84x4bronco
04-14-2010, 12:49 AM
Big Kahuna Canyon 3C III
A great water canyon in the mazatzal mountains.
Rating: 3C III
Time Required: 8-12 Hours
Longest Rappel: ~100 feet
Permit Information
NA
Camping/Lodging
Camp at the Barnhardt Trailhead or get an early start.
Preferred Season
Spring, Summer, Fall.
Water Concerns
Large falls with a couple awkward starts. Be sure to set rope lengths.
Special Challenges
Select use of anchor blocks, as certain blocks may cause you to stick a rope.
Equipment Suggestions
Wetsuits. You will be in the shade most of the canyon. Also bring 2 150’ ropes, 80 feet of webbing, and 5 rap rings.
Topographic Maps
Directions to Trailhead
From Phoenix, head north on the Beeline (Hwy87). After passing SR 188, you will turn left (west) onto Barnhardt Trailhead Road. Park at the trailhead.
Approach
Head up the Barnhardt Trail. On the way in you will encounter some switchbacks with a view of some falls on the right. This is the bottom of Big Kahuna Canyon. Continue up the trail. You will cross a few tributaries and cover a decent amount of ground. A small alcove on your left will reveal a big beautiful waterfall in some red granite. This is what the “locals” call Big Kahuna Falls. After checking it out, continue up trail around a point. Upon reaching the top, you will have a view westward of the valley where Barnhardt Canyon is. Shortly after passing this point (less than ¼ mile), the elevation on your left will become less steep. Use this saddle to gain a small peak and then follow this elevation level (around 6125 ft.) until you reach the stream above the falls you encountered earlier.
Description: Standard Route
Head downstream. First rap is off a large tree on canyon right. All anchors in this canyon are natural. Once the canyon really gets going, you can pretty much see each anchor station from the top of the rappel before it. If you can't, you will probably need to stay on rope. Several multi-stage rappels (rap, traverse on rope, rap again). Use caution on R4. its pretty easy to stick a rope here.
Exit
Return the way you came. The Barnhardt Trail is visible from the last rap, and can easily be accessed via a use trail downstream a little ways.
A great water canyon in the mazatzal mountains.
Rating: 3C III
Time Required: 8-12 Hours
Longest Rappel: ~100 feet
Permit Information
NA
Camping/Lodging
Camp at the Barnhardt Trailhead or get an early start.
Preferred Season
Spring, Summer, Fall.
Water Concerns
Large falls with a couple awkward starts. Be sure to set rope lengths.
Special Challenges
Select use of anchor blocks, as certain blocks may cause you to stick a rope.
Equipment Suggestions
Wetsuits. You will be in the shade most of the canyon. Also bring 2 150’ ropes, 80 feet of webbing, and 5 rap rings.
Topographic Maps
Directions to Trailhead
From Phoenix, head north on the Beeline (Hwy87). After passing SR 188, you will turn left (west) onto Barnhardt Trailhead Road. Park at the trailhead.
Approach
Head up the Barnhardt Trail. On the way in you will encounter some switchbacks with a view of some falls on the right. This is the bottom of Big Kahuna Canyon. Continue up the trail. You will cross a few tributaries and cover a decent amount of ground. A small alcove on your left will reveal a big beautiful waterfall in some red granite. This is what the “locals” call Big Kahuna Falls. After checking it out, continue up trail around a point. Upon reaching the top, you will have a view westward of the valley where Barnhardt Canyon is. Shortly after passing this point (less than ¼ mile), the elevation on your left will become less steep. Use this saddle to gain a small peak and then follow this elevation level (around 6125 ft.) until you reach the stream above the falls you encountered earlier.
Description: Standard Route
Head downstream. First rap is off a large tree on canyon right. All anchors in this canyon are natural. Once the canyon really gets going, you can pretty much see each anchor station from the top of the rappel before it. If you can't, you will probably need to stay on rope. Several multi-stage rappels (rap, traverse on rope, rap again). Use caution on R4. its pretty easy to stick a rope here.
Exit
Return the way you came. The Barnhardt Trail is visible from the last rap, and can easily be accessed via a use trail downstream a little ways.