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Grandstaff Tower Rock Climbing

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Elevation:	1,881 ft	573 m
GPS:	36.12245, -114.94929 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	1,250 total · 18/month
Shared By:	SenorDB on Nov 15, 2019
Admins:	Luke EF, Justin Johnsen Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

Behind Lake Las Vegas, at the edge of the Great Unconformity, in the Rainbow Gardens recreation area lies a couple of small desert towers. The larger chubby-looking tower to the south is Grandstaff Tower. The base is soft sandstone and the top is crumbling conglomerate. The conglomerate is a mixed bag of good rock and choss, cracks will take and hold good gear while cobbles fall off in your hand next to it. The sand stone is basically shit for anything other than moving over it lightly. I had heard that Randy Grandstaff had climbed this years ago. If so, any evidence from his passage is long since gone but I’ve no doubt that folk have been climbing this feature for generations.

Getting There

High clearance vehicles are recommended and 4x4s are better but I’ve made it with my Oldsmobile when the roads are in good shape.

Most reliable way: On E Lake Mead Blvd, 1.8 mi north of the LMNRA tollbooth, is a large dirt parking lot with a Kiosk and dirt road out the back. Follow the dirt road southwest to where it merges with the power lines, visible a short ways to the south, and ignoring the side roads. Continue southwest on the main power line road up over a saddle on the shoulder of Las Vegas Butte to the next valley. Henderson, LLV, and both towers are visible from the saddle. Take the main power line road down into the wash until slightly past the rock tower then cut back to it on a spur that services the power line tower closest to it. Park here.

Luck of the draw: Go to Lake Las Vegas. Once there on Lake Las Vegas Pkwy, go through two roundabouts then take the first left onto Strada Riva Del Nord. Jog right to continue straight on Strada Riva Del Nord, through a parking lot at the end of the short road, and up a ramped curb to a dirt road that immediately turns left. These are the service yards for LLV so drive nice and smile. The road passes two dirt dikes and the second dike has a cable gate. If it’s down you’re in! The road hooks left after the gate and snakes down onto the main power line road, eventually going into the main wash. Take the service spur road to the power line tower that’s closest and park at the end. This is the easiest way if it’s open.

Also: This Tower can be approached from North Las Vegas via another dirt road, Lava Butte Rd. Turn right where it joins up with the power line road. This approach takes longer than from LMNRA side.