Buzzard Canyon (Jackpot Canyon) in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Canyoneer Buzzard Canyon (Jackpot Canyon) Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 4 3A (200 ft max) 6.2 miles 2000 gain 6-8 hrs Loop Oct 6, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Buzzard Canyon (Jackpot 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.

I'd thought I was done checking out the various slot canyons of Lake Mead National Recreation Area's Black Canyon, but my new friend Luke convinced me there's plenty of little crannies to rappel through that are worth the effort. It's always a nice time to get out into this wildly unique landscape only a few minutes from Las Vegas, but I think my addiction to peakbagging has clouded my excitement for slower-paced canyon days and this was an excellent way to get back into it locally. After months of Luke diligently reaching out, I finally relented to his overwhelming psych and charisma and agreed to join him and a group of canyoneers to check out Buzzard Canyon (aka Jackpot Canyon) on the Nevada side of the canyon. I could only fend him off for so long, I guess. He even provided a packraft and life vest, both required for this outing since the canyon dumps out into the Colorado River. PFDs are always required within Lake Mead.

We drove out to Canyon Point, an overall good road suitable for a Crossover SUV. The last quarter mile or so is rockier and decent tires are a nice idea. From the Canyon Point Overlook, we headed south along a 4WD road to its end on foot, where we got our bearings and located the head of Buzzard Canyon directly to the east. It's not an interesting-looking drainage by any means. I blinked at Luke, dubious. It was a laughable-looking gully from here, but I know it's never good to judge anything in the desert from a distance. A few hundred feet of descending on Class 2 typical volcanic boulders brought us down from the rim and into the wash at the head of Buzzard Canyon. Our group had a variety of speeds, so we took our time getting to know each other. I made fun of Luke for his dislike of hiking uphill, and he returned insults by mocking at my poor knowledge of knots and modern canyoneering techniques. It was a good start to the day.

The wash funneled into a short section of pretty narrows and around a dramatic hairpin turn, an excellent indicator that we would get to see some cool stuff. There wasn't much by way of difficulty up here aside from a few short scramble obstacles. We reached the top of the first (and longest by far) rappel. This two-tiered drop begins with a 20' short rappel off a chockstone, followed by a roughly 180' mostly free-hanging drop to the floor below.

We packed our gear and continued down the canyon, where there were some massive boulders adding a bit of an obstacle course before we reached the start of the second set of narrows. Here we encountered a handful of short drops that some might like a partner assist for, but ropes are likely not necessary. We then reached our next rappel, a 20' drop which we completed using a meat anchor since a capable climber could down-climb it. Another two-tiered rappel followed soon after, around 120' total with an extended walkable mid-section. A 20' nuissance rappel brought us to a short walk and to the top of the last rappel sequence leading into the river below. This sequence was our favorite part of the day. A 40' rappel led into the lovely sculpted rock with a nice view toward the water below. The next section could be down-climbed at Class 4, dropping around 30'. The final 30' rappel is too slick to be safely downclimbed, leading to a beach below. Depending on the water level of the Colorado River, you may have to inflate the rafts before doing the last rappel.

As a group we'd decided to ascend back to the cars via Bighorn Canyon to the north. You could instead set up a shuttle at Cranes Nest Wash and paddle downstream a couple of miles to reach that alternative, less-physical exit. Beau decided to put on his flippers and swim, while the rest of us blew up our packrafts and started slowly paddling upstream toward the mouth of Bighorn Canyon, which we could see a half mile away. It was a lovely little paddle through the narrows of the Black Canyon.

We reached the beach at the mouth of Bighorn Canyon, purified some water, then started up the canyon, a lush drainage with flowing water and complete with colorful algae. Luke had warned us the brush was very bad, but on my numerous previous visits I remember it being pretty tame. I loved the greenery contrated to the dark volcanic canyon walls, so I dismissed his warning thinking he just wasn't a fan of bushwhacking. Bighorn Canyon truly was in a rough state. I was pretty amazed at how fast it had grown in since on past hikes I was able to ascend directly within the watercourse, but now this seemed a horrible idea. Most of our party chose to slog through the nonsense, but a couple of us instead took to the cliffs on the south side. This introduced some Class 2/3 scrambling, but avoided a massive amount of bushwhacking. It's difficult to judge when to drop back down since the cliffs get gnarly, and ultimately it might be easier to just crawl through the watercourse. After I got cliffed out for the third time I started to wish I'd just stayed low, of course until Richie stumbled on a massive rattler, an angry coil difficult to see within the brush. I managed to get back down and was drenched in sweat from navigating the sun-exposed cliffs, but everyone else was covered in thorns, spores, and frustration. It's just a mess, but not all that long of an endeavor. I certainly preferred this ascent method to setting up a shuttle, but I'm a sucker for vertical gain and forming loops when possible. I'm not sure everyone felt similarly.

Within Bighorn Canyon, there's a major fork where it's important to keep right, following the water. A couple of Class 2/3 boulder obstacles over canyon chockstones and we were free from the brush. Once the water dissipated, the drainage continued into the gorgeous Bighorn Canyon narrows. More fun obstacles and excellent hairpin turns make this canyon among my favorite in the Black Canyon, even despite the earlier brush. We reached the classic Class 4 obstacle that may be difficult for some. There's really no way around it, so you should go into this hike knowing you can climb this crux. Most of us chose to stem up the chute, a tricky low Class 5 set of moves. Alternatively, others preferred the more exposed, but less difficult Class 4 option by sticking to the face on the right.

After some more mellow, twisting narrows, Bighorn Canyon opens up into some gorgeous badlands. Once we reached the mouth of a minor red slot canyon, rather than enter it we kept right and ascended a rocky gully. The gully petered out and became a slope that continued to the ridge separating Weeping Springs Canyon to the north from Bighorn Canyon. From this ridge, we dropped a few feet and located a social trail that would take us back west. This surprisingly good trail led all the way to the base of the slope below Canyon Point, where our cars were waiting. A massive boulder on the right serves as a landmark indicating when to start up, and a lightly cairned route leads up to the rim using a social trail on a minor rib/slope to the north of the parking area. You could just ascend up the slope directly to the cars, but that requires looser terrain with lots of broken glass higher up. This was an excellent day out with a good group of capable canyoneers. More desert fun ahead!

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View back toward the Canyon Point parking area as we start along the rest of the road.
View back toward the Canyon Point parking area as we start along the rest of the road.
Descending along the road to the rim where we begin dropping down.
Descending along the road to the rim where we begin dropping down.
Overlook from our descent from the rim. The head of Buzzard Canyon is seen on the right.
Overlook from our descent from the rim. The head of Buzzard Canyon is seen on the right.
Close-up at the descent, Buzzard Canyon top center.
Close-up at the descent, Buzzard Canyon top center.
On our way down, a view toward the Colorado River and Fortification Hill.
On our way down, a view toward the Colorado River and Fortification Hill.
View back at the Class 2 descent.
View back at the Class 2 descent.
View back up at the rim as we enter the drainage.
View back up at the rim as we enter the drainage.
Hiking along the drainage toward the head of Buzzard Canyon.
Hiking along the drainage toward the head of Buzzard Canyon.
Entering the first short section of narrows.
Entering the first short section of narrows.
Nothing except a few short obstacles up here.
Nothing except a few short obstacles up here.
Getting narrower.
Getting narrower.
A very cool hairpin turn.
A very cool hairpin turn.
At the top of the first (and largest by far) rappel. It's two-tiered. Luke is seen rappelling from the top of the first to a large platform where he continues.
At the top of the first (and largest by far) rappel. It's two-tiered. Luke is seen rappelling from the top of the first to a large platform where he continues.
Top of the first rappel, a two-tiered cumulative 200'. First drop is about 20'. Luke seen on the platform starting the second drop.
Top of the first rappel, a two-tiered cumulative 200'. First drop is about 20'. Luke seen on the platform starting the second drop.
Looking back up the first tier.
Looking back up the first tier.
At the bottom of the big rappel, view back up.
At the bottom of the big rappel, view back up.
Close-up at Mike rappelling. It was free-hanging for most of the drop.
Close-up at Mike rappelling. It was free-hanging for most of the drop.
Continuing down the canyon.
Continuing down the canyon.
Some boulder obstacles to scramble down.
Some boulder obstacles to scramble down.
Entering the second set of narrows.
Entering the second set of narrows.
Class 2/3 scrambles.
Class 2/3 scrambles.
A short drop, rope not required here.
A short drop, rope not required here.
A meat anchor on a rappel that can be downclimbed by a capable climber.
A meat anchor on a rappel that can be downclimbed by a capable climber.
View down at the rap/downclimb.
View down at the rap/downclimb.
View back up at the downclimb.
View back up at the downclimb.
A two-tiered rappel, roughly 120' total.
A two-tiered rappel, roughly 120' total.
View back up at the two-tiered rappel.
View back up at the two-tiered rappel.
Nuisance rappel.
Nuisance rappel.
View back at the short nuisance rappel.
View back at the short nuisance rappel.
Starting down the final set of rappels into the Colorado River, seen below. This rappel is about 40 feet.
Starting down the final set of rappels into the Colorado River, seen below. This rappel is about 40 feet.
View from the top of the rappel.
View from the top of the rappel.
View back up at the 40' rappel.
View back up at the 40' rappel.
Final two sections, the first can be down-climbed at Class 4.
Final two sections, the first can be down-climbed at Class 4.
Close-up to the start of the final rappel, 30 feet into the Colorado River.
Close-up to the start of the final rappel, 30 feet into the Colorado River.
On our trip the river was low enough that we had a substantial beach to blow our packrafts up on.
On our trip the river was low enough that we had a substantial beach to blow our packrafts up on.
View up at the final rappel as we get ready to paddle upstream to Bighorn Canyon.
View up at the final rappel as we get ready to paddle upstream to Bighorn Canyon.
Bighorn Canyon's mouth seen center.
Bighorn Canyon's mouth seen center.
View back.
View back.
We reached the beach at the mouth of Bighorn Canyon.
We reached the beach at the mouth of Bighorn Canyon.
Starting up Bighorn Canyon, much more brushy than I'd experienced in the past.
Starting up Bighorn Canyon, much more brushy than I'd experienced in the past.
I found keeping to the left on the cliffs introduced Class 2/3 scrambling, but avoided a massive amount of bushwhacking.
I found keeping to the left on the cliffs introduced Class 2/3 scrambling, but avoided a massive amount of bushwhacking.
Image 41 from gallery
Image 42 from gallery
View down toward Richie, who had decided to bushwhack instead of take the high road. Granted, getting back down required a bit of a sketchy downclimb, so maybe don't go super far.
View down toward Richie, who had decided to bushwhack instead of take the high road. Granted, getting back down required a bit of a sketchy downclimb, so maybe don't go super far.
I made my way back into the drainage to meet everyone else, who were significantly more covered in spores and thorns. It's actually pretty dangerous - we passed an angry rattler, hard to see  in the brush.
I made my way back into the drainage to meet everyone else, who were significantly more covered in spores and thorns. It's actually pretty dangerous - we passed an angry rattler, hard to see in the brush.
Image 45 from gallery
Bighorn Canyon is pretty, but the brush has taken over.
Bighorn Canyon is pretty, but the brush has taken over.
Continuing up Bighorn Canyon. At a junction, keep right, sticking to the watercourse.
Continuing up Bighorn Canyon. At a junction, keep right, sticking to the watercourse.
A couple of Class 2/3 boulder obstacles and we were free of the brush.
A couple of Class 2/3 boulder obstacles and we were free of the brush.
Entering the narrows.
Entering the narrows.
Gorgeous narrows of Bighorn Canyon.
Gorgeous narrows of Bighorn Canyon.
Image 51 from gallery
A lovely hairpin turn as we ascend Bighorn Canyon.
A lovely hairpin turn as we ascend Bighorn Canyon.
Image 53 from gallery
There are a few boulder obstacles within the canyon.
There are a few boulder obstacles within the canyon.
Image 55 from gallery
And then we reached the Class 4 obstacle. Most of us chose to stem up the chute, like Mike seen here.
And then we reached the Class 4 obstacle. Most of us chose to stem up the chute, like Mike seen here.
View down at the Class 4 Bighorn Canyon crux.
View down at the Class 4 Bighorn Canyon crux.
Others in the party preferred the more exposed, but less difficult option by sticking to the face.
Others in the party preferred the more exposed, but less difficult option by sticking to the face.
Continuing up Bighorn Canyon.
Continuing up Bighorn Canyon.
Bighorn Canyon opens up into some gorgeous badlands.
Bighorn Canyon opens up into some gorgeous badlands.
Once we reached the mouth of this red slot canyon, we kept right and ascended using a rocky gully.
Once we reached the mouth of this red slot canyon, we kept right and ascended using a rocky gully.
View back down the rocky gully, pretty badlands behind us.
View back down the rocky gully, pretty badlands behind us.
Up the gully to the ridge separating Weeping Springs Canyon to the north from Bighorn Canyon.
Up the gully to the ridge separating Weeping Springs Canyon to the north from Bighorn Canyon.
At the ridge, view back down toward Bighorn Canyon.
At the ridge, view back down toward Bighorn Canyon.
We located the social trail that would take us back west rather than dropping all the way down into the rocky Weeping Springs Canyon wash. The cars are located top center.
We located the social trail that would take us back west rather than dropping all the way down into the rocky Weeping Springs Canyon wash. The cars are located top center.
Just past the massive boulder seen on the right, a cairned route leads up to the rim using a social trail on a minor rib/slope. You could just ascend up the slope directly, but that requires looser terrain with lots of broken glass higher up.
Just past the massive boulder seen on the right, a cairned route leads up to the rim using a social trail on a minor rib/slope. You could just ascend up the slope directly, but that requires looser terrain with lots of broken glass higher up.
Ascending the rib/slope to the rim above.
Ascending the rib/slope to the rim above.
View back down into the Weeping Spring Canyon drainage just before reaching the rim.
View back down into the Weeping Spring Canyon drainage just before reaching the rim.

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