Motorcycle and Telephone Canyons Loop in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Canyoneer Motorcycle and Telephone Canyons Loop Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 3 3A III (90 ft max) 6.6 miles 1900 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Feb 7, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Motorcycle and Telephone Canyons Loop GPX Track

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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.

This is a fun loop with lots of variance. Motorcycle Canyon is a technical canyon that leads down with three rappels and two major sections of beautiful narrows. Parts of the narrows are lush, but I didn't encounter any water. Motorcycle Canyon meets with the fairly popular Gold Strike Hot Springs Trail briefly before heading up Telephone Canyon to complete the loop. If you have enough time, go check out Gold Strike Hot Springs and the Colorado River, but be prepared for some route-finding through Telephone Canyon and up to the ridge, so don't linger too long. Telephone Canyon has one section of Class 3 climbing up a slot, and the ending to get to the ridge where your car is parked also has a Class 3 scramble on pretty solid rock. Overall, this loop is fantastic adventure through the Black Canyon Wilderness. You could also re-ascend via Gold Strike Canyon and take a dirt road back instead of the more adventrous Telephone Canyon ascent route.

If you don't want to do any rappeling, check out this route that takes the high roads of Goldstrike Mountain and Hoover Peak, but gets some highlights from this route.

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The trailhead, which is just the side of the road at the head of the canyon.
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.
Immediately after leaving my car, I got to the first rappel.
The first rappel from below.
The first rappel from below.
The motorcycle of Motorcycle Canyon.
The motorcycle of Motorcycle Canyon.
Poor thing.
Poor thing.
Second rappel comes shortly after, through a narrow opening.
Second rappel comes shortly after, through a narrow opening.
You can touch both sides of the canyon as you rap down the second rappel.
You can touch both sides of the canyon as you rap down the second rappel.
Exiting the first narrows into the wash walk.
Exiting the first narrows into the wash walk.
Looking back toward the first/second rappels.
Looking back toward the first/second rappels.
Continuing down the pretty wash.
Continuing down the pretty wash.
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Lots of fun mini down climbing obstacles.
Lots of fun mini down climbing obstacles.
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About to enter the next section of narrows.
About to enter the next section of narrows.
Looking back before starting the narrows.
Looking back before starting the narrows.
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Looking into the narrows.
Looking into the narrows.
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Looking back toward daylight.
Looking back toward daylight.
Hairpin turn within the canyon.
Hairpin turn within the canyon.
A close-up.
A close-up.
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In my opinion, the most fun and narrow rappel in the canyon.
In my opinion, the most fun and narrow rappel in the canyon.
Me before starting the rap.
Me before starting the rap.
Looking down the third rappel (the most interesting rap, in my opinion).
Looking down the third rappel (the most interesting rap, in my opinion).
Looking up the third rappel.
Looking up the third rappel.
After the narrows, back into a wide wash.
After the narrows, back into a wide wash.
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Bright orange-red section.
Bright orange-red section.
Fun obstacles in this section, Class 2/3.
Fun obstacles in this section, Class 2/3.
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Entering a third section of narrows in Motorcycle Canyon, my favorite one.
Entering a third section of narrows in Motorcycle Canyon, my favorite one.
The light was hitting the slot just right.
The light was hitting the slot just right.
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Exiting the third section of narrows leads to a final wash before getting the to Gold Strike Hot Springs intersection.
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!
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.
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.
Descending Gold Strike Canyon.
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Ropes along the way.
Ropes along the way.
Approaching the main hot spring pools.
Approaching the main hot spring pools.
One of the pools.
One of the pools.
Farther down the canyon.
Farther down the canyon.
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A beautiful pool shortly before reaching the Colorado River.
A beautiful pool shortly before reaching the Colorado River.
Colorado River. Head back to the junction with Telephone Canyon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A short bit of water within the canyon. With some effort you can avoid getting wet.
Pretty watercourse.
Pretty watercourse.
Top of the pretty watercourse, where Telephone Canyon opens a bit.
Top of the pretty watercourse, where Telephone Canyon opens a bit.
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Telephone Canyon widens and re-narrows, so pay attention so you stay within the main drainage as not to take an incorrect spur canyon.
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.
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.
More little dryfalls that require some creativity.
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Looking back toward the open section before entering more narrows.
Looking back toward the open section before entering more narrows.
Another fun feature.
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.
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.
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.
Looking back toward the chockstone within the Class 3 section.
Onward through Telephone Canyon's upper reaches.
Onward through Telephone Canyon's upper reaches.
When you see these old telephone poles, you can be sure you're on the right track.
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.
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.
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Old barrels all over this section of the wash.
Old barrels all over this section of the wash.
Looking back toward Telephone Canyon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Another Class 3 move.
Looking back at the short Class 3 move. The minor saddle is seen top left.
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.
Above the cruxes and over the cliff band, now heading back to Black Canyon Overlook Road.
View down into the Black Canyon.
View down into the Black Canyon.

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