. Very pretty! One unavoidable knee deep pool.

We went down to the Tonto River and hungout down there exploring along the river for 45mins. Beautiful rock all different colors. The river was probably the best part of the route, would be great swimming if it was hot out.

Exit out has lots of scrambling and loose rock but pretty easy to follow the game trails. Seemed like we were back to our trucks in no time!

Total: 4.5hrs

I drove over to camp at the Hell’s Boundary approach and ran that the next day, drove out via the North trail which was less rocky but not as interesting, still took 1.5hrs

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
22 Mar 2025	Good		None		4 hours	2 people	RFontaine (254 reports)
Comment: Rugged, remote and scenic. We drove in via the South trail from Young. These trails are rough and rocky. I believe a stock high clearance midsize 4x4 with aired down offroad tires would be fine. 4Lo and careful driving needed in a few spots. Both of our trucks (Frontier and 4runner) are lifted and did fine. Trails are too tight for a fullsize truck. Drove past the “car park” way-point all the way up to the cow tank up top and camped. Drive in took 1.5hrs on dirt. A 20min hike brought us to the first rappel. Water seeping and dripping in canyon. Very pretty! One unavoidable knee deep pool. We went down to the Tonto River and hungout down there exploring along the river for 45mins. Beautiful rock all different colors. The river was probably the best part of the route, would be great swimming if it was hot out. Exit out has lots of scrambling and loose rock but pretty easy to follow the game trails. Seemed like we were back to our trucks in no time! Total: 4.5hrs I drove over to camp at the Hell’s Boundary approach and ran that the next day, drove out via the North trail which was less rocky but not as interesting, still took 1.5hrs
22 Feb 2025	Good	Very Low	None	Normal	4 hours	3 people Expert to Advanced	Dwentzel (17 reports)
Comment: Mostly dry, with a few ankle to mid-thigh deep pools. We replaced most of the webbing. On rap 6 we went into the rabbit hole and rappelled off a pinch point, about 10 feet. The odds of sticking a rope on the first rappel is very high. I'd recommend splitting it into 2 raps, with farmed rocks for a deadman in the hallway. It has a lot of rappels, which was nice and it was very scenic on the drive. We didn't see another vehicle anywhere out there due to the remoteness. As the description says, you're going to need a capable vehicle and an experienced technical driver with a crew of patient people who don't mind bouncing around for several hours each way. There is cell coverage, but it wouldn't be an easy place for AAA to give roadside assistance. LOL.
2 Nov 2021	Great	Very Low	None	Easy	7 hours	5 people Advanced	RFontaine (254 reports)
Comment: Second known descent!! Fantastically beautiful canyon with a fun 4x4 trail to and from. My lifted Xterra Pro4x on 33" tires had no issues getting there. 2wd and low clearance 4x4 not recommended, need some height for a few obstacles. One waist deep pool that is un avoidable but no wetsuit needed. We updated a few anchors and reflected our changes on beta. Still ghosted a few spots that didnt have webbing.
15 May 2021	Amazing	Dry	None	Normal	5 hours	3 people Advanced	Erek (206 reports)
Comment: First known descent! Very high clearance and 4x4 required, with good tires. This would probably be one of the most popular canyons in Arizona if it was easier to access. Set webbing on first 3 or 4 rappels, but rest were done with fiddlestick. Number of fun downclimbs, cool rabbit hole tunnels, in scenic area away from everything. Only for the truest of adventurers. You are welcome, Arizona.