Cholla Forest via Seven Falls Canyon CCW - 2/19/22

Cholla Forest

"Bacon" Vein

Group of Ewes

Ralyn on the first Scramble

The Fearsome Foursome invited a couple of friends to do Cholla Forest via Seven Falls; perhaps one of the most well known strenuous hikes in the Lake Mead NRA. The hike starts at a water tank found at the top of the Cottonwood Tree Road hill. This unmarked dirt road turns off of Lakeshore Road near the Boulder City fee booth. We started up the wide wash next to the trailhead and came to the canyon narrows while searching for bighorns in the cliffs around us. Before we started in, we saw a couple of the critters up on the ridge to the left. Seven Falls Canyon is the ascent route and it immediately forks to the right. Right away, there are a couple of serious scrambles on the first two falls. The second one is a somewhat difficult rabbit hole.

Lone Bighorn just passing Through

Hiking up Seven Falls Canyon

One of the Seven Falls

Janet and Charlie 

After getting up through the rabbit hole and back to the wash, we saw a single bighorn come down off the hill on the right, cross the wash and continue on her way. We watched in awe as she ambled, not in any particular hurry. From there, the wash stair-stepped up medium scrambles until we reached a major dry fall that is created on sharp turns to the left and the right. This one requires the hiker to climb up on the wall, traverse the wall about 8 feet off the ground then round an awkward corner. Onward, we climbed several dry falls of differing heights and difficulty. There are only a few of the scrambles where there is the choice of an up and around. However, these scrambles are the reason hikers love this hike.

Janet and Rita on an Up & Around

This is a slippery one!

Nearing the 4 Way Junction

Arriving at the Saddle

The canyon begins to flatten a little just before we arrived at a wash junction that resembles a 4-way stop. Turn left here. Continue climbing a couple more big dry falls and hike up the gentle winding wash that follows. The traditional route follows this wash all the way up to a saddle where a game trail runs along the ridge. (We noticed that there is now a previous route that leads hikers up to the ridge and the same game trail leading off of this last wash.) On the saddle, we took the trail that leads diagonally down to the left, following it into the wide wash below. There is somewhat of a trail through the wide power line road wash going upward and across the gravel and brush.

The Big Scramble

Break in the Shade

Big Break at Cholla Forest

Cholla Forest

Hiking past a small hill on its left, we funneled into a winding narrow canyon and came to another big scramble. Past the scramble, there are a couple more zigzags then we came to the steep dirt road up a sharp left. We crested the hill and followed the road down to the hillside filled with teddy bear chollas. They appear a little healthier than last time we were here. We took our break and continued down the road that led back into the wide power line road wash. With our eyes down the hill, we headed toward a squarish black outcrop on top of the ridge and a red outcrop just before that. This is where we turned out of the wide wash and back up into the ridges that held the game trail. Eventually, we descended a ridge down into the top of Bacon Canyon.

Following the Game Trail to Bacon Canyon

Starting down Bacon Canyon

Multi-Level Drop

A Cliff Hanger

Bacon Canyon has almost as many dry fall scrambles as Seven Falls Canyon. And, they are just as interesting! The first one is a high drop on several narrow levels down to land on the remains of a grassy bush. When that bush gets washed away, I don't know how we will cope! Another dry fall, requires a turn up to the left to circumvent the high drop. The cliff hanger can be seen in the photo to the left. Yet another dry fall, seems to have also been washed out at the bottom as seen in the second photo below. At this point, we looked up to the ridges on the right and saw one, then six, then one more female bighorn sheep. A couple of the group of six appeared to be possibly preggers. It's this time of year when the females will drop their lambs.

More Gentle Stuff

Rock Slide

They seem to be muttering about us.

Bacon Vein

There is one more dry fall, and it is the scariest! Just as you start into the colorful bacon-y vein of rock, you come to a high drop that requires a step down and to the side on very narrow ledges. There is a go around for this one but we were all game to try it, so we did! We survived and headed on down through the final bacon scrambles. At the bottom, we closed the loop and hiked back down the wash to the cars. Fantastic day! So fun to see Janet and Charlie today! This hike is and will remain iconic.

Stats: 6.1 miles; 1300' gain; 4.75 hours

Down / Sideways Scramble

Bacon Vein

Last Drop to close the Loop