Box Canyon and Hidden Canyon in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Canyoneer Box Canyon and Hidden Canyon Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 2 3A III (40 ft max) 8.2 miles 2100 gain 6-8 hrs Out + Back Jan 18, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Box Canyon and Hidden 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.

This route hits two short, scenic limestone slot canyons just outside of Las Vegas. I'd say Hidden Canyon is a lot more interesting – Box Canyon took a fair amount more effort to get to and, though pretty, has an easier approach from the east along a dirt road (not mapped on my route). My route assumes you want some desert bushwhacking and to combine both canyons.

From the parking area, head up the obvious wash leading around a mountain and then northwest to the mouth of Hidden Canyon. A walk-around to the north takes you to the canyon head. We opted to continue up this wash to get to Box Canyon and return to Hidden Canyon later. The wash leads up to a saddle, and then through open desert where lots of deep gullies make the route a bit slow-moving. Eventually, you'll get to the mouth of Box Canyon. Pass a dam and then keep right at a junction within the canyon – the left is the last rappel of Box Canyon. The beta I read stated there were cable ladders rather than rappels, but they're no longer there.

Head up the right fork of Box Canyon along some fun scrambling to a saddle, where you drop into Box canyon. There are a bunch of fun downclimbing obstacles and two short rappels. Once out of Box Canyon, head back through the desert complete Hidden Canyon, using the same exit as the approach.

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Starting from suburbia, heading through open desert toward the mouth of Hidden Canyon.
Starting from suburbia, heading through open desert toward the mouth of Hidden Canyon.
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Approaching the mouth of Hidden Canyon.
Approaching the mouth of Hidden Canyon.
At the junction where the technical section of Hidden Canyon opens. Keep right and head up some short scrambling to ascend.
At the junction where the technical section of Hidden Canyon opens. Keep right and head up some short scrambling to ascend.
Looking down into the head of Hidden Canyon. We'll be going that way later. First, we headed up the wash rather than down.
Looking down into the head of Hidden Canyon. We'll be going that way later. First, we headed up the wash rather than down.
Continuing up the wash to a saddle ahead.
Continuing up the wash to a saddle ahead.
Looking back down our wash, Hidden Canyon visible in the center.
Looking back down our wash, Hidden Canyon visible in the center.
Traverse open desert, lots of gully obstacles along the way. You'll likely pull at least one Class 3 move to navigate this section.
Traverse open desert, lots of gully obstacles along the way. You'll likely pull at least one Class 3 move to navigate this section.
Heading down toward the mouth of Box Canyon.
Heading down toward the mouth of Box Canyon.
Entering Box Canyon.
Entering Box Canyon.
An old dam, with a nice trail laid out marking the route into Box Canyon.
An old dam, with a nice trail laid out marking the route into Box Canyon.
Very pretty sections of narrows.
Very pretty sections of narrows.
The last rappel of Box Canyon on the left. We kept right to work around it to the north.
The last rappel of Box Canyon on the left. We kept right to work around it to the north.
Some fun scramble sections to ascend the northern canyon.
Some fun scramble sections to ascend the northern canyon.
There were sport climbing bolts around here, surprisingly.
There were sport climbing bolts around here, surprisingly.
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The narrows eventually end and we headed up the saddle separating the north and south canyons of Box Canyon.This is looking back the way we came up.
The narrows eventually end and we headed up the saddle separating the north and south canyons of Box Canyon.This is looking back the way we came up.
Looking down into the head of Box Canyon.
Looking down into the head of Box Canyon.
Starting down some Class 3 moves.
Starting down some Class 3 moves.
Lots of fun obstacles within Box Canyon, most too small to set up rappel stations.
Lots of fun obstacles within Box Canyon, most too small to set up rappel stations.
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Optional rappel, which we instead hand-lined. You go through a long chute and emerge on the side of this boulder.
Optional rappel, which we instead hand-lined. You go through a long chute and emerge on the side of this boulder.
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Our first rappel of the day! There were a couple of old bolts in the wall, so I put in a piece of webbing for redundancy, complete with some desert flora to protect the webbing from sharp edges. Whatever, it was only 15 feet or so.
Our first rappel of the day! There were a couple of old bolts in the wall, so I put in a piece of webbing for redundancy, complete with some desert flora to protect the webbing from sharp edges. Whatever, it was only 15 feet or so.
Second rappel off a really nice chain anchor.
Second rappel off a really nice chain anchor.
We headed all the way back the way we came and got to the head of Hidden Canyon, finally. What a long detour.
We headed all the way back the way we came and got to the head of Hidden Canyon, finally. What a long detour.
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First rappel in Hidden Canyon, lots of pretty limestone.
First rappel in Hidden Canyon, lots of pretty limestone.
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A bunch of short, fun obstacles and rappels.
A bunch of short, fun obstacles and rappels.
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Tara being a goof on one of the obstacles.
Tara being a goof on one of the obstacles.
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In my opinion, the prettiest section of the day. There was flat, smooth limestone on a slant, leading to a short rappel in a nice chute.
In my opinion, the prettiest section of the day. There was flat, smooth limestone on a slant, leading to a short rappel in a nice chute.
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Image 42 from gallery
Eventually, Hidden Canyon ends within a somewhat narrow section at the junction where we left it earlier in the day.
Eventually, Hidden Canyon ends within a somewhat narrow section at the junction where we left it earlier in the day.

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!