Conditions:Weeping Springs and Bighorn Canyons Loop-20240226175514

Latest:	25 Feb 2024 (1 yr, 4 mos ago)

Reported by:	Lvbruce (13 reports)
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:	Dry
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Normal
Time:	6 hours

Team: 5 people with experience level Beginner to Advanced

Trip report URL:

Comments: We ran Weeping Springs as the second canyon of the day. We ran Death Pit first and used the class 2 exit route, and the connector route, to put us at rap 1 of Weeping Springs to run it too. The time was 6.5 hours to run BOTH canyons and get back to the TH. Running both canyons added about 2 hours to the time of just running one canyon. Well worth the extra 2 hours and 600 feet of elevation gain to run the two together. The connector route is on the Death Pit map page.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
25 Feb 2024	Good	Dry	None	Normal	6 hours	5 people Beginner to Advanced	Lvbruce (13 reports)
Comment: We ran Weeping Springs as the second canyon of the day. We ran Death Pit first and used the class 2 exit route, and the connector route, to put us at rap 1 of Weeping Springs to run it too. The time was 6.5 hours to run BOTH canyons and get back to the TH. Running both canyons added about 2 hours to the time of just running one canyon. Well worth the extra 2 hours and 600 feet of elevation gain to run the two together. The connector route is on the Death Pit map page.
18 Feb 2024	Great	Dry	None	Normal	8 hours	5 people Beginner to Advanced	Johnbcaves (161 reports)
Comment: Down Weeping Springs and packrafted to Crane's Nest. Air and water temps were great. Anchors mostly new but the last 2. Paddle was all slack water, since Lake Mojave was 4ft below full pool. Fought some wind on the paddle and sun set on us on the river. We were able to park at the bottom of Crane Flat Wash for just a 1/4mi hike out.
12 Feb 2024	Great	Dry	None	Normal	4 hours	2 people Intermediate to Advanced	Lvbruce (13 reports)
Comment: This was our first time running this canyon. After hearing all of the horrible stories of exiting up Bighorn Canyon through the thick overgrowth, we decided to scramble back up a route just north of Weeping Springs Canyon. We studied the terrain on Google Earth and felt that it was going to work. Well, it sure did, and it was quick and easy. It was Class 2 scrambling all the way back to the Emerald Pools Canyon and the turn off to Weeping Springs. The route starts LDC, right after the two stage rappel before the plateau area. This would be the second to last rappel if you were going all the way to the river. You don't have to go any farther down canyon. Climb up out of the canyon on an obvious ramp to get started on the exit. It was just over 1/2 a mile to the top of Weeping Springs and with only 600 feet of elevation gain. With route finding, cairn building (for future users) it took just over 1-1/2 hrs to get back to the car at the trailhead. The whole trip was only 4-1/2 hrs. Definitely saved the torture of bushwhacking through Bighorn Canyon. File:Weeping-springs-class-2-exit (4).kml
17 Jun 2023	Great	Dry	None	Easy	6 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	Lukemurray2016LV (11 reports)
Comment: Probably last run through weeping springs for the summer. All the anchors in the primary part of the canyon have new looking webbing and all cairn anchors are solid. We packrafted to cranes nest by way of the free hanging rappel into weeping springs cove. That’s an epic rappel for sure. Almost no water left in the canyon. Car to river took us 3.5 hours, paddling to cranes nest took 2 hours with no wind.
19 Feb 2023	Amazing	Very Low	None	Normal	9 hours	4 people Intermediate to Advanced	Mfeingol (52 reports)
Comment: Weeping Springs and Bighorn are an epic combination. Two very different canyons, each amazing in its own way. The approach road is in good condition, reachable by passenger vehicles with some care through the rocky portions. There's a little water in some pools towards the lower part of Weeping Springs, but we found it all avoidable. The anchors are (now) in good condition, including a few cairn anchors which we converted from "pile of rocks" style to "Death Valley" style. We did not like either of the obvious downclimbs to traverse into Bighorn Canyon, so we sought out a decent rappel point above the large crack on the Bighorn side. There was an improvised anchor there, which we also had to fix up. Going up Bighorn was wet and strenuously brushy at first, then delightful as the canyon narrowed and obstacles began to appear. None were particularly challenging for our group except the last one, which we were able to solve by sending a climber up RUC and having him meat anchor or top belay others. The final climb out to the parking lot was easier up a lava rock field than it was down the use trail through loose rock. All in all, a highly enjoyable day.
21 Jan 2023	Good	Dry		Normal	7 hours	2 people Advanced	Coalemus (160 reports)
Comment: Webbing was pretty good with the exception of the difficult-to-get-to anchor high RDC (through the hole). This likely needs replacing soon. We didn't do the last rap to the river though we went down to check it out. We rapped out of a mini-canyon to get off of the bypass cliffs but after we got down we saw how we could have downclimbed a crack closer to Bighorn drainage. We found the biggest climb on Bighorn pretty intimidating but were able to traverse RUC fairly easily.
9 May 2022	Great	Dry	None	Normal	5 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	Rbowru (54 reports),Epeairs (73 reports)
Comment: Replaced a few anchors, all others were in good shape. Did the loop as part of a river trip, so our travel time doesn't include the hike to the parking lot.
6 Apr 2022	Amazing	Dry	None	Normal	11 hours	3 people Intermediate	Spacepyroman (10 reports)
Comment: The air temperature was ideal. We started around 7am with a quick decent through the rocky slope. The water level in Colorado river was perfect for a rappel with inflatable boat directly into the water. We took the exit of via Big Horn Canyon. It is overgrown in places, but still really pretty.
26 Nov 2021	Great	Dry	None	Normal	7 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	Tarannosaurus (26 reports)
Comment: This time is for an alternate route with a car spot (to enjoy a longer packraft) exiting up Crane's Nest wash. All anchors were present; replaced webbing in several places. Water levels are now so low that there's a nice beach at the bottom of the last rap where you can blow up your raft. Packraft took us about 1 hour (~2.5 miles) from Weeping Springs to Crane's Nest Wash.
16 Apr 2021	Great	Dry	None	Special challenges	6 hours	2 people Beginner to Advanced	Jgifford22 (5 reports)
Comment: All anchors are in good condition, although one towards the end of the canyon took a little looking to spot it hidden way up to the right. First chance either of us had to rappel with a pack raft. Awesome experience. Nice short float down to the mouth of Bighorn Canyon. Got quite tired trudging back up to the car with more gear than we're used to, but a great experience overall.
13 Feb 2021	Great	Very Low	None	Special challenges	8 hours	1 people Advanced	Battaglia.evan (4 reports)
Comment: All anchors are in good condition, although the last (into the river) is noticeably older. I had a bit of unexpected rain I waited out in a perfectly-placed cave a couple rappels from the bottom. For the last rappel, it was my first time rappelling with a packraft so that was a bit awkward, there is a good landing to get into the water but it is a little hard to get to since the fall line wants to swing you back into the mini-waterfall. I ended up getting a little wet while getting into the raft due to that mini-waterfall. Paddling the river is beautiful ... too short! One climb up through Bighorn Canyon is pretty stiff! Ended up stepping on my huge pack to help me up a bit.
10 Jan 2021	Amazing	Dry	None	Normal	7 hours	5 people Intermediate to Advanced	Canderson (21 reports)
Comment: Awesome day in the canyon. All anchors were in great condition, and kudos to the team before us who set up the triple-redundant knot chock near the end. We skipped the final rappel into the Colorado and traversed the ridgeline above climbing and rappelling down to the mouth of Bighorn Canyon. Saw three bighorn sheep on the approach and collected golf balls on the exit making for a couple of notable end caps to the day.
26 May 2018	Great	Dry	None	Normal	7 hours	2 people Advanced	Tarannosaurus (26 reports)
Comment: Some nice rappels on the way down Weeping Springs with an excellent little packraft connection to Bighorn, which was a scenic and pleasant way to exit. All anchors were present and in good condition, with the exception of the final rappel into the river, which was non-existent. We rigged one to a tree near the edge. Blew up our rafts at the top of the last rappel; this is recommended since the flat section of the rock ledge at the base is not very large and is prone to a lot of spray from the waterfall. Water levels in the Colorado/Lake Mead were very low.
7 Nov 2015	Great	Dry	None	Normal	8 hours	11 people Beginner to Advanced	CC (93 reports)
6 Nov 2014 Trip report	Great	Dry	None	Special challenges	7 hours	5 people Beginner to Expert	Lucach (75 reports)
Comment: The most fun part of this canyon was the packraft, highly recommended for any beginners