{"id":5354,"date":"2020-04-12T22:34:41","date_gmt":"2020-04-12T22:34:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/buckskin-gulch-slot-canyon-wire-pass-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-10-10T04:15:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T04:15:05","slug":"seven-keyholes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/seven-keyholes\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Keyholes Slot Canyon in Gold Butte"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Seven Keyholes is a unique, small and remote canyon in the middle of Nevada\u2019s Gold Butte National Monument.<\/strong> On some maps, it is referred to as a slot canyon. Other maps simply label it as Seven Keyholes. As the crow flies, Seven Keyholes is located merely one mile from a popular attraction in Gold Butte named Little Finland.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n Click image<\/strong> to watch Virtual Video Tour and see viewer comments.\nThen come back to get the rest of the story. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\n \n \"YouTubeSevenKeyholes\" <\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
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Trip Specs<\/h3> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Length<\/h3>\n
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Attractions<\/h3>\n
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  • Unique slot canyon<\/li>\n
  • Petroglyphs<\/li>\n
  • Aztec sandstone<\/li>\n
  • Views of Mojave Desert<\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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    Difficulty<\/h3>\n
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    • Steep but short hike<\/li>\n
    • Remote area<\/li>\n
    • No cell phone reception<\/li>\n
    • Otherwise, easy walk<\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n
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      Elevation Gain<\/h3>\n
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      • ~80 feet loss\/gain<\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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        About Seven Keyholes<\/h3>

        Although many would like to name it a slot canyon, Seven Keyholes really isn\u2019t one. In geologic terms, this straight and narrow canyon is a joint, or a fracture, which divides two large rock masses. Joints are created when forces made them crack and separate. The rock is Aztec sandstone, as it is called locally in Nevada, or Navajo sandstone, as it is called in Utah and throughout the Colorado Plateau. Joints are usually straight, clean (non-jagged) breaks, with other joints forming and running parallel with each other.<\/p>

        What makes Seven Keyholes unique to other large joints found in sandstone is the hollowed-out bottom section of the canyon. It looks similar to Zion\u2019s famous subway canyon, which is not a joint. But what caused this hollowed out portion? In Zion, it was obviously a lot of constant rushing water and flash flood events. But was there that much rushing water once present here at Seven Keyholes? Probably not. Furthermore, side canyons or joints branching off the main canyon of Seven Keyholes also have the hollowed-out bottom, further supporting the idea that it was not created by water.<\/p>

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        \n Subway Canyon, Zion National Park <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
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        The drive to the trailhead (see Getting There below), then the short hike into Seven Keyholes is very rewarding. In our experience with visiting almost every corner of the Mojave Desert, there is no canyon like Seven Keyholes. Visiting Seven Keyholes can be done during a visit to Little Finland<\/a> or taking in the Gold Butte Scenic Byway loop road.<\/p>\n