
Heading into the brushy gully from the trailhead.

It's not too bad, but meh.

First rappel we encountered, optional but pretty. Avoid via a slope on the right as you descend.

Continuing after the optional rappel through some brush.

At the canyon register as we suit up.

Starting the fun obstacles before Illusions Canyon begins to get narrow.


Me within the fun obstacle course section before the narrows. Photo by Travis Yoshimoto

Pretty section of lush greenery within Illusions Canyon.



One of many rappels that can be avoided by downclimbing or partner assists.

Me and Josh at our first rappel within the canyon. Illusions Canyon gets deeper from here. Photo by Travis Yoshimoto










Finally entering the narrows after a lot of gorgeous canyon scenery.

Incredible arch within an interesting section of Illusions Canyon.

Photo by Travis Yoshimoto

Photo by Shawn Pladas

Looking back up at the arch.

A particularly fun section, where we were able to slide down into a pool. Photo by Travis Yoshimoto

A gorgeous pool. Photo by Travis Yoshimoto


Photo by Travis Yoshimoto

There was a static line set up here for some reason, so we prudently used it to descend another fun slide into a pool. Photo by Travis Yoshimoto

Photo by Travis Yoshimoto


Yet another interesting rappel through winding narrows. Photo by Travis Yoshimoto

The 80-foot rappel that we mistakenly initially thought was the final rappel. It was really gorgeous, but no pothole at the bottom. Photo by Travis Yoshimoto

Josh coming down the 80-foot rappel. Photo by Shawn Pladas

Wideshot of the rappel. We had another set of narrows to come, which was too dark for any of our photos to come out, and we were cold and moving quickly. But it was really pretty. Photo by Travis Yoshimoto

There are a bunch of pretty potholes within the last section of narrows, ending at the final rappel with the infamous keeper pothole. It was overflowing during our visit. Photo by Travis Yoshimoto

Shot of the final rappel in Illusions Canyon.

Close-up of the final rappel. Photo by Travis Yoshimoto

After the last rappel, a much-needed group photo! You can see the keeper pothole was overflowing and therefore safe on our trip.

Working our way through some brush after the last rappel.

An unanticipated rappel to get out of our tributary and into the West Fork of Oak Creek.

Almost at West Fork of Oak Creek.

Where our tributary met up with West Fork of Oak Creek. Absolutely gorgeous.

A crazy rock feature as we worked east within West Fork of Oak Creek.


We were all pretty photo trigger happy here.

Our favorite area of West Fork of Oak Creek. Incredible walls.



Photo by Travis Yoshimoto






Just a ton of gorgeous features within West Fork of Oak Creek.




Eventually, a a sign marks the end of the trail, which in our case was the start of the trail...


Not as gorgeous because of trees blocking the views, but overall just an incredible canyon.




Trail along West Fork of Oak Creek.







Wilderness sign as we got back to the Call of the Canyon Trailhead.
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