Class 4 7.3 miles 900 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Dec 8, 2022
Effort
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Bridge Canyon GPX Track

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Some might consider this route a technical canyon, but it only has two very short drops that can be downclimbed, making the technical label feel silly. You may prefer to rappel the two drops, the result being two rappels under 20 feet each. This would consequently reduce my Class 4 rating to Class 2 since there's otherwise only some light scrambling within the canyon. Also, since I didn't have a friend with me to set up a car shuttle the stats reflect a descent and subsequent return up the canyon.

On previous visits to the granitic foothills surrounding Spirit Mountain, I checked out Pipe Spring Canyon and Grapevine Canyon, but for some reason I never ventured into Bridge Canyon, odd because this feature is the reason behind the naming of Bridge Canyon Wilderness. Without any expectations and a morning to kill, I determined I'd check this canyon out and if there were any technical sections I'd just turn back and return with a group and gear. Fortunately the canyon was passable, though just barely. Bridge Canyon passes underneath the Laughlin Highway, so I could have just parked off the highway and entered the canyon there, but I didn't want to leave my car on the side of the road. Additionally, I wanted to make sure I could check out the canyon's upper reaches, and not knowing if the canyon would have dryfalls I figured it was best to start high and descend until I couldn't anymore. After considering my options I decided to park at the end of Upper Bridge Canyon Road, a dirt road that's in good shape until the last mile, where passenger cars likely won't be able to continue. I made it almost to the end, but the road became much more steep and a sign informed me it would be ending in 0.2 miles anyway. From where I parked I headed on foot along the remainder of the road to a barrier blocking vehicular access into the wilderness, so I dropped into Bridge Canyon and started down.

Right from the start, Bridge Canyon boasted pretty granitic formations on either side of the drainage, but they weren't as intense or dense as other areas nearby. I found myself often walking through a wide wash opposed to the narrows I was sort of hoping for. I was also surprised to see ample footprints, considering the canyon isn't publicized and poorly documented, though the footprints faded away after about a mile down anyway. Bridge Canyon had a couple of particularly nice narrower portions, but these sections were wide enough that any obstacles could be avoided with trivial Class 2 tasks rather than true scrambling. I was surprised a few times by prettier sections and these made the canyon a lot more interesting, and aside from one particularly bad section of thorny bushwhacking that lasted about 20 feet I was able to avoid getting hurt by desert plants.

As I approached the highway, though it was still far enough away that I couldn't hear cars, Bridge Canyon surprised me as it narrowed significantly into a deeper section. I grew more excited, but also dismayed that it was likely I'd stumble on an impassable portion. Just after entering there was a short drop that I hopped down, knowing I could climb back up if I encountered a larger drop in a bit. With taller and more colorful walls, I was thrilled to continue strolling until I reached a second obstacle. At first glance I thought this drop's slick walls and large chockstone would prevent further progress, and the extremely old piece of frayed rope tied around didn't help my confidence in downclimbing. On the right side of this boulder I was able to lower myself slowly and wedge myself into a gap below before stemming down, the whole affair lasting about 15 feet. I wandered out of the narrows and continued through a metal drainage pipe under the highway and continued through the now wide wash. I decided to turn around when the canyon seemed to have lost most of its charge according to satellite imagery, and I'd reached a grouping of thick vegetation. I had dinner calling me anyway.

If you set up a shuttle just return to Laughlin Highway, and if not you can hike back along the pavement. Alternatively, reascend the canyon (hence my Class 4 rating due to the tricky manuevers in the narrow section) to see Bridge Canyon in reverse.

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I parked a bit before this sign since the road got much worse.
I parked a bit before this sign since the road got much worse.
Barrier for wilderness. I headed into Bridge Canyon on the right in this photo.
Barrier for wilderness. I headed into Bridge Canyon on the right in this photo.
Within Bridge Canyon, heading east.
Within Bridge Canyon, heading east.
Some cool features along the descent.
Some cool features along the descent.
Image 4 from gallery
Image 5 from gallery
Bridge Canyon is usually wide like this, but there are some narrow section and short sections of slickrock beauty.
Bridge Canyon is usually wide like this, but there are some narrow section and short sections of slickrock beauty.
View back up the canyon.
View back up the canyon.
A wider portion of the canyon.
A wider portion of the canyon.
Image 9 from gallery
A nice narrow section with lots of granite on the sides.
A nice narrow section with lots of granite on the sides.
Image 11 from gallery
Cool water-carved feature.
Cool water-carved feature.
Image 13 from gallery
Within one of the few narrow portions.
Within one of the few narrow portions.
A spring with some light bushwhacking.
A spring with some light bushwhacking.
Looking back at the spring.
Looking back at the spring.
Continuing down Bridge Canyon.
Continuing down Bridge Canyon.
View back up toward a little scrambly bit.
View back up toward a little scrambly bit.
Image 19 from gallery
Image 20 from gallery
Image 21 from gallery
Image 22 from gallery
Image 23 from gallery
Looking back at a particularly bad 20 feet of thorny brush.
Looking back at a particularly bad 20 feet of thorny brush.
Entering the deepest, coolest narrows of Bridge Canyon.
Entering the deepest, coolest narrows of Bridge Canyon.
Before turning a bend.
Before turning a bend.
Close-up of the narrows.
Close-up of the narrows.
First drop.
First drop.
View back at the first drop.
View back at the first drop.
Deeper, more pretty narrows past the first drop.
Deeper, more pretty narrows past the first drop.
View back up the narrows.
View back up the narrows.
Second drop.
Second drop.
Close-up of the drop.
Close-up of the drop.
View back toward the second drop. I downclimbed on the left.
View back toward the second drop. I downclimbed on the left.
On the way out of the narrows after the second drop.
On the way out of the narrows after the second drop.
Image 36 from gallery
Image 37 from gallery
View back toward the narrows.
View back toward the narrows.
Image 39 from gallery
Continuing down Bridge Canyon.
Continuing down Bridge Canyon.
Laughlin Highway above. I headed through the metal drain ahead.
Laughlin Highway above. I headed through the metal drain ahead.
On the other side, Bridge Canyon opens into a wash.
On the other side, Bridge Canyon opens into a wash.
I followed the wash until it narrowed a bit.
I followed the wash until it narrowed a bit.
Class 2 drop into a narrower section.
Class 2 drop into a narrower section.
I turned around here since ahead was thick-looking brush and I'm pretty sure I saw the majority of what Bridge Canyon had to offer.
I turned around here since ahead was thick-looking brush and I'm pretty sure I saw the majority of what Bridge Canyon had to offer.

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!