Canyoneering Hell'n Moriah Canyon
House Range
Overview
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Sat 
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Sun
80 | 60 |
Mon
79 | 57 |
Tue 
80 | 57 |
Wed
82 | 58 |
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Sat
82 | 62 |
Sun
80 | 60 |
Mon
79 | 57 |
Tue
80 | 57 |
Wed
82 | 58 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
Hell'n Moriah Canyon the stunning limestone narrow section.
Starting at the same trailhead as the far more popular Notch Peak hike, Hell‘n Moriah Canyon seems like an overlooked gem to me. The canyon is wide open at its head, but has a short and dramatic section that cuts through a limestone layer. The section that cuts through the limestone is high walled, and very scenic. One of the prettiest sections of canyon I have seen in the West Desert so far.
For hikers, you can visit most of the narrows as an out-and-back hike, which is likely how I would most recommend it. Those wanting to do some rappels can descend the full canyon, though this requires a lengthy car shuttle.
The lower canyon near the WSA Boundary.
Getting There
From Delta, head west on US-50/US-6 for about 40 miles to just after mile post 48. The side road is on the north side of the road:
- Reset your odometer as you leave the highway. There are many side roads along the way. Stay on the main road, major junctions are specified. ( 12S 305376mE 4325742mN / N39° 03' 33" W113° 14' 58" )
- 4.35 miles - Miller Canyon on the left. Turn left onto this road. ( 12S 308034mE 4331647mN / N39° 06' 46" W113° 13' 13" )
- 9.5 miles - Picnic area/pit toilet on the right. Junction. Go left, staying on the most used road heading west. ( 12S 300572mE 4335019mN / N39° 08' 30" W113° 18' 27" )
- 11.3 miles - Junction crossing a wash. Stay straight (not left). ( 12S 298013mE 4334063mN / N39° 07' 56" W113° 20' 13" )
- 12.1 miles - Cabin on the right. ( 12S 296764mE 4333784mN / N39° 07' 46" W113° 21' 04" )
- 12.8 miles - Notch Peak and Hell n' Moriah Canyon Trailhead and end of the road. ( 12S 295705mE 4333619mN / N39° 07' 40" W113° 21' 48" )
- Canyoneering Exit Trailhead
- Continue on US-50/US-6 to mile post 33.1 where a side road leaves on the right. Reset your odometer as you turn onto the side road.
- 0.8 miles - Left at the T-Junction ( 12S 287875mE 4328479mN / N39° 04' 47" W113° 27' 08" )
- 2.45 miles from US-50/US-6 is a side road on the right. This is the road up Hell'n Moriah Canyon. You can leave the shuttle vehicle at this junction, or drive up the rough two track 2 miles to the wilderness boundary and leave it there. Time wise, it is likely as fast to just walk the 2 miles instead of trying to shuttle it. ( 12S 287410mE 4331073mN / N39° 06' 10" W113° 27' 31" )
- Hell'n Moriah Side Road It was rocky on my visit, but passable with high clearance. If driving, go left at the only junction 1.1 miles up. At about 2.0 miles the road ends at a WSA sign where the road has washed out anyway. There is so-so primitive camping at the end of the road.
The upper part of the canyon known as Hell'n Moriah Kitchen
Route
From the trailhead, locate the old road heading south up the hill. The road is now closed, but has a social trail on it. Follow the trail as it climbs up the hill, then descends into the wide valley that is the upper end of Hell’n Moriah Canyon. The canyon meanders down. Stay on the old ATV track when convenient, but it is hard to get lost now. Simply stay in the main drainage.
After about 30 minutes (1.5 miles), the limestone walls grow and the canyon narrows. This is the start of the dramatic limestone narrows.
The Narrows
A short 2 m ( 7 ft. ) drop most should be able to reverse. Just after this, the canyon turns left.
Just after the canyon turn, a significant obstacle is reached.
R1 - 6 m ( 20 ft. ) - A drop over a boulder. This is the turnaround spot for hikers and will need rappelling/ascending gear to safely descend and reverse.
There are two small drops after the first rappel in the corridor that most should be able to reverse fairly easily.
The canyon turns right, and plummets! This is the final rappel.
R2 - 60 m ( 197 ft. ) - Extend the anchor out as far as comfortable, as the drop is just shy of 60 m from near the edge.
Exit (about 5 miles / 2 hours)
Coil up your ropes and take off your harnesses. The technical section is over. Head down canyon on a road. This road, now in a Wilderness Study Area, is closed, though showed some signs of use. In just a few minutes, the road leaves the canyon bottom on the left. Leave the road here and stay in the canyon bottom, heading down canyon. There once was a road in the canyon bottom as well, though time has mostly reclaimed it, with only occasional signs of its prior existence. The high walls surrounding the canyon are lovely and heavily pocketed.
From the final rappel, it is about 3 miles to the Wilderness Study Boundary. Keep an eye out on the right for the old road cutting steeply up the bank. Once you find that, and the WSA boundary, a 2-track makes for easy walking down to the Tule Valley road in about 2 more miles unless you drove this last section and spotted the car higher up.
Photos
Maps
| Trailhead |
12S 295704mE 4333619mN N39° 07' 40" W113° 21' 48" |
| Rappel |
12S 293692mE 4332017mN N39° 06' 46" W113° 23' 10" |
| Final Rappel |
12S 293681mE 4331979mN N39° 06' 45" W113° 23' 11" |
| Wilderness boundary |
12S 290292mE 4330116mN N39° 05' 42" W113° 25' 30" |
| Tule Valley Road |
12S 287402mE 4331070mN N39° 06' 10" W113° 27' 31" |