Tango Canyon
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| Difficulty:3B IV (v3a2 IV) Raps:4+, max ↨95ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle: Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Condition Reports: | 4 Feb 2025
"As with Sierra, being able to start and end from the pullout beyond the Fish Creek Bridge is much less work than the gulley from the vista pullout. Ap |
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Best season: | Late Autumn to Early Spring;BEST in Nov;Dec;Feb;Mar
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Introduction
A rugged Superstition Mountains canyon. One of the longer and more committing canyons in the area. Probably seconds best canyon in this series of canyons after Sierra.
Approach
Hike down gulley from Fish Creek Vista. Hike across and up Fish Creek canyon a little ways. Hike up slopes to saddle. Hike right staying high around gully. Cross Sierra canyon and hike over ridge to top of tributary to Tango Canyon. Follow tributary down to main canyon. Shortly after enter a narrow hallway section.
Descent
R1: 30' into narrow hallway. Anchor rock pinch back from rappel. Possible to stay out of water with some beginner stemming skills.
R2: 40' into possible swimmer pool. Swim is about 20'. Anchor rock pinch back.
R3: 95' into beautiful sculpted bowl. Canyon opens up here. Many anchor options. To stay in main water course, rock pinch RDC-ish and back.
R4: 30' Optional. Into possible pool. Easy bypass LDC. Easy rabbit hole at right side of huge boulder.. No need to bypass
R5: 50' Optional. Down beautiful sculpted shoot into double pools. Anchor rock pinch RDC. Two options, one will go down water course. Other bigger rock pinch option will go down RDC from main water course. Easy to bypass RDC and up a little.
R6: 70' down funneling shoot and free hang drop for last 40'-ish feet. Probably the best rappel of the canyon.
Exit
Shortly after last rappel connect with Fish Creek. Hike up Fish Creek to Approach gulley. Hike up Approach gulley back to vehicle.
Red tape
Beta sites
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Super Amazing Map : Tango Canyon
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CanyonChronicles.com : Tango Canyon
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HikeArizona.com : Tango Canyon
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Arizona Technical Canyoneering Book by Todd Martin : Tango Canyon
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OnRopeCanyoneering.com : Tango Canyon
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ZionCanyoneering.com : Tango Canyon