Hidden Falls Canyon

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV Red Rock Canyon

Trip stats

Distance
5.4 mi
Net Gain
2,300 ft
Time
6-8 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 3
ACA Rating
3A III
Longest Rappel
120 ft
Route
Loop

Ratings out of 10

Effort
4.3/10
Personality
6/10
Beauty
7/10
Solitude
4.2/10
What do these mean? →

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

36.160790, -115.498610

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.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

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.

Apr 7, 2018 — Park at the end of the pavement on Rocky Gap Road and hike along the dirt road for a few miles until the turnoff on the left (see map), marked by a cairn. I somehow deleted all my photos from the dirt road, but it's nothing spectacular. Follow the steep social trail along the ridge heading toward North Peak until you notice it starts to become more flat, and head north into a canyon, Hidden Falls Canyon. There is a short rappel shortly after entering the canyon, and then a much longer one, followed by fun down scrambling and obstacle maneuvering. There is one spot to note that if you feel there is no easy way down a ten foot drop, find a cave that leads safely and easily down. Toward the very end, we set up an anchor where there was none because it felt too sketchy to down climb, except for Tara who is a badass. A finale waterfall rappel into a grotto at the end of the Children's Discovery Trail might give you an audience, and the waterfall itself is really pretty.

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

52 photos

  1. After heading up the dirt road for a few miles, head left at a cairn and continue up the ridge.
  2. Looking back toward the dirt road on the way up the ridge.
  3. North Peak is somewhere on the right up there.
  4. Leaving limestone, entering sandstone. Looking back toward the dirt road.
  5. At the top of the ridge. Austin is looking toward the head of Hidden Falls Canyon.
  6. Entering Hidden Falls Canyon.
  8. Hidden Falls Canyon first rappel.
  11. top of Hidden Falls Canyon second, and longest, rappel.
  12. Fashion rock art.
  13. Simul-rapping on rap 2 just for fun, taking a mid-way photo of Tara.
  14. Looking up rap 2.
  17. Some obstacles along the way down Hidden Falls Canyon.
  20. Eventually it starts to narrow significantly. Look closely and you can see Austin on the right.
  23. There are lots of beautiful, colorful waterfalls the whole way down.
  25. Entering the exceptionally narrow section of Hidden Falls Canyon.
  26. Class 3+ downclimb.
  28. Tara is approaching the spot where a cave leads easily down. She didn't see it and did some sketchy climb to get down. Typical Tara.
  29. Coming out of the little cave.
  32. Another rappel.
  37. Some easy Class 3 ledges.
  39. A handline aids in getting down one of the shorter drops.
  41. Looking back up Hidden Falls Canyon.
  42. Approaching the sketchy Class 3 ledge.
  43. Tara decided to do the move (see her on left). We weren't as psyched, so we set up a rappel.
  44. We left our webbing for anyone who may need to rappel this, as well.
  46. Approaching the last rappel.
  47. Tara heading down. There was a bolted anchor on the left of this photo that we at first didn't notice, and we set up another anchor on a massive boulder in the wash, only to remove it after finding the bolted anchor.
  48. Mid-rappel photo of the waterfall's lip. There was an audience below.
  49. Looking back up at the waterfall.
  50. Looking back toward Hidden Falls Canyon.
  51. continuing out on the Children's Discovery Trail.
  52. Hidden Falls Canyon on left, the dirt road we took at the beginning of the day goes to the right into that notch.

Photo 1 of 1

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