Cathedral Rock and Little Falls Canyon in Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

Canyoneer Cathedral Rock and Little Falls Canyon Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

Class 2 3A/C (80 ft max) 3.2 miles 1100 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Aug 10, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Cathedral Rock and Little Falls Canyon GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

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.

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.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Cathedral Rock
8599 ft
184 rise

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!

Cathedral Rock/South Loop Trailhead.
Cathedral Rock/South Loop Trailhead.
Very wide and popular Cathedral Rock Trail.
Very wide and popular Cathedral Rock Trail.
Image 2 from gallery
Image 3 from gallery
Looking back the way we came, Cathedral Rock pictured on the left.
Looking back the way we came, Cathedral Rock pictured on the left.
Image 5 from gallery
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.
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.
Image 7 from gallery
Image 8 from gallery
A forested section just west of Cathedral Rock.
A forested section just west of Cathedral Rock.
Image 10 from gallery
Approaching Cathedral Rock.
Approaching Cathedral Rock.
Cathedral Rock, view east into Kyle Canyon.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
The first rappel into Little Fall Canyon was off a tree on the right.
Scot on the second rappel.
Scot on the second rappel.
Looking down the second rappel at the third rappel, directly after.
Looking down the second rappel at the third rappel, directly after.
Looking back up at rap 2.
Looking back up at rap 2.
Rap 3.
Rap 3.
A small down climb.
A small down climb.
Rap 4. Very pretty.
Rap 4. Very pretty.
Bottom of rap 4.
Bottom of rap 4.
Rap 4, Scot coming down.
Rap 4, Scot coming down.
Rap 5, super short. Probably could be down climbed.
Rap 5, super short. Probably could be down climbed.
Lots of sticks and logs, our rope got caught on everything.
Lots of sticks and logs, our rope got caught on everything.
Short down climb, with the possibility of a rappel.
Short down climb, with the possibility of a rappel.
True rap 6.
True rap 6.
Scot heading down rap 6.
Scot heading down rap 6.
Looking down rap 6.
Looking down rap 6.
Bottom of rap 6, looking back.
Bottom of rap 6, looking back.
Rap 7, possibly can be down climbed.
Rap 7, possibly can be down climbed.
At the mouth of Little Falls Canyon, looking back up.
At the mouth of Little Falls Canyon, looking back up.
We headed out of Little Falls Canyon, picking up the obvious trail.
We headed out of Little Falls Canyon, picking up the obvious trail.
Looking back into Little Falls Canyon.
Looking back into Little Falls Canyon.
Along the Little Falls Trail. We took this back to the trailhead.
Along the Little Falls Trail. We took this back to the trailhead.

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!