Canyon of the Waterfalls

Beginner-friendly, easily-accessed, quick, and non-committing cliffaneering route on the northwest side of Superstition Mountain. 3 straightforward but fun rappels down a typically dry watercourse. Fantastic approach/exit hike through pinnacles and watercourse, with nonstop great views to the north. Nice option for locals looking for some technical fun, but with just a few hours on their hands.

The route can be accessed from the Lost Dutchman parking lot (along with the usual fee), or for free with a minimal hike distance penalty from one of the pullouts on First Water road just north of Lost Dutchman. Embedded kml is for the approach on a clear trail through Praying Hands. Continue east to the drainage, then south up well-worn trail along the watercourse. Alternatively, follow a well defined trail southeast from a pullout on First Water road, past a cool slotted pinnacle, to Canyon of the Waterfalls. Where the loop begins in the kml is the bottom of R3. Follow kml to explore a little of the watercourse, then leave trail and climb northwest to get above the R1 cliff. Rappels follow in quick succession. All have easy starts, with feet on wall almost all the way down. Any can be bypassed by hiking around.

R1: 150' over a sloped seasonal fall from a boulder pinch. Veer slightly LDC to avoid cacti/agave R2: 70' dryfall from a deadman anchor (a long dacite block pinned by a pair of seepwillows and more rocks) R3: 50' dryfall from a boulder pinch