Half Dilly 

Region: Bear Mountain

Distance: 2.5 miles  +600’      

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate     

ACA: 3All      

Duration: 3-4+ Hours

Longest Rappel: 170’

Rope: 1 x 200’ Rope + 1 x 200’ Pull Cord

Anchor Materials: 60’ of webbing + 4 rapides

Parking: Park at Bear Mountain Trailhead for the start. Parties with an extra vehicle may want to leave a shuttle at Fay Canyon TH.  

Overview: Low pay for high play, this condensed version of Dillinger canyon offers the biggest bang for your buck off Bear Mountain, and one of the best shorter options in the Red Rock Region. The approach is fairly short and easy to follow on an old social trail leading to Fay Canyon Overlook.

• Straightforward approach and exit

• Slickrock water course

• 3 over-hung rappels finishing with a large free hanging rappel

• A fun option during precipitation/ runoff

Approach (est. 1 hour): From the  Bear Mountain TH cross over the street and hike Bear Mountain trail hike about 30 minutes to the top of the first bench. Once atop the first bench the trail bends and faces the base of a large sandstone tower. Before reaching the tower a social trail will be visible on the right hand side. The turn off is marked by a cluster of banana yucca on the left and Arizona agave on the right side of the trail (Pictured Below).

Turn right onto the social trail contouring the Eastern face of Bear Fountain and looking down into Fay Canyon. After passing a collection of beautiful sandstone alcoves the trail will begin to flatten and will land you in a slick-rock watercourse below Fay Canyon Overlook.

Head down the watercourse a short distance arriving at the first small drop. This is your first rappel, but you may want to drop packs here and scramble up the break in the rocks and east to the Fay canyon overlook before gearing up. This short detour will reward you with views of Fay Canyon Arch

Descent: 3 rappels under 100’ with funky starts down a slick rock watercourse that end with a 4th rappel of 170’ total.

R1:  20’ off single bolt RDC near small pine at the edge, or 30’ off pine tree LDC (retrievable anchor).

Downclimb LDC to bypass next short drop. A funky downclimb can be performed in the watercourse when dry.

R2: 30’ off tree RDC. To access the anchor requires a short scramble and mild exposure. Recommended to have 1 person man the anchor and hand off the rope to the group.

R3:  85’ off tree RDC 2 stages. Do not pull rope on first ledge.

R4: 170’ off tree RDC to the bottom, 130’ of which is free hanging to first ledge that can be escaped on the right side.

Exit:

Gear down after the last rappel and start down-canyon towards the drainage. Bypass dead and fallen trees at the head of the drainage on the left side then drop back into the drainage. After about 15 minutes of boulder hopping through the drainage it will soon connect with Fay Canyon Trail. Follow the drainage across the trail to check out the Fay canyon arch or turn right onto Fay canyon trail and follow it back to the trail head parking Lot.

 Coordinates:

Approach Turnoff: 34.899248, -111.869011

Rappel 1: 34.908568, -111.867140