Motorcycle Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:4, max ↨90ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 20 min Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 9 Mar 2025
"The rappels were completed in 4 hours. We came up Telephone Canyon and took an additional 4 hours.. The anchors are all in great shape. Some of th |
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| Best season: | Oct-May (avg for this region)
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35.9958, -114.7763
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Introduction[edit]
Motorcycle Canyon is side drainage to Goldstrike Canyon. Goldstrike Canyon provides access to the Goldstrike Hot Springs and access to the Colorado River.
- Please remember that permanent fixed hardware is strictly prohibited in Black Canyon Wilderness area, and the entirety of LMNRA. No new bolts.
Approach[edit]
Motorcycle can be done one of two ways. Opt #1: Park at the exit of Goldstrike and hike 2.1 miles up a rocky trial-add another hour to your day. Opt # 2: A shuttle (what we did) the road requires two or three high clearance 4x4’s depending on how big your party is ours was 10 so we used three vehicles.
Descent[edit]
The drop in is fairly simple and almost immediately so gear up near the TH. 7 rappels pretty simple highest about 90 feet. Some down climbs with a long hiking section to the confluence of Goldstrike Canyon marked by large wooden telephone poles. Goldstrike requires no rappelling and is a awesome canyon offering some really nice hot springs and ends at the Colorado River.
UPDATED: March 9, 2025
R1 ~ 90' very pretty walls & some loose rock from above & the "Motorcycle"
R2 ~ 80', a bit of a walk between R2 to narrows of R3
R3 ~ 15', used to be a downclimb or bypassed from left side. Now there an anchor around a huge boulder setback about 5 feet at the top Still a bit of a walk between this R3 and R4.
R4 ~ 55', anchor on a bigger jug handle type rock. Rope swing around the corner for the rappel.
R5 ~ 50', cairn anchor. It is immediately after R4.
R6 ~ 25', anchor around a chock stone. Use safety tether since you have stretch a little but over the drop to grab the anchor. Can be downclimbed.
R7 ~ 20', cairn anchor. Can be downclimbed but careful. There is a hole about half way down that should be avoided. Just a bit of an awkward downclimb. Rope-assisted downclimb may be helpful for the less experienced.
Below is the old information before the March 9, 2025 update R3 ~ 40', followed by an 30' drop that some groups may rappel, a bit of a walk between R3 to R4
R4 ~ 40', groups should consider setting up a safety if using the wedge in boulder above as it is near the ledge
Exit[edit]
This is the best part. Head back up Goldstrike, which is a deep narrow canyon and is almost flat the entire way-about a 40 minute hike back to the cars. There are a few large boulder fields to navigate but social trails have been made so look for path that has been traveled on. There is an emergency station that may or may not have some supplies such as salt and various other tables on the exit trail.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
BluuGnome.com : Motorcycle Canyon
Las Vegas Slots Book by Rick Ianiello : Motorcycle Canyon- HikeArizona.com : Motorcycle Canyon
- Super Amazing Map : Motorcycle Canyon
Trip reports and media[edit]
11/26/16 motorcycle canyon car shuttle trail – road was pretty rough in places (4x4 would be nice but not necessary with a high clearance vehicle + savvy driver). All anchors where in good condition. Double check some of the chalk stones in this canyon before you commit; some are barely wedged in there. It’s a very short canyon so definitely worth going down to the river before returning to the car.
- EveryTrail 27 Jan 2013
- Candition.com :
- http://adamhaydock.blogspot.com/2017/02/motorcycle-canyon-lake-mead-nevada.html
- https://www.stavislost.com/hikes/trail/motorcycle-canyon-and-telephone-canyon-loop