
The trailhead, which is just the side of the road at the head of the canyon.

Immediately after leaving my car, I got to the first rappel.

The first rappel from below.

The motorcycle of Motorcycle Canyon.

Poor thing.

Second rappel comes shortly after, through a narrow opening.

You can touch both sides of the canyon as you rap down the second rappel.

Exiting the first narrows into the wash walk.

Looking back toward the first/second rappels.

Continuing down the pretty wash.


Lots of fun mini down climbing obstacles.



About to enter the next section of narrows.

Looking back before starting the narrows.


Looking into the narrows.


Looking back toward daylight.

Hairpin turn within the canyon.

A close-up.


In my opinion, the most fun and narrow rappel in the canyon.

Me before starting the rap.

Looking down the third rappel (the most interesting rap, in my opinion).

Looking up the third rappel.

After the narrows, back into a wide wash.


Bright orange-red section.

Fun obstacles in this section, Class 2/3.


Entering a third section of narrows in Motorcycle Canyon, my favorite one.

The light was hitting the slot just right.





Exiting the third section of narrows leads to a final wash before getting the to Gold Strike Hot Springs intersection.

Walk briefly along the Gold Strike Hot Springs trail before turning right and going up Telephone Canyon. But not before a quite detour to the Hot Springs and Colorado River, of course!

Some obstacles along the trail, but this is very fairly popular hike so there are ropes and graffiti arrows pointing the easiest way. It still takes some time to get to the springs and back, so make sure you leave enough time so you aren't trying to route-find up Telephone Canyon in the dark.

Descending Gold Strike Canyon.



Ropes along the way.

Approaching the main hot spring pools.

One of the pools.

Farther down the canyon.


A beautiful pool shortly before reaching the Colorado River.

Colorado River. Head back to the junction with Telephone Canyon.

On my way back up Gold Strike Canyon (right), now at the junction with Telephone Canyon (left). Of course, if you choose to ascend via the less-adventurous route you can head up Gold Strike Canyon here instead. This trip report assumes you're going up Telephone Canyon.

Just after entering Telephone Canyon, there's a bit of brush and some rock hopping.

Then a fun Class 2/3 section, a pile of boulders within the main drainage.

A short bit of water within the canyon. With some effort you can avoid getting wet.

Pretty watercourse.

Top of the pretty watercourse, where Telephone Canyon opens a bit.


Telephone Canyon widens and re-narrows, so pay attention so you stay within the main drainage as not to take an incorrect spur canyon.

There are a bunch of fun Class 2/3 scrambly obstacles, and Telephone Canyon has many narrow and wide sections.

More little dryfalls that require some creativity.


Looking back toward the open section before entering more narrows.

Another fun feature.

Approaching a Class 3 slot. you can avoid it by taking the high road on the top right, but this adds a bit of elevation gain and the slot is quite fun.

A Class 3 section up a small slot with a chockstone obstacle at the top.

Looking back toward the chockstone within the Class 3 section.

Onward through Telephone Canyon's upper reaches.

When you see these old telephone poles, you can be sure you're on the right track.

One more dryfall. Almost all dryfalls were Class 2+ or low Class 3. There were bones all up this section of canyon. I saw at least two sheep skulls.




Old barrels all over this section of the wash.

Looking back toward Telephone Canyon.

The canyon opens into a wide wash before the 600 foot ascent begins to get back to the car. Veer left to stay within the drainage.

View back toward Telephone Canyon as I near a minor saddle.

At the saddle at the head of Telephone Canyon, view toward the route I chose to take. I've been able to locate at least three routes up the cliff bands above, but this one is my favorite. It leads up the hump in the center of this photo.

After reaching the base of the previously mentioned hump's cliff band, I ascended a Class 3 portion on its left side.

Another Class 3 move.

Looking back at the short Class 3 move. The minor saddle is seen top left.

Above the cruxes and over the cliff band, now heading back to Black Canyon Overlook Road.

View down into the Black Canyon.
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