Desperado Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:12, max ↨85ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:4WD Rock type:Limestone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 2 Oct 2023
"The recent storms made the approach road very challenging to navigate. The tunnel under the I15 has waves of gravel running across it. The Tacoma brus |
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| Best season: | Fall to Spring
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35.6631, -115.4373
35.6692, -115.3980
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Introduction
According to Rick Ianiello (author of Las Vegas Slots) this is the most scenic canyons in the State Line Hills.
Approach
The drive route has changed from the original file which may be accessed by turning right earlier toward Turtle Tears with a turn left and then a turn right on rough road. Optional parking locations along the road for folks that choose not to push their vehicles over the rough grades that are more of a loose wash.
The GPS file shows a variation of the gully route which quickly becomes an exposed climber's route. To avoid this route stay on the ridge line and pay attention to the GPS file.
Descent
Desperado Canyon uses natural anchors, including cairn anchors. Groups should be competent in building/inspecting/backup of natural anchors/webbing as well as proper technique in rappelling on marginal anchors. The anchors & rappel counts will vary between 7 to 14 depending on the comfort level of group for doing a down-climb or doing a rappel. Rappel lengths are rough estimates. The rappel lengths and locations on the map are approximate and should not be relied upon:
R1: 50ft cliff band from a rock pinch RDC
R2: 80ft cliff band from a cairn anchor
Following R2 there is another cliff band that some rappel, but it has a trivial bypass RDC.
R3: 55ft from a cairn anchor
R4: 30ft from a cairn anchor
R5: 20ft from a rock chock RDC
R6: 20ft from a cairn anchor into a possible knee-deep pool
R7: 40ft from a cairn anchor
R8: 15ft from a cairn into a possible deep pool. This can be bypassed RDC down a chute with a small tree. Rappel 25ft from the small tree to return to the watercourse.
R9: 30ft from a chockstone into a possible deep pool. This can be bypassed LDC by climbing the wall and then rappelling 25ft off a Catclaw tree back into the watercourse.
NOTE: Alternate rappel....I set an alternate, better anchor and rappel for R9 and R10. Instead of climbing the vertical wall LDC, climb the easier climb to the right and go around a small bowl on a ledge that takes you to the last slot beside a wall. It has a tree in it part way down. There is an anchor on that tree. The rap is ABOUT 75ft?? (sorry forgot to measure it).
R10: 40ft from a geo anchor high RDC, or multi-stage from the previous rappel.
R11: 85ft from a large boulder down a beautiful chute into a deep pothole. This pothole does not appear to commonly hold water, but might be challenging to escape under slippery conditions. When dry it requires a minor climb or partner assist that should not be challenging for competent canyoneers.
R12: 70ft down a shallow slope, anchored at a rock chock LDC
Exit
Traverse a serpentine network of washes to return to your vehicle.
Red tape
Beta sites
- https://www.stavislost.com/hikes/trail/desperado-canyon
- Las Vegas Slots Facebook Beta
Las Vegas Slots Book by Rick Ianiello : Desperado Canyon
HikeArizona.com : Desperado Canyon
Trip reports and media