Leopard Canyon hike in Ras al Khaimah, UAE
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 9.74 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,329 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 2,329 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,786 ft
- TrailRank
-
58
4.4
- Min elevation
- 763 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 6 hours 58 minutes
- Time
- 11 hours 17 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2748
- Uploaded
- October 25, 2020
- Recorded
- October 2020
near Athabāt, Raʼs al Khaymah (United Arab Emirates)
Viewed 9681 times, downloaded 235 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
CHECK MY BLOG POST- THE DETAILED GUIDE TO THIS TRAIL BY CLICKING ON "VIEW MORE" LINK UNDER THIS DESCRIPTION!
A challenging moderate to difficult level hike (depending on your fitness and experience) through a beautiful canyon. Amazing sunset at the plateau with a village on top of the mountain. Lots of bouldering and rock climbing on the way up. Ropes are not required but physical and mental fitness is. There were a few tough parts where rocks were quite high, and it might be tricky for a shorter or less fit person to pass.
Coming down the mountain happened at dark-therefore due to extreme situation haven't captured many viewpoints. Don't get yourself into trouble, it's no fun going at night and very dangerous. It took us probably 3 hours at least to climb down (using headlights and trying to follow one of wikiloc user's trail that said there was supposed to be a donkey path on the way down). I believe it would have been easier to identify that path during the day, but extremely tricky at night. We found ducks (cairns) on the way down and some purposely left plastic bottles which actually helped us navigate our way down. If you are adventurous and aim for this trail, just start early enough (we started at 1pm, advisable time 7am).
theroadreel . com / leopard-canyon-hike-ras-al-khaimah-uae
A challenging moderate to difficult level hike (depending on your fitness and experience) through a beautiful canyon. Amazing sunset at the plateau with a village on top of the mountain. Lots of bouldering and rock climbing on the way up. Ropes are not required but physical and mental fitness is. There were a few tough parts where rocks were quite high, and it might be tricky for a shorter or less fit person to pass.
Coming down the mountain happened at dark-therefore due to extreme situation haven't captured many viewpoints. Don't get yourself into trouble, it's no fun going at night and very dangerous. It took us probably 3 hours at least to climb down (using headlights and trying to follow one of wikiloc user's trail that said there was supposed to be a donkey path on the way down). I believe it would have been easier to identify that path during the day, but extremely tricky at night. We found ducks (cairns) on the way down and some purposely left plastic bottles which actually helped us navigate our way down. If you are adventurous and aim for this trail, just start early enough (we started at 1pm, advisable time 7am).
theroadreel . com / leopard-canyon-hike-ras-al-khaimah-uae
Waypoints
Photo
688 ft
Parking point for sedans (4x4 can go further)
Parked 3.5km earlier as we couldnt continue further down in our sedan.
Photo
977 ft
Hike starting point
You might have option to park next to the camera if you came by 4x4.
Photo
1,258 ft
Keep right when wadi splits into two ways.
Huge tree is a good landmark, impossible to miss.
Photo
1,587 ft
Look left to find the way up on a scree path
Here you have already reached hanging gardens balcony. Look for the path to get up. It might be not visible but its there.
Photo
1,926 ft
Vertical wall
Part that adviced for more experienced hiker, the wall is quite high. No ropes needed but have to be able to climb higher rocks
Comments (34)
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The first bit 3k aprox. is the most boring thing a ever done ... if you have the chance drive further.
hey @redmayanskywalker yes, it's possible to start the hike 3km later if you have 4x4, we didn't so we derived until we saw it is impossible to pass
There is a vertical climb just midway of the hike and end of the canyon. The rock is very slippery and couldn’t climb that, nothing to hold your hand on to and should instead wedge your body or shoulders. It requires at least a rope from the top to help you get on top. This part is for very advanced or expert level. Not recommended unless you’re experienced.
We found another way to the top just beside the hanging gardens.
Hey Zak 3, yes there is a vertical wall in the middle of the hike (it's mentioned here), but ropes aren't necessary to climb it. However, it also depends on each person's physical ability and fitness level. It might be difficult to climb if you aren't strong enough to push and pull yourself up at higher rocks. Or if a person is shorter, they might struggle. I needed a hand too at that vertical climb. But as far as ropes go, it isn't a must.
Hi. I'm going tomorrow with my friends. Just in case we can'y climb the vertical wall?, how can we find the alternative path to reach the plateau?
Thanks
Hey Luca. Once you reach the hanging gardens, turn right and you’ll see an uphill with a white tree on top, climb that and follow the path of the mountain to the left until you reach the top.
Someone logged it here and called it Leopard Canyon Loop by Hussam Uddin.
That’s the basically the same path we eventually took, they skip the canyon trail just after the hanging garden and go up the mountain as described earlier.
Thank you so much zak!!!
That's good to know Zak 3, next time might try an alternative. However, the vertical wall is a nice experience and the canyon is very beautiful, so give it a try, lucahiking!
Hi Ausra, I tried this hike today and I lost signal from wikiloc and cannot get data as theres no network coverage anymore. Unfortunately, we didn't went through the loop as we made a mistake finding the secret passage.
This hike is cool and will come back some other time to finish to loop. Amazing view of the canyon! Thanks Ausra for the details.
Hi Lyndon, sorry to hear about the signal. It can happen sometimes in the mountains, however, wikiloc usually works offline. It was acting up for me as well when I was on this trail, like lagging to show if we are on the right path. It happen on the way down when we truly needed it in the dark :))
Hi Ausra,
We hiked Leopard Canyon yesterday.
Your route, description and tips were very useful.
We had an awesome time.
Thank you.
Hey Rajesh, i am glad to hear that! Did you finish the whole loop (hopefully during the day light :)))
Hi Ausra, Hi everyone, it shows that te trail is closed on google maps, do you have any update on that ? it has been like this for like two months, but I still see people here went less than 10 days ago, anyway, thank you Ausra for all the info and the tips, you have helped me so much.
Hi Spirits, I haven't heard of the trail being closed. Google maps might be showing stuff related to pandemic but not accurate. At least I have seen many wadis and public outdoor spots like dams marked as closed on google maps but that is not true.
Hi Ausra,
What is the expected time it would take to complete the hike, if we were to take our SUV and cover the initial portion of the trail? I am assuming the route you have marked here includes a possible drive via a 4x4.
If we were to extend our hike, are there any further notable areas we can cover?
Thank you for your detailed description as always :)
Cheers,
Mayur
Hi Mayur, if you have 4x4 then you can go all the way to the flag number 4 marked on my trail where I mentioned that the hike starts. It will save you at least 6km of walking. The full loop (if you come by 4x4) is around 8-9km only. We did 15 as we came by regular car and couldnt risk going any further due to loose gravel road. We made a short cut straight up to the village immediatwlly after the vertical wall climb. But i saw on other wikiloc users trails going further in the canyon/wadi after this vertical wall and reaching the village later. I haven't been the so i cannot advice. Make sure you go early if you intend to do the full loop. Otherwise, for easier option you can go to hanging gardens and to the canyon above them, and return same way. Note the tricky part is vertical wall climb. But if you have ecoeriencr hiking and climbing high boulders, you should be fine, its very doable.
Thanks Ausra, we intend to go next weekend. Just another question though, I saw a lot of trails here which mentioned hikers doing the wadi razor entry section first, and then coming back and finishing the trail through the hanging gardens and vertical wall. Therefore wanted to ask, if as per you, is the hanging gardens and vertical wall, doable while on way back? It would mean climbing down which is usually harder than climbing up.
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Thank you so much for your guidance and trail markers! We had a blast! Took us 9 hours and we got lost a few times but it was nice to explore, off track! I would rate it as difficult more because of the steep climbs and very steep decent. You made our day, scenery was unreal! I would suggest a group so you can help each other up any climbs ❤️
Hi Mayur, i would advice going through hanging gardens first. As you said, climbing down is always harder, and me personally, i wouldnt like climbing that vertical wall down. Also, we did the way back through a quite steep mountain at night, whoch will be much easier during the day. Plus there were no crazy boulders on the donkey path either (except the one drop we saw when we were lost at night and had to retrace back).
Hi Tamara, i am glad you enjoyed the hike and my recordung was helpful. I totally agree going in a group is beneficial as you can help each other in those ateeper sections, especially vertical wall.
Hey, Ausra, I am going to do it on Tuesday alone(will it be Okay to do it alone as I have done stairways full loop alone easily)
You did the full loop right? I will be doing it before I lead a group there. I will be following your trail inshallah!
Cheers
Hi Chogo, you will be totally fine. Leopard Canyon is not as difficult as a stairway to heaven. Knowing you hiked stairway full loop, this one will be easy for you.
In this trail, we made a bit of a shortcut because we were running out of light. Immediately after the vertical wall climb, we just headed up the mountain to the village (you will see on the wiki map if you follow my trail).
But there is an option to continue in the canyon/gorge after the vertical wall instead of climbing the mountain up. And it makes it a bit longer hike I believe. You should still end up in the same village before climbing down.
Let me know how it went for you.
Thank you, I will.
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Hi, me and my trail-buddy @hikerwolf followed this trail today with a bit of modifications. The vertical wall was breath taking. Thanks for all your efforts.
Hi Mayur, happy to hear that you guys made it safe and enjoyed the trail.
Hi, I’ve noticed there is a sign at the start point next to the small green door stating that it is private property and no trespassing/camping etc is allowed - is this a recent change? Just after the start point, do you have to walk between some houses?
Hi Kumanan, I cannot remember the sign, maybe its saying dont enter through that small door. Later there are a few housing that you pass in between and some goat farm, thats it.
It’s a shame that now there’s “Residents Only “ warning sign by the 4*4 parking spot with a little green door. “ Private Wadi” with no trespassing warning by the main entrance next to the tea vendor as well. It’s sad that we had to turn back.
Hey guys , any update on this trail ? Is it private now ?
Hey Samad, i think you can go on this trail. The sign about private wadi next to the tea truck was there when I went. Also, after I hikes some other people I know hiked to leopard canyon as well withiut any problem
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Beautiful trail through the gorge and wadi up to the Hanging gardens, which are stunning! The section up the hanging gardens is quite easy and fine for beginners but it starts to become more tricky from there on. Keep left and move up via the scree slope to the top of the main balcony. Tip - you need to go all the way up the scree slop on the LHS. I made the initial mistake of only going up as far as the first balcony directly above the hanging gardens. Form here, there are 3 short 3-4 m high walls you need to climb to reach the top of the gorge. The last of these is the toughest to navigate and not that easy without ropes or if you are alone. Once at the top of the gorge, you need to keep right and navigate up the scree to the summit on the RHS. On the plateau, you will find an abandoned village. Move across to the western side of the plateau. Its not that easy to find the exact starting point for the route down. I struggled to find it. The route down via the donkey trail is quite challenging and strenuous on the knees.
Hi Ruan, just replied to your comment on my blog post about your adventure on Leopard Canyon, well..something to remember for you :)) you can check my reply here: https://www.theroadreel.com/leopard-canyon-hike-ras-al-khaimah-uae/#comment-635
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Stunning scenery all around and extremely exciting boulders and obstacles to cross. Would highly recommend for hikers if almost any level. The only major issue I faced was near the end, once we reached the abandoned village. The way down from them is absolutely atrocious, especially if it’s late and dark, as reaching there takes about 5 hours at a moderate pace. After speaking with some of the locals, we found out that the way down after the village is nearly impassable without a guide, as the markings are only clear to them. Another way to go down is a super long route around the side of another mountain that leads into another trail, but it was far too late for us to do that. Anyways, it’s an amazing spot and I highly recommend it.
Hi Majd17, im glad you did and liked this trail. It is super amazing, and you are absokutely right about the way back. It is hard to follow, we got cought in tge dark and got lost so many times while descending. But we managed to climb down in 3 hours or so (not 5). I bekieve during the day is a bit easier, but there are no markings, have to really trace the donkey path, and by no means dont attenot at night as we did, was one kind of adventure..