Class 2 3A III (100 ft max) 4.6 miles 1100 gain 5-7 hrs Shuttle Jun 10, 2019
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Mud Spring Canyon 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.

Mud Spring Canyon is one of the shorter technical canyons in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. A few years ago, I thought I could descend from Windy Peak via Mud Spring Canyon, not realizing it was technical, and I had to navigate around the technical sections. Fortunately, it worked out somehow. I think this route would work really well if you combined Windy Peak and descend this route using the technical way. This time around, Scot, Kelly, and I set up a shuttle just to do this is as a technical descent.

We parked our first car along a dirt road just north of the tiny town of Mountian Springs, then followed a social trail up a ridge leading east. This ridge led to the limestone crest just west of our canyon. We descended on a wide slope and then dropped north into Mud Spring Canyon. Some light bushwhacking led to the technical stuff. The first section of rappels (4-6 of them, depending on if you link some together, or avoid the main drainage to bypass one of the raps) are fun and have some nice views down the canyon. After these rappels, the canyon lets up for a bit and we rock hopped to the second section of rappels, where the fun really began. Only one of these rappels in this section is actually necessary, all the others avoidable via bypasses. There were a couple of potholes for us, a rappel into a full swimmer, and a small waterfall. It was nice. Once past the last rappel, we did some more boulder hopping until we located a social trail on the north side of the drainage and followed this to where we parked the second car. Along the way, we encountered a mountain bike trail that facilitated desert travel.

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Starting up from the west side of Red Rock Canyon.
Starting up from the west side of Red Rock Canyon.
Ascending a ridge.
Ascending a ridge.
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At the crest, looking into the sandstone section of Red Rock Canyon.
At the crest, looking into the sandstone section of Red Rock Canyon.
Descending our chosen ridge.
Descending our chosen ridge.
Approaching the slope we would descend into the main Mud Spring drainage.
Approaching the slope we would descend into the main Mud Spring drainage.
Looking back up the slope.
Looking back up the slope.
Starting down the boulder-hopping and minor bushwhacking.
Starting down the boulder-hopping and minor bushwhacking.
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Some fun obstacles along the way down.
Some fun obstacles along the way down.
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Approaching the first rappel.
Approaching the first rappel.
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Kelly on the first rap.
Kelly on the first rap.
Scot on the second rap.
Scot on the second rap.
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Looking back up the canyon watercourse.
Looking back up the canyon watercourse.
We stayed in the watercourse. There's apparently an option to avoid a couple rappels by staying left on these slabs, but we were here to rappel.
We stayed in the watercourse. There's apparently an option to avoid a couple rappels by staying left on these slabs, but we were here to rappel.
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Very pretty chute.
Very pretty chute.
Looking back.
Looking back.
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Last rappel into the long open section.
Last rappel into the long open section.
Looking back up the first section of 4-6 rappels.
Looking back up the first section of 4-6 rappels.
Heading down Mud Spring Canyon.
Heading down Mud Spring Canyon.
Boulder-hopping.
Boulder-hopping.
Approaching the second set of rappels.
Approaching the second set of rappels.
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An avoidable rappel.
An avoidable rappel.
Kelly prepping to come down the most interesting rap of the day. This rappel is also avoidable.
Kelly prepping to come down the most interesting rap of the day. This rappel is also avoidable.
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Kelly and Scot on the right, a couple of fun potholes and a small waterfall on the left.
Kelly and Scot on the right, a couple of fun potholes and a small waterfall on the left.
Kelly jumping in.
Kelly jumping in.
Also Scot. Good times.
Also Scot. Good times.
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The only necessary rappel in this lower section.
The only necessary rappel in this lower section.
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Final rappel, also avoidable via the spot I'm standing to take this photo.
Final rappel, also avoidable via the spot I'm standing to take this photo.
Working down Mud Spring Canyon.
Working down Mud Spring Canyon.
Looking back up into Mud Spring Canyon.
Looking back up into Mud Spring Canyon.
We found a social trail on the north side of the drainage and took it.
We found a social trail on the north side of the drainage and took it.
Looking back the way we came.
Looking back the way we came.
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Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!