Antenna Canyon in State Line Hills BLM, NV

Canyoneer Antenna Canyon State Line Hills BLM, NV

Class 2 3A II (180 ft max) 4.1 miles 1300 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Mar 21, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Antenna Canyon GPX Track

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This is a technical canyon. If you are unfamiliar with how to build anchors or the gear required for canyoneering do not attempt this route.

A bunch of friends happened to be in town and all free the same day, so I took a break from being solo (yay friends!) to head down a canyon together. Navigate to this underpass (35.7151286,-115.3642429) and follow the dirt road southwest.

From the mouth of the main canyon where the road heads into, head up to some old mining equipment and a mine. Shortly after, a slope leads south up to a ridge leading west. It's Class 2+, but makes for quick access to higher ground. This ridge mellows out and you can see the head of Antenna Canyon below. You could continue up to Peak 5413 from here if that's your thing, or just drop into Antenna Canyon's head. A series of easy rappels leads through the canyon (most of which use cairn anchors). Antenna canyon doesn't have stretches of narrows as interesting as the other routes in the area that I've been through (like Desperado, for example), but does end at a really nice 180 sloping rappel. Continue through a wash and head north back to the car.

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Starting up to the right, the mouth of Antenna Canyon visible on the left.
Starting up to the right, the mouth of Antenna Canyon visible on the left.
Image 1 from gallery
Some old mining equipment.
Some old mining equipment.
Exploring the entrance to the mine. Today's for canyoneering, not caving.
Exploring the entrance to the mine. Today's for canyoneering, not caving.
Looking back down the road we came up, the slope we chose to head up on the right.
Looking back down the road we came up, the slope we chose to head up on the right.
Class 2 slope to the ridge.
Class 2 slope to the ridge.
Looking back down the slope, the road and old mine visible in the center.
Looking back down the slope, the road and old mine visible in the center.
Image 7 from gallery
Along the ridge.
Along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
Dropping into the head of Antenna Canyon.
Dropping into the head of Antenna Canyon.
A few downclimbs to get down some of the cliff bands.
A few downclimbs to get down some of the cliff bands.
Our first rappel.
Our first rappel.
Image 13 from gallery
Entering the narrows, Sam being a doofus.
Entering the narrows, Sam being a doofus.
Image 15 from gallery
The most interesting section of narrows for the day.
The most interesting section of narrows for the day.
Image 17 from gallery
Looking back up one of the interesting narrow sections.
Looking back up one of the interesting narrow sections.
Image 19 from gallery
Image 20 from gallery
Image 21 from gallery
Image 22 from gallery
All too quickly, we got to the last rappel, a big drop.
All too quickly, we got to the last rappel, a big drop.
The big, final rappel out of Antenna Canyon. It's mostly a walk-down, with one big ledge that would allow you to break this into two rappels if necessary. The last few feet of the rappel is out of frame.
The big, final rappel out of Antenna Canyon. It's mostly a walk-down, with one big ledge that would allow you to break this into two rappels if necessary. The last few feet of the rappel is out of frame.
Antenna Canyon in the backgorund.
Antenna Canyon in the backgorund.
Wide shot of the wash leading out of Antenna Canyon before ascending to the car.
Wide shot of the wash leading out of Antenna Canyon before ascending to the car.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!