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Cathedral Rock and Little Falls Canyon

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV Spring Mountains

Distance: 3.2 mi
Net Gain: 1,100 ft
Time: 3-5 hrs
YDS Rating: Class 2
ACA Rating: 3A/C
Longest Rappel: 80 ft
Route: Loop
Peaks: 1

Effort: 2.2/10
Personality: 6/10
Beauty: 6/10
Solitude: 2/10

What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

Cathedral Rock
8,599′ elevation · 184′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

36.256230, -115.645760

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Trip report

Technical canyon warning

This is a technical canyon requiring canyoneering skills and specialized equipment. If you are not experienced with building anchors or using the gear required for technical canyoneering, do not attempt this route.

Aug 10, 2019 — The route to Little Falls Canyon starts at the Cathedral Rock/South Loop Trailhead. We took the Cathedral Rock Trail to the very popular high point, with a nice overlook into Kyle Canyon and the town of Mt. Charleston. Just west of the summit, an old dirt road continues west, leading to the a steep slope at the head of Little Falls Canyon. We dropped down and quickly got to the first rappel. We encountered seven rappels through the many pretty waterfalls, as well as a few down climbs. It's definitely a really beautiful little canyon, but the countless logs and sticks that line the entire canyon floor make rope management difficult. From the bottom of the last falls, we followed the easy to follow Little Falls Trail back to the trailhead.

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Photos

38 photos

Cathedral Rock/South Loop Trailhead.
Very wide and popular Cathedral Rock Trail.
Looking back the way we came, Cathedral Rock pictured on the left.
Cathedral Rock on the right. In order to keep the grade reasonable on the well-traveled trail, the route first heads south of Cathedral rock, then curves to the west, and then finally to the summit.
A forested section just west of Cathedral Rock.
Approaching Cathedral Rock.
Cathedral Rock, view east into Kyle Canyon.
Cathedral Rock, view northwest toward the town of Mount Charleston. Mummy Mountain visible top right. Charleston Peak top left.
Cathedral Rock, view west toward Little Falls Canyon. Charleston Peak visible top right.
An old dirt road leads away from the Cathedral Rock Trail, heading west.
We dropped into Little Falls Canyon after descending a slope for about a hundred feet.
The first rappel into Little Fall Canyon was off a tree on the right.
Scot on the second rappel.
Looking down the second rappel at the third rappel, directly after.
Looking back up at rap 2.
Rap 3.
A small down climb.
Rap 4. Very pretty.
Bottom of rap 4.
Rap 4, Scot coming down.
Rap 5, super short. Probably could be down climbed.
Lots of sticks and logs, our rope got caught on everything.
Short down climb, with the possibility of a rappel.
True rap 6.
Scot heading down rap 6.
Looking down rap 6.
Bottom of rap 6, looking back.
Rap 7, possibly can be down climbed.
At the mouth of Little Falls Canyon, looking back up.
We headed out of Little Falls Canyon, picking up the obvious trail.
Looking back into Little Falls Canyon.
Along the Little Falls Trail. We took this back to the trailhead.

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Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

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