Gateway Canyon Climbing

This digital Gateway Canyon climbing guidebook gives you GPS navigation, verified topos, and beta for hundreds of climbs. Explore classics and hidden gems with offline access to maps, directions, and beta videos. Whether it's your first visit or fiftieth, KAYA makes your Gateway Canyon days smoother, safer, and more dialed.

The Calico Basin area generally encompasses everything off of Calico Basin Road including Red Spring, the numerous gullies/canyons north of Red Spring, Kraft and Gateway Canyon. For ease of navigation, Red Spring, Kraft and Gateway Canyon each have their own designated areas.

Gateway Canyon refers to the boulders found around the backside (northern) of Kraft Mountain, thus are accessed from the Kraft parking lot and either going west, north and then east past West Kraft, or east, north and then west past Monkey Bars. The more densely populated, and generally easier ... Show more

This digital Gateway Canyon climbing guidebook gives you GPS navigation, verified topos, and beta for hundreds of climbs. Explore classics and hidden gems with offline access to maps, directions, and beta videos. Whether it's your first visit or fiftieth, KAYA makes your Gateway Canyon days smoother, safer, and more dialed. The Calico Basin area generally encompasses everything off of Calico Basin Road including Red Spring, the numerous gullies/canyons north of Red Spring, Kraft and Gateway Canyon. For ease of navigation, Red Spring, Kraft and Gateway Canyon each have their own designated areas. Gateway Canyon refers to the boulders found around the backside (northern) of Kraft Mountain, thus are accessed from the Kraft parking lot and either going west, north and then east past West Kraft, or east, north and then west past Monkey Bars. The more densely populated, and generally easier hike, comes from the east past Monkey Bars, thus that's the preferred approach unless targeting specific climbs in Upper Upper Gateway wash or by the Yin and Yang Crag. Gateway Canyon is separated into multiple clustered zones, and each cluster generally requires a day's worth of effort unless you want to do lots of walking, unpacking and packing up again. It is a great escape from the frontside of Kraft, but has gained significant popularity over the years, especially with classics like BS5, The Pork Chop, Mr. Moran and the large cluster of double-digit climbs by the Swirly Cliff. Gateway Canyon is located on the northern end of Red Rock Canyon within the broader Calico Basin area. No fee or reservation needed. From the intersection of Charleston Blvd and the 215, drive 4 miles west onto SR159. Turn right onto Calico Basin Rd, followed by a right onto Calico Dr near the Red Spring parking lot, a left onto Assisi Canyon Ave, and a right on Sandstone Dr until the Kraft parking lot is on your left. During peak season, Kraft lot can overflow, requiring parking further down on Sandstone Dr., increasing approach time. If parking on Sandstone Dr., be mindful of homes and no trespassing signs. Do not park or drive on Little Springs Rd. There are two general approaches to reach different clusters of Gateway Canyon: 1. If you are going to anything on the Eastern side of Gateway Canyon, including The Outback, Lower Gateway Entrance, Lower Gateway Wash, Lower Gateway South Hillside, Swirly Cliff, Swirly Cliff East, The South Seas, Cannabis Crag, Upper Gateway South Hillside or Upper Gateway Wash it is preferred to approach from the East. This involves exiting from the north trail into Kraft towards The Cube. At The Cube follow the trail east past The Pearl until you reach Monkey Bars, taking anywhere from 20-30 minutes of easy hiking total from the car to the start of Gateway. 2. If you are going to anything on the Western side of Gateway Canyon, including Yin and Yang and Upper Upper Gateway Wash you can approach from the West. This involves exiting from the west trail into Kraft towards West Kraft. This is shorter but is significantly more uphill compared to the first option from the East. Since there are very few climbs along the way, many will choose the longer approach from the East regardless.