Keyhole Canyon (Nevada)
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| | Difficulty:3A I (v3a1 I) Raps:4-5, max ↨95ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:High Clearance Rock type:Granite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 17 Apr 2025
"Sunset canyon! We started the hike at ~6pm and finished by about 8pm, lovely choice to tack on after a day of work/climbing. All anchors were in goo |
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| Best season: | Any. Summer may be too hot.
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35.7098, -114.9219
35.7157, -114.9265
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Introduction[edit]
Keyhole canyon is a short and scenic canyon located south of Lake Mead at the base of the Eldorado Mountains. The canyon features smooth champagne pink colored walls. It is good for beginners or for those who wish to gain more experience setting up bolted anchors.
Very cool petroglyphs at the mouth of the canyon are worth the trip in themselves.
Approach[edit]
Drive:
Take Hwy 95 South from Las Vegas towards Hoover Dam and Boulder City. 14.7 miles past the intersection where the 95 splits South from the 93 & 11 (35.744038,-114.955506) there is a gate that goes on to "Route S". Turn Left (East) here. At the T intersection with the wide road (2.1 miles), turn right (South) and go 3.9 miles. Turn Left and drive 0.3 miles to the parking Keyhole area. Note that google maps may have different directions that may lead you to rougher roads. Follow this for directions: https://goo.gl/maps/yT8Sb1jDTNC4EqZr6
- Gravel roads that some low passenger cars will not have the clearance to pass.
Hike:
Walk North along the hill. After about 500’ turn Right and climb up a gully. After a 2 of scrambles (before the 3rd), turn right (South) and hike out of the gully. After about 500’ you will see faint game trail, follow it. You will pass the drainage for “Mini Keyhole”, then another one. The third and widest one is Keyhole. Turn Right (West) into the canyon.
Descent[edit]
Once you drop in it’s a very short walk to the first waterfall.
Waterfalls:
| Number | Tiers | Total height | Anchor (looking down stream) | Anchor Gear | Rope* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 40' | 2 Boltes LDC | 3-5’ Webbing | 100' |
| 2 | 1 | 60' | Chain Center or Leaning rock LDC | N/A or 5-10’ Webbing | 120' |
| 3 | 1 | 6' | 1 Bolt or Slide | N/A or 1 Quick-link | N/A or 20' |
| 4 | 1 | 15' | 1 Bolt or Downclimb | N/A or 1 Quick-link | N/A or 40’ |
| 5 | 3 | 5’, 5’, 5’ | 3 x 5’ Downclimbs | N/A | N/A' |
| 6 | 1 | 50' | 2 Boltes LDC + 2 Boltes RDC | 3-5’ Webbing + Quick-link | 100' |
| 7 | 1 | 95' | 2 Boltes LDC | 3-5’ Webbing + Quick-link | 200' |
- Rope - Recommended length based on rappel height and distance between tiers (when applicable) and to anchors x 2
Exit[edit]
Easy walk down canyon back to the car.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
BluuGnome.com : Keyhole Canyon
Las Vegas Slots Book by Rick Ianiello : Keyhole Canyon (Nevada)- HikeArizona.com : Keyhole Canyon
- Super Amazing Map : Keyhole Canyon (Nevada)
Trip reports and media[edit]
- EveryTrail 06/14/2014 AT NIGHT!
- EveryTrail 12/21/2013
- EveryTrail 11/10/2012
- EveryTrail 10/30/2012
- Candition.com : Keyhole Canyon
Wikiloc.com : Keyhole Canyon
http://adamhaydock.blogspot.com/2017/01/keyhole-canyon-nevada.html
Accident report:
