Keyhole Canyon in Eldorado Mountains BLM, NV

Canyoneer Keyhole Canyon Eldorado Mountains BLM, NV

Class 2 3A (100 ft max) 1.8 miles 800 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Dec 20, 2022
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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.

Keyhole Canyon (not to be confused with the super-popular Keyhole Canyon in Zion National Park) is located in the Newberry Mountains in southern Nevada. It's an excellent beginner canyon since it has great scenery and narrows, only a few rappels, and a couple of fun partner-assists. This being one of the more popular Las Vegas canyons, the bolts and other anchors are likely to be in excellent shape. My first time doing this canyon was February 2017, but I've since updated this trip report after repeating it a few times with various parties.

Reaching the trailhead is possible by any vehicle with a little bit of clearance, the powerline roads used to access it in mostly decent shape. Leave pavement here (35.74396, -114.955173) and head east on Route S, then turn south at the end, following powerlines. From the trailhead, head north into a minor wash. After a short spurt of Class 2 within the drainage, look to the right and head up a social trail leading up the slope. This social trail leads up and over a few minor hills as it gains about 800 cumulative vertical feet before making the final descent into the head of Keyhole Canyon. There are occasional views toward the canyon along the way. The approach photos below are with a local canyoneering group, and the the technical ones are with Austin, Bethany, and Nick on a separate outing.

Once within Keyhole Canyon, the first rappel is reached pretty quickly. Rap 1 drops about 40 feet, and then is quickly proceeded by the roughly 50-foot Rap 2. Keyhole Canyon is much more narrow during this section, the granite bright and very pretty. A series of three short drops offer 5-10 foot downclimbs/slides, or partner assists, and then the 50-foot Rap 3 is reached. The canyon opens up into a wash past here, only one short downclimb/handline obstacle created by a massive boulder along the way. The last rap drops about 100 feet. There's a cluster of petroglyphs scattered around the rocks near the mouth of Keyhole Canyon.

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Starting out from the trailhead toward the drainage seen ahead.
Starting out from the trailhead toward the drainage seen ahead.
Class 2 initially up the drainage. Just past the scramble, there's a social trail leading to the right out of the drainage, ascending the slope.
Class 2 initially up the drainage. Just past the scramble, there's a social trail leading to the right out of the drainage, ascending the slope.
Looking back toward the trailhead just before leaving the drainage.
Looking back toward the trailhead just before leaving the drainage.
Social trail up the slope.
Social trail up the slope.
The social trail leads up and over a few minor hills. Keyhole Canyon is seen on the right.
The social trail leads up and over a few minor hills. Keyhole Canyon is seen on the right.
View back as we traverse the slopes above Keyhole Canyon.
View back as we traverse the slopes above Keyhole Canyon.
Final descent from the hills into the head of Keyhole Canyon.
Final descent from the hills into the head of Keyhole Canyon.
At the head of Keyhole Canyon.
At the head of Keyhole Canyon.
At the top of the first rappel.
At the top of the first rappel.
Image 9 from gallery
My little brother doing his first canyon rappel!
My little brother doing his first canyon rappel!
View back toward the first rap.
View back toward the first rap.
Bethany on the second rappel.
Bethany on the second rappel.
Austin on second rap.
Austin on second rap.
Top of rap 2. I kept this single very old photo on this trip report since it was my first time ever doing a canyon solo in February 2017, so that felt significant.
Top of rap 2. I kept this single very old photo on this trip report since it was my first time ever doing a canyon solo in February 2017, so that felt significant.
Austin, Bethany, and Nick at the base of the second rappel.
Austin, Bethany, and Nick at the base of the second rappel.
Group shot, why not?
Group shot, why not?
Onward past the 2nd rap.
Onward past the 2nd rap.
Continuing down the pretty narrow section of Keyhole Canyon. There are three partner assists (or slides). This is the first.
Continuing down the pretty narrow section of Keyhole Canyon. There are three partner assists (or slides). This is the first.
Looking back toward the first short slide.
Looking back toward the first short slide.
Top of the second slide/downclimb.
Top of the second slide/downclimb.
Looking back toward the second short slide.
Looking back toward the second short slide.
Short narrow section with the third partner assist just above the second to last rap (rap 3), just ahead.
Short narrow section with the third partner assist just above the second to last rap (rap 3), just ahead.
Partner assist just above Nick. View back just above Rap 3.
Partner assist just above Nick. View back just above Rap 3.
Austin on rap 3.
Austin on rap 3.
It's a pretty, fluted rap.
It's a pretty, fluted rap.
Bottom of rap 3.
Bottom of rap 3.
Keyhole Canyon opens up briefly before the last rappel.
Keyhole Canyon opens up briefly before the last rappel.
A stemmy move. The opposite side of this boulder is a bit less scary.
A stemmy move. The opposite side of this boulder is a bit less scary.
View at a boulder obstacle with two options to descend.
View at a boulder obstacle with two options to descend.
More open space within Keyhole Canyon.
More open space within Keyhole Canyon.
Image 31 from gallery
Approaching the final rappel.
Approaching the final rappel.
Rappel 4.
Rappel 4.
Close-up of rap 4.
Close-up of rap 4.
Image 35 from gallery
View back at rap 4.
View back at rap 4.
Wider shot of rap 4.
Wider shot of rap 4.
Petroglyphs on the walls on way out.
Petroglyphs on the walls on way out.
More petroglyphs.
More petroglyphs.
View back into Keyhole Canyon from the trailhead.
View back into Keyhole Canyon from the trailhead.

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