Oak Creek Canyon  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  555,838. Good page?    Administrators:  Larry DeAngelo, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  M.Morley on Feb 16, 2004 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed 86° | 63° 84° | 63° 84° | 61° 77° | 63° 81° | 61°

The beginning of many an adventure start here. Oa...

Description 

This is one of the most beautiful canyons in Red Rock. The ultra-classic Solar Slab is near the mouth of the canyon. This is actually a huge buttress facing generally south or southeast. On the upstream side of the buttress is the Black Orpheus Amphitheater, lying to the west of the slab.

The south side of the canyon mouth is dominated by the Cactus Flower Tower and its associated Blood Wall and Oakey Buttress.

Further upstream, on the north side of the canyon, one finds the sweeping Painted Bowl, Eagle Wall, and Celebration Wall. In this area are local classics such as Rainbow Buttress and Levitation 29. The beautiful slabs in the upper part of the canyon are worth the hike (or you can pass them on the descent from the summit area of Rainbow Mountain). Oak Creek's southern branches are an area of complex topography and few recorded climbs.

Getting There 

To get to the Oak Creek parking lot, take the scenic loop road 12.1 miles as measured from the turnoff from highway 159. Turn right on to a dirt road, follow this 0.8 miles west to the parking lot. This dirt road is passable by 2WD vehicles.

An alternative approach avoids the scenic loop. Park on Highway 159 about a half mile south of the exit gate from the scenic loop road. A hikers' gate in the barbed wire fence leads to a trail that heads straight west into Oak Creek Canyon. The trail stays to the north of the Oak Creek wash and joins up with the main trail just before reaching the mouth of the canyon.

The Classics

Featured Route For Oak Creek Canyon

The Black Widow 5.12  NV : Red Rock : ... : Black Orpheus Amphitheater

The Black Widow is a route that offers difficult, technical climbing on the first pitch, a wild, fun roof on the second pitch, and an awesome, extended boulder problem crux followed by exposed glory climbing on the third pitch. This rig is sure to be sunny, is crowd-free, and is a totally rad rock climb. Just goes to show that amazing FA’s in Red Rocks are still out there!Up and right from the top of the approach gully is a pleasant area adorned with sizable, flat boulders. This is beneath a ...[more]   Browse More Classics in NV

Photos of Oak Creek Canyon Slideshow

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Looking down Oak Creek Canyon from the bivy at the...	Taken 2/19/08 from the Solar Slab Terrace. Beauti...	So that's how those waterstreaks get there. A sum...
bighorn sheep	Looking down on the start of solar slab from the t...	Oak Creek Canyon from the ol' campground.
oak creek canyon on a stormy day	Walking into Oak Creek Canyon	Looking down Oak Creek Canyon.