Red Wall Canyon (West Fork)
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| Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:5-9, max ↨200ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Best season: | Nov-Mar
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Introduction
An okay approach with a loose start with a straightforward decent with a couple longer drops. The Red Wall Canyon exit is one of the best hiking exits I've done in Death Valley.
Approach
Hike from the road up the alluvial fan to Red Wall Canyon's mouth. Some apps show a trail, it's just a wash.
At the canyon mouth, head left of the mouth up a loose gulley and beware of rock fall and slipping on the hard pack. Once on the ridge its smooth sailing until you hop off and start your decent into Red Wall Canyon.
Descent
- R1 - 55 ft off rock chock
- R2 - 160 ft off cairn/ chock
- O - 15 ft walk around
- O - 10 ft downclimb (spicy)
- O - 20 ft down climb
- R3 - 200 ft off rock chock through Boulder pinch
- R4 - 50 ft off fiddle stick on good bush
- R5 - 100 ft-ish mostly free hang off big bush. Bring rope LDC to avoid a rope pinch.
- O - 15 ft downclimb / handline on exit
Exit
Walk out Red Wall Canyon's wash on a beautiful hike with high walls, colorful rock patterns and a wash that gives you that big canyon feel but also narrows up for a bit.
Red tape
Beta sites
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Super Amazing Map : Red Wall - W Fork
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Super Amazing Map : Red Wall Canyon
Trip reports and media
Background
Originally explored by Scott Swaney & team on 03-17-13 - see trip report above for details & teammates