Conditions:Illusions Canyon-20230918202810
Latest: |
17 Sep 2023 (1 yr, 9 mos ago) |
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| Reported by: | RFontaine (283 reports) | |
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| Quality: | Amazing |
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| Waterflow: | ||
| Wetsuit: | Thin wetsuit |
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| Water temperature: | ||
| Difficulty: | ||
| Time: |  6 hours
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Team: 3 people with experience level Beginner to Advanced
Trip report URL:
Comments: Incredible canyon, never gets old! We used a sneak approach I developed, parking at the very end of the trail at the exit and B-lining it down off the rim at this point: 34.98639, -111.77142 This route is starting to get worn in as I see others have done the same. Cuts out the long shitty bushwack down from the head of the canyon. Pools are full, mostly cleanish. 4/3 wetsuit was fine. We took our time at a leisurely pace. We found and removed a large loop of red webbing at R2 (suit up spot) around a log where there is clearly a bolt on the wall. Please dont do this… keeper is 12.5” above lip and dropping, always bring escape gear just in case… exit is much more over grown then Ive seen it, stay on the rocks in the gully and you will be fine, ignore the side trails leading away from the gully, they are terrible, and give this relatively tame exit a bad reputation. Ive found that for the best Illusions experience, get a late start, (we started at 10:30am, beautiful colors in canyon, no sun exposure on exit! Lovely day out!
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
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| Great | Deep pools 
| Full wetsuit
| Normal | 6 hours
| 4 people Beginner to Advanced | Nclegg (418 reports) | |
Comment: Water level in the final pothole is 8.48" below the lip.
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| Great | Deep pools
| Full wetsuit
| Normal | 6 hours
| 3 people Intermediate to Advanced | Nclegg (418 reports) | |
Comment: Water level in the final pothole is 7.98" below the lip.
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| Amazing | Deep pools
| Thick wetsuit 
| Normal |  10 hours
| 4 people | AZ Advocate (56 reports) | |
Comment: An excellent day through the canyon with an unfortunate injury to a party member towards the end which needed an evac. Accident report has more information.
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| Amazing | Deep pools
| Thick wetsuit
| Special challenges | 11 hours
| 3 people Beginner to Intermediate | Hikerdude5 (1 reports) | |
Comment: Very beautiful canyon, Illusions did not disappoint. Must see for Arizona canyoneers. We were very comfortable temperature-wise in 7+7mm farmer john wetsuits. The log jam described in bluu gnome for rap 6 was washed away so we tossed a log down from the top of rap 5. Final pothole is full to a couple inches above the lip.
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| Great | Deep pools
| Full wetsuit
| Normal | 6 hours
| 2 people Advanced | Nclegg (418 reports) | |
Comment: Manageable in a 5/4 but partner was chilly in a 4/3 and thin vest. Keeper pothole is still full. Please be mindful of the locations where rope grooves have developed and take measures to avoid exacerbating them.
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| Great | Deep pools
| Thick wetsuit
| Normal | 7 hours
| 3 people | AZ Advocate (56 reports) | |
Comment: Excellent conditions for late May. Pools are still cold, (relatively) clear, and very cold. Keepers are still easy swimmers. The pool for the last rappel still had water 6-8" above the lip of that keeper.
Old webbing removed and new added where needed.
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| Deep pools
| Full wetsuit
| | 6 hours
| 3 people Intermediate to Advanced | EMoorcroft (451 reports),Triggerfish (63 reports),Dyln cole (78 reports) | ||
Comment: Keepers are full, thick wetsuits encouraged, webbing looked great. Beautiful canyon with a smooth exit, nothing to complain about and everything to enjoy. Thrilling day with fun down climbs and rappels.
Great to avoid rope grooves by increasing pull angles or toggling.
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| Amazing | | Full wetsuit
| | 5 hours
| 4 people | RFontaine (283 reports) | |
Comment: Top of the line! Super fun and asuper pretty! Showing a couple of Utah canyoneers their first time through! Drop in via sneak approach near exit parking for minimal bush. Fall colors in full effect! Potholes super full well above lip. Water cold but comfortable in 5/4 wetsuit with cave suit and wool base layers. Probably last weekend 5/4s will be feasible as temps are dropping fast up there. Sneak exit out is always a breeze!
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| Amazing | Deep pools
| Full wetsuit
| Normal | 8 hours
| 8 people Intermediate to Expert | MountainMongo (12 reports) | |
Comment: Never gets old!! Tried an old approach from the north side and it had become fully overgrown. All anchors were in great shape except the loss the anchor below the double glue ins is causing significant rope groves in the sandstone from the rope pull. Better anchor placement would avert further damage. Pothole was in easy mode only 4 inches below the lip.
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| Amazing | | Thin wetsuit
| | 6 hours
| 2 people Beginner to Advanced | RFontaine (283 reports) | |
Comment: Another great run through Illusions! My partner had never been so that made it even better! We parked at the exit and did the sneak approach once again starting here (34.98639, -111.77142) and following a developing use trail down from the ridge. This is very direct, and cuts off alot of bushy drainage aswell as cutting out the short shuttle. Took us 1 hr to get to R1 this way. Water levels are dropping. 4/3 wetsuits were adequate. Replaced webbing at final rap, water in keeper pothole is 2” above lip.
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| Amazing | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| Special challenges | 6 hours
| 2 people Intermediate to Expert | Rocktherapy (5 reports) | |
Comment: Love this canyon. Definitely one of the most beautiful canyons in Arizona. Had just rained and all the potholes were filled. Was a lot of fun swimming all the deep pools. Would definitely recommend to the people that have the skills and gear to complete this canyon safely. Sneak escape out was easier when we kept to the right side of the canyon out.
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| Amazing | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| Normal | 5 hours
| 2 people Advanced | IdahoJoe (1 reports) | |
Comment: Great canyon, it was gorgeous, had some fun downclimbs, and all pools were full. The water was about a foot and a half above the lip of the last keeper. The LOG JAM used as anchor for rap 6 has blown out so make sure you don't pull rap 5 before you get down both drops! We extended the webbing on rap 5 to reduce rope drag and the pull was super easy.
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| Good | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| Normal |  4 hours
| 2 people Advanced | EMoorcroft (451 reports) | |
Comment: DOUBLE I's
We ran insomnia first then from the sneak, hiked down the point to drop into illusions at the confluence. In dry conditions this saves some time on the approach. 4 hours car to car. Last pothole was 2' below the lip but still easy escape.
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| Amazing | | Full wetsuit
| | 7 hours
| 4 people Intermediate to Expert | RFontaine (283 reports) | |
Comment: Another AWESOME Illusions trip! definitely one of the best in AZ and keeps me coming back!
Sneak approach B-line off the ridge is getting more traffic as people find out about it. More worn in, easier to follow. The old approach at head of drainage is very outdated. Water is still very cold, I wore a 5/4 and personally wouldnt want any less until later in the summer. Thick neoprene gloves and booties shouldnt be over-looked either for a comfortable experience. Water levels dropping but potholes still full. Keeper is 8" above lip. Water isnt too gross yet! ;) Sneak exit is smooth as always so long as you stay in the drainage all the way up! We took our time at a very relaxed pace enjoying the day! Soak it in and ENJOY this AZ gem!
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| Great | Deep pools
| Thick wetsuit
| Normal | 10 hours
| 4 people | Nclegg (418 reports) | |
Comment: Time reflects an approach up AB Young and exit out West Fork. All potholes are still full.
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