McKinley Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A IV (v3a1 IV) Raps:9, max ↨130ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle: | |||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 27 Jun 2026
"Misty day. Approach up the Gold Creek Road and Yerba Buena Trail then along the unmaintained ridge trail to the summit took 2:50. After dropping in, I |
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34.3387, -118.2624
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Introduction
A long descent in Big Tujunga of a tributary to the popular Trail Canyon.
Approach
Park at the Trail Canyon trailhead. Take Gold Creek Road up the ridge a few miles, Yerba Buena Trail to the McKinley saddle, then the use trail to the summit of McKinley where there is a sign and rock pile. Walk along the ridge east of the peak until you reach the drop-in location.
Descent
The descent is steep at first with some downclimbs that could optionally be rappelled. Rappels are mostly in the middle third of the descent. Pools of water followed by flowing water as well as plant coverage become more frequent the lower you get.
R1: 50' - bush DCR
R2: 70' - bush DCL
R3: 30' - bush DCL
R4: 60' - two step, tree high DCR
R5: 80' - tree DCR
R6: 50' - tree DCR
R7: 130' - tree DCR
R8: 90' - tree DCR
R8: 15' - tree DCL
Exit
Take the heavily trafficked trail along Trail Canyon back to the trailheadf.
Red tape
Beta sites
(Link broken as of 2026)