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Dec 20, 2022 — Keyhole Canyon (not to be confused with the super-popular Keyhole Canyon in Zion National Park) is located in the Newberry Mountains in southern Nevada. It's an excellent beginner canyon since it has great scenery and narrows, only a few rappels, and a couple of fun partner-assists. This being one of the more popular Las Vegas canyons, the bolts and other anchors are likely to be in excellent shape. My first time doing this canyon was February 2017, but I've since updated this trip report after repeating it a few times with various parties.
Reaching the trailhead is possible by any vehicle with a little bit of clearance, the powerline roads used to access it in mostly decent shape. Leave pavement here (35.74396, -114.955173) and head east on Route S, then turn south at the end, following powerlines. From the trailhead, head north into a minor wash. After a short spurt of Class 2 within the drainage, look to the right and head up a social trail leading up the slope. This social trail leads up and over a few minor hills as it gains about 800 cumulative vertical feet before making the final descent into the head of Keyhole Canyon. There are occasional views toward the canyon along the way. The approach photos below are with a local canyoneering group, and the the technical ones are with Austin, Bethany, and Nick on a separate outing.
Once within Keyhole Canyon, the first rappel is reached pretty quickly. Rap 1 drops about 40 feet, and then is quickly proceeded by the roughly 50-foot Rap 2. Keyhole Canyon is much more narrow during this section, the granite bright and very pretty. A series of three short drops offer 5-10 foot downclimbs/slides, or partner assists, and then the 50-foot Rap 3 is reached. The canyon opens up into a wash past here, only one short downclimb/handline obstacle created by a massive boulder along the way. The last rap drops about 100 feet. There's a cluster of petroglyphs scattered around the rocks near the mouth of Keyhole Canyon.
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