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Elevation: 8,000 ft
GPS: 35.2464, -111.58659
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 20,765 total · 131/month
Shared By: JJ Schlick on Mar 12, 2011
Admins: Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen

Description Suggest change

Secret Canyon is a rough and tumble jagged gash of cliffs on the east side of Mt. Elden. And if you know the trail "Fatman's Loop", this area pretty much sits above the apex of that loop, though shorter approaches exist.

This place was once quite the scene where Flagstaff climbers got to stretch out on some of the first bolted routes in the area during the late eighties/early nineties. Today, it is an over grown ghost town of a crag with the tatters of webbing anchors flapping in the winds... Clearly signaling the adventure ahead. There have been efforts to replace some of the aging hardware.

Sporting some 50 lines, many of these lines follow steep bolted aretes, and thin faces which were commonly bolted on lead with the use of hooks. Mixed and trad lines are also present so a rack up to 3.5" is handy. The stone is Dacite, and this crag, like all of them on Mt. Elden has it's own peculiar style. Whether you call it face climbing or oldschool, or both, the climbing is guaranteed to get your attention and keep it.

Bring plenty of webbing for anchors if you feel like wrestling with any of the old routes. Every anchor we could see from the ground was a fuzzy mess of webbing, if there was any webbing left at all. Not all the old routes have bolted anchors, and a light rack is advised for exploration, even on what might look like a sport route. Be prepared with leaver biners, rap rings, or quick links.

The Carnal Caves area boasts a selection of new climbs with newish hardware.

Google Earth- Kodachrome Spire

Getting There Suggest change

Off of Route 66, find N Snowflake Drive. Follow that around until you come to sort of Cul de sac which is the termination of Glacier Dr. Park here, but be courteous to home owners.

Head out on two track service roads leading N by NW to a very obvious clearing with a small building which is most likely a well house. Continue heading north through the field and then continue on single track until small rise. Look for distinct trail leading off left. Follow this trail down a small rise. From this point there are several drainages in front of you. Take the middle one, but stay above on the small ridge, and start heading up hill. If you come across a very large boulder sitting in a wash (with several problems on it) then you are doing well. From just above this boulder look for steep climbers trail through some small boulders. Try to follow this as best you can passing through a quaint bouldering spot about halfway up. When you get to the frontside of the larger formations, Kodachrome should be the first big piece of good rock that you see. Stay below formations and hike west to get to the Sun King Tower, The Carnal Caves, and the Upper Amphitheater.

I won't lie to you... This is still a bushwhacky hike, and if such things ruin your day, I wouldn't recommend this area. Once you hit the climbers trail remember that it is more the "suggestion" of a trail, rather than a trail proper. Expect to lose the trail. Expect loose terrain as well as boulder hopping, and 4th class exposed scrambling. There are cairns all over the place and paying attention to them may lead you astray, maybe not. This is freaking mountain lion country.

11 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Secret Canyon

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 4
The Enticer
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Enticer Carnal Caves
 4
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
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