Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Nevada →  ⊗ Keyhole Canyon

⊗ Technical Route ⊗Warning: Do Not Attempt Without Proper Training – click here for details

Location: Eldorado Mountains, Las Vegas, Nevada

Time Required: 2-4 hours

Distance: 1.6 miles total, 0.7 technical

Elevation Gain: 700 feet

Rappels: 4-5, up to 100 feet

Red Tape/Notes: No permit required, no shuttle required. Not recommended for summer. A gpx track of the route can be found on ropewiki, here, and BluuGnome gives his usual excellent and detailed beta. If you’re going to be doing canyons in this area, I’d highly recommend buying Las Vegas Slots by Rick Ianniello (available on Amazon or through Canyoneering USA).

What’s Nearby?: Jubilee Mine, Pioneer Saloon, Nelson Ghost Town

Keyhole is a great little run if you’re in the area and looking for something less taxing than what you’ll find in Red Rocks (or if you’ve only got half a day). We did this canyon on the way home to San Diego from a long weekend canyoning and packrafting in the Black Canyon and it was a nice quick stop. The route is incredibly efficient – very little messing around with a winding trail or ups and downs – just keep moving up the mountain until it flattens out to a wash at the top of the canyon. A short stroll down the wash takes you into the scenic rocky maze of the canyon, and the rappels start shortly after. Scenic rappels and downclimbs follow; the second rappel used to have a very awkward start, but a more convenient rap station had been set up further back from the edge when we were here last, making this an easy start. Many of the rappels feature fun slickrock so you can ooze down sculpted tunnels of rock. Keep an eye out for bees if there are any pools of water around – they’re not terribly interested in you, but I still wouldn’t want to land in them if I could help it. The last rappel spits you out practically back at your car, but make sure to check out the excellent petroglyphs on the way out. Bonus!

Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Nevada →  ⊗ Keyhole Canyon