Big Falls is a short technical canyoneering route within a large valley just below Mt. Charleston in Nevada. Beautiful limestone cliffs and bristlecone pines landscape the Mt. Charleston region. Last year we checked out Little Falls Canyon — if you're ambitious, grab both Big and Little Falls in a day. I recommend going just after the roads open in spring runoff for C-class fun with flowing water — bring drysuits. We brought wetsuits but did not use them. There are 3-4 drops

Mystery Canyon is one of Zion's great 3BIII classics — famous for its dramatic finale where the last rappel deposits you directly into the Zion Narrows from a hanging alcove above the Virgin River. The sight of the Narrows below as you descend is one of the most memorable moments in all of Zion canyoneering. Permit required from Zion NP. The canyon features tight narrows, several rappels through beautiful sandstone corridors, and cold water sections. The approach from the Eas

Hades Knoll is a promontory 30 miles east of Toroweap in a remote and unforgiving section of the northern Grand Canyon — home to the longest narrow slot canyon in the Grand Canyon. A 10-mile approach just to reach the canyon head. The hiking from the trailhead is prairie-like sage and juniper until reaching the esplanade, where terrain shifts to desert with prickly pear cactus at every corner. Bring at least 4 liters of water — I almost ran out. After about 6 hours of hiking

Orderville Canyon is one of the finest tributary canyons in the Zion Narrows system — a 3AII route that requires some technical skill but rewards with some of the most beautiful sandstone narrows in the park. The canyon feeds directly into the Narrows downstream of Wall Street, making it an ideal pairing with a full Narrows day. The technical sections require ropes for the top-down descent. Multiple downclimbs and short rappels lead through stunning narrow corridors before th

The Little Colorado River is one of the main tributaries to the Colorado River, with over a 54-mile hike (one way) or access via side canyons. Water sheds for hundreds of miles into the LCR. One of the mysteries of this watershed is the beautiful milky blue water that emerges from springs — high in calcium and magnesium, it reflects a baby blue color as it passes over calcified travertine dams. We ran Big Canyon which delivered a 5-mile approach and rappels to 100ft, dropping

Antenna Canyon is a State Line canyon southwest of Las Vegas. Four canyons in the area — Antenna provides rapid fire raps with a dramatic ~200ft final drop. Similar feel to Desperado Canyon with straightforward navigation. 1,200-1,400ft approach gain. 5 hours car to car. 2WD high clearance OK but 4x4 preferred. Replaced a few anchors on this visit.

Mosaic Canyon is one of the most accessible and visually striking hikes in Death Valley National Park — a non-technical canyon with beautifully polished dolomite walls that resemble marble, interspersed with colorful mosaic-like breccia conglomerate sections. The trail starts just west of Stovepipe Wells and follows the canyon for about 2 miles each way. No permit is required and the trailhead is easily accessible by car. The canyon walls become increasingly narrow and polish

Dark Shadow Canyon is accessed from Fall Canyon with a traverse over a ridge and a descent into the canyon. We chose to run Dark Shadow first — a good decision as it provided the hike from the ridge to Crater of Doom as the more efficient second canyon of the day. Dark Shadow has around 10 rappels all under 200ft (I believe under 150ft — check ropewiki.com for accurate rope lengths). The best section was the last two drops into Fall Canyon. The anchor at the second-to-last st

The Mesquite Flat Dunes are the most iconic and accessible sand dunes in Death Valley National Park — a sweeping landscape of wind-sculpted ridges and classic star dunes near Stovepipe Wells. The dunes are at their most photogenic during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset when low-angle light creates dramatic shadows along the rippled sand faces. The dune field is easily accessed from the parking area with no technical requirements. The tallest dunes require significant e

Deep Chasm Canyon is one of the premier technical canyons in Death Valley's Fall Canyon range in the Grapevine Mountains. The canyon's namesake feature — a dramatic chasm-like quality to its corridor walls — makes it immediately distinct from its neighbors. The main drop is over 200ft into this dramatic setting. Deep Chasm ranks just behind Crater of Doom in the Fall Canyon range priority list — both canyons can be combined in a full technical day from the Fall Canyon trailhe

Holes in the Rock Cave is a newly discovered Nevada cave — a lava tube system with interesting interconnected passages. The cave was located during a ridgewalking survey of the region and adds to the growing inventory of Nevada's volcanic cave landscape. Like many Nevada cave discoveries, the location remains undisclosed for protection and conservation. If you are interested in Nevada cave exploration, reach out to your local NSS grotto or the Nevada Cave Survey to get involv

After Dark Shadow canyon we headed up Fall Canyon and marched to the sneak route that takes us back up to the ridge and over to Crater of Doom. A 1,000ft hill of loose rock, scree, and broken slab limestone — interesting footing and a few small slides. Once on the ridge, the sun was casting golden hour light. The golden hour and the canyon views made this second canyon of the day absolutely worth the extra effort. Crater of Doom is my #1 canyon from the Fall Canyon range. Big

Zabriskie Point is one of the most photographed locations in Death Valley National Park — and for good reason. The eroded mudstone badlands glow gold and red in the early morning light, creating an extraordinary natural amphitheater of geological drama. The 5-minute walk from the parking area makes it one of the most accessible stunning viewpoints in the American Southwest. Sunrise is the optimal time to visit — arrive 20-30 minutes before first light to secure a position on

The Ibex Dunes are located in the remote southern section of Death Valley National Park — a pristine sand dune system tucked between mountain ranges and accessible via an unmaintained dirt road. The solitude at the Ibex Dunes is remarkable — a rare place where the only sounds are wind and shifting sand. The dark skies at the Ibex Dunes are some of the finest in the United States — perfect for astrophotography with the Milky Way and other deep sky objects visible to the naked

One of the mysteries of the Little Colorado River watershed is the beautiful milky blue water that emerges from springs — high in calcium and magnesium, reflecting a baby blue color over calcified travertine dams. The water was surprisingly warm (high 60s) — perfect for swimming. Accessed after our Big Canyon technical descent via the Salt Trail exit. About 9 miles to the Colorado River from here.

Fossil Snail Canyon is a Death Valley technical canyon in the Grapevine Mountains named for the fossil snails visible in the canyon walls — a remarkable geological feature that makes this canyon visually distinct. The canyon has a dramatic amphitheater character with interesting technical sections and the typical expansive Death Valley views. Best combined with nearby Crater of Doom and Dark Shadow canyons for a full technical day in the Fall Canyon area of the Grapevine Moun

Saratoga Spring is a remote desert spring in the southern end of Death Valley National Park — a quiet oasis of clear water emerging from the desert surrounded by sand dunes and volcanic hills. The spring is home to the rare Desert pupfish and serves as a critical stop for migratory birds crossing the Mojave. The road to Saratoga Spring is unpaved and requires high clearance. The spring itself is accessible on foot and the surrounding landscape is exceptionally photogenic. A p

Cerberus Canyon in Death Valley's Black Range lives up to its mythological name — a demanding multi-fork canyon system with dramatic rappels and the sweeping Badwater Basin views that define this premier winter canyoneering destination. The canyon's geology and wall colors are spectacular in the winter light. Best visited in the winter months when temperatures are manageable. Death Valley canyoneering season is approximately November through March. Cerberus, Charon, and Deimo

Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level is the lowest point in North America — a vast expanse of white salt flat stretching across the floor of Death Valley surrounded by the Amargosa and Panamint mountain ranges. The salt flat forms hexagonal polygon patterns as the salt crystallizes and buckles under the extreme heat and evaporation cycles. The short boardwalk from the parking area leads to the salt flat where you can walk out as far as you want into this surreal landsca

Natural Bridge Canyon in Death Valley is one of the park's most rewarding short hikes — a 1.5-mile round trip through increasingly narrow canyon walls leading to a dramatic 50ft natural rock bridge formed by flash flood erosion over millions of years. The canyon walls display rich colors and interesting geological layering throughout the hike. The natural bridge itself is impressive — a freestanding arch of rock spanning the canyon high above. The canyon continues past the br