Golden Fleece Canyon
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| Difficulty:3A I (v3a1 I) Raps:3, max ↨90ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Condition Reports: | 17 Feb 2025
"This was my first canyon after surgery on my Achilles tendon, so we had to take several extended breaks for me to elevate my foot. We were all surpris |
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Best season: | Oct-Mar
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Introduction
An extremely short canyon near Golden Canyon. You can check out a small natural bridge on the approach.
Approach
From the junction of CA-190 and Badwater Road, drive south on Badwater Road 1.6 miles. Park about where the last of the mesquite grove is off to the west. You will be north of Golden Canyon parking lot.
Walk north about 1/10 of a mile along the road, then cut off toward a drainage. A very short dstance into the drainage, go up the first gentle slope to the south. Then easy descent down steep slope into a drainage.
DETOUR up this drainage to see "Thicc Bridge" (not sure why it is named that, with two c's), which is small, but interesting. Then return back to just slightly upcanyon from where you dropped into this drainage.
Ascend slope to south.
Cross broad flat summit with desert pavement.
Cross next wash to the south, then go up shallow drainage to a ridge. Go west on the ridge, then descend south to the wash. This is Golden Fleece.
Descent
R1 (9 feet) from cairn anchor.
Downclimb 15 feet
R2 (90 feet) anchored from a horn on the canyon floor
R3 (25 feet) anchored from a rock.
Exit
A hop, skip, and a jump to your car.
Red tape
https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/canyoneer.htm
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Background
Unknown first descent. Group in 2025 found very old webbing on the final rappel.