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Elevation: 2,870 ft
GPS: 35.7156, -114.9264
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 183,785 total · 890/month
Shared By: John Hegyes on Apr 5, 2007 · Updates
Admins: Luke EF, Justin Johnsen

Description Suggest change

Riddled with rock art, this remote climbing destination located between Boulder City and Searchlight is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon.

Keyhole Canyon is primarily a traditional climbing area; sport routes are few. The local ethics are such that retro-bolts and bolts added on rappel are typically removed pretty quickly.

Getting There Suggest change

To get to Keyhole Canyon from Las Vegas, take Hwy US 95 south through Henderson toward Boulder City. From the junction of Hwys 93 and 95, head south on 95 toward Searchlight for 14.5 miles. At an intersection, take a left (east) on to a dirt road. Follow this dirt road for just over 2 miles to a series of power lines. Take a right (south) on the SECOND power line road, travel almost 1.8 miles to the Keyhole Cutoff. Take a left (east) and head less than a half mile to the mouth of the canyon. The crags are about a 1-minute hike from the car.

There is a map in the back of Swain's Rock Climbing Red Rocks book.

We made this approach in a front-wheel-drive passenger car and found the dirt roads to be passable.

On your way out, once on the power line road again, you can retrace your path or for a change of scenery, head south for 2.25 miles and you'll come across another dirt road that will take you out to the highway.

196 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Keyhole Canyon

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1 5
 19
Fleur de Lis
Boulder
V3 6A
 9
LipTraverse
Boulder
V3-4 6A+
 13
Snake Eye
Boulder
V4 6B
 17
Short Arête
Boulder
V5 6C
 13
Mothership
Boulder
V7 7A+
 7
Scratcher
Boulder
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 10
Intelligence Test
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 44
Demonstrator
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 14
History Book
Trad
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
 13
Get Up Stand Up
Trad 3 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 8
5.9 Crack
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 9
A Might Fright
Trad
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 8
Front Boulder Crack (right)
Trad, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 19
Chicken Leg
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 5
Blood Test
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Fleur de Lis Keyhole Canyon… > … > Snake Eyes Corr… > Fleur de Lis
 19
V1 5 Boulder
LipTraverse Keyhole Canyon… > … > Chicken Leg Bou… > Lip
 9
V3 6A Boulder
Snake Eye Keyhole Canyon… > … > Snake Eyes Corr… > Snake Eyes Wall Bould…
 13
V3-4 6A+ Boulder
Short Arête Keyhole Canyon… > Lower Canyon Bo… > Jimbo Rocks
 17
V4 6B Boulder
Mothership Keyhole Canyon… > Lower Canyon Bo… > Jimbo Rocks
 13
V5 6C Boulder
Scratcher Keyhole Canyon… > Lower Canyon Bo… > First Waterfall Bould…
 7
V7 7A+ Boulder
Intelligence Test Lower Canyon > Intelligence Test Slabs
 10
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
Demonstrator Lower Canyon > Demonstrator Wall
 44
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
History Book Lower Canyon > Shark Fin Wall
 14
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Get Up Stand Up Western Fringe > White Dream
 13
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 Trad 3 pitches
5.9 Crack Lower Canyon > Front Bouldering Wall
 8
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
A Might Fright Lower Canyon > Chicken Leg
 9
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Front Boulder Crack (right) Lower Canyon > Front Bouldering Wall
 8
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad, TR
Chicken Leg Lower Canyon > Chicken Leg
 19
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Blood Test Lower Canyon > Blood Test Area
 5
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
More Classic Climbs in Keyhole Canyon »

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