Skip to main content

Desperado Canyon

State Line Hills BLM, NV McCullough Range + Southern Spring Mountains + Stateline Hills

Distance: 6.8 mi
Net Gain: 1,700 ft
Time: 5-7 hrs
YDS Rating: Class 2
ACA Rating: 3A III
Longest Rappel: 70 ft
Route: Loop

Effort: 3.7/10
Personality: 6/10
Beauty: 8/10
Solitude: 5.5/10

What do these mean? →

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

35.679330, -115.405230

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.

Jan 13, 2019 — Though different beta suggests parking somewhere else, our parking spot seemed to involve less desert walking and was easy to navigate to. Navigate to this underpass (35.7151286,-115.3642429) and follow the dirt road southwest. 2025 update: recent flooding has made this a much more harrowing drive, so only serious vehicles can make it out here now.

From wherever you parked along the dirt road, head through the desert to a hump leading to a ridgeline on the north side of Desperado Canyon. There are a couple of Class 2 sections, but the ridgeline is reasonable and you get nice views into Desperado Canyon. Stay along the ridge until you see a gully emerge on the left leading into Desperado Canyon – it is very obvious and won’t require rappeling to get into this side gully, so don’t leave the ridgeline too early.

Once in the gully, a few cliff band rappels lead you to a junction with Desperado Canyon’s south fork – one of these rappels is the longest of the day. Continue east through Desperado Canyon, where there are a ton of fun obstacles, short down-climbs and rappels, as well as a few slickrock slides and gorgeous chutes.

Hire me or show some love!

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!

Hire me PayPal Venmo Cash App

Photos

41 photos

Starting southwest into the desert.
Heading up our chosen ridge north of Desperado Canyon (seen on the left).
Class 2+ moves along the ridgeline.
View south on the way up, Desperado Canyon below.
Desperado Canyon on the left as we ocntinue up the ridge.
Looking back along our ridge, Desperado Canyon on the right.
Descending into Desperado Canyon's north fork.
First rappel.
A big rappel, still within the north fork.
Looking back at the big rappel.
A couple of short rappels and walk-arounds before getting into the main Desperado Canyon.
Looking back toward where the north fork (right) and south fork (left) join.
Entering Desperado Canyon's narrows.
There are a ton of windy obstacles on beautiful limestone.
My favorite spot in Desperado Canyon. I couldn't believe how cool this hairpin turn was.
Scot acting up.
An interesting rappel in a narrow chute that ends in a pothole.
Looking down into the pothole.
Austin escaping the pothole. There wasn't water.
Last rappel.
Exiting Desperado canyon.
Wide open desert traverse back.

Hire me or show some love!

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!

Hire me PayPal Venmo Cash App