Pipe Spring Canyon in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Pipe Spring Canyon Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 3 13.2 miles 1800 gain 5-7 hrs Out + Back Jan 23, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Pipe Spring Canyon is a nice walk of solitude down a fairly uneventful wash. There are three sections of short narrows, the first two with slick granite and small drops, the final a 15-foot dryfall that can be downclimbed or bypassed. There's the occassional section of brush, but nothing too crazy until the end of the canyon, where I decided to turn around rather than become food for the desert. I hesitate to call the route Class 3, but some of the dryfall obstacles can require a bit of climbing.

Before turning around, I hiked up a hill to get a view down into Pipe Spring Canyon and of Lake Mohave. Not the place to go if you want an interesting slot, but if you need some time away, I guess this would do the trick.

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Starting north toward the head of Pipe Spring Canyon.
Starting north toward the head of Pipe Spring Canyon.
Entering Pipe Spring Canyon.
Entering Pipe Spring Canyon.
Looking back into the open desert as I enter Pipe Spring Canyon, Spirit Mountain visible on the right.
Looking back into the open desert as I enter Pipe Spring Canyon, Spirit Mountain visible on the right.
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A lot of walking through uninteresting wash, unfortunately.
A lot of walking through uninteresting wash, unfortunately.
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Eventually, you get to the most interesting section of narrows for the day.
Eventually, you get to the most interesting section of narrows for the day.
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Really pretty ganite with a few fun, small dryfall obstacles.
Really pretty ganite with a few fun, small dryfall obstacles.
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The pretty stuff continues around a bend, where I encountered some grasses.
The pretty stuff continues around a bend, where I encountered some grasses.
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I continued down Pipe Spring Canyon for a significantly longer time after the interesting section, curious if there was more. There eventually was, but lots of walking first...
I continued down Pipe Spring Canyon for a significantly longer time after the interesting section, curious if there was more. There eventually was, but lots of walking first...
Pipe Spring Canyon opens up and does have some really nice views.
Pipe Spring Canyon opens up and does have some really nice views.
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Another interesting section of granite.
Another interesting section of granite.
A dryfall obstacle, Class 3.
A dryfall obstacle, Class 3.
Likely my favorite spot in Pipe Spring Canyon.
Likely my favorite spot in Pipe Spring Canyon.
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This section of narrows with slickrock granite last a while, and is probably  a good place to turn around.
This section of narrows with slickrock granite last a while, and is probably a good place to turn around.
I continued a while longer to see what else there was.
I continued a while longer to see what else there was.
A Class 3 dryfall, likely avoidable.
A Class 3 dryfall, likely avoidable.
More pretty canyon sections, but nothing of epic proportions.
More pretty canyon sections, but nothing of epic proportions.
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Eventually Pipe Spring Canyon gets wider and more choked with brush, so I turned around.
Eventually Pipe Spring Canyon gets wider and more choked with brush, so I turned around.
A quick jaunt to a viewpont of the Colorado River, Pipe Spring Canyon below.
A quick jaunt to a viewpont of the Colorado River, Pipe Spring Canyon below.
Viewpoint looking down into Pipe Spring Canyon.
Viewpoint looking down into Pipe Spring Canyon.

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!