Big Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3B V (v3a2 V) Raps:5-6, max ↨100ft
Red Tape:Permit required Shuttle:Optional Vehicle:High Clearance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Fall;Winter;Spring
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36.1780, -111.6949
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WaterflowIntroduction[edit]
A beautiful canyon with scenic springs, falls and narrows, followed by the spectacular sight of rushing, milky blue water (if conditions are right) through the deep, colorful gorge of the Little Colorado River (LCR).
Generally speaking, don't plan on filtering or purifying any of the water on this trip, as only rain runoff in a few ephemeral pools above the spring in Big Canyon and above the river in Salt Trail Canyon would be suitable to drink since the water in the spring in Big Canyon and in the river is so loaded with minerals - bring enough water for the entire trip from the beginning (several liters).
Blue water in the LCR is condition dependent - since the blue water flows out from a perennial spring, when the river itself is flowing from precipitation runoff the river will flow brown from the sediments it carries farther upstream and dilute the blue color entirely. There is a flow gauge in the river near Cameron, AZ that can be monitored online here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09402000/#parameterCode=00060&period=P7D You want the cubic feet per second to be zero for at least a week or two before the river will be dependably blue.
Approach[edit]
It's a 30-45 min drive from the 89 to Salt TH. The shuttle route is in blue on the KML- there are a lot of dirt roads out there and it would be easy to get lost.
The standard approach steeply descends the rim via a loose, unnamed drainage and weaves through the sandy and sun-exposed upper reaches of Big Canyon.
The redwall approach is an out-and-back alternative from the Salt TH which is arguably more scenic and also more engaging as it involves route finding along steep and loose terrain above Salt Canyon. The route is outlined in Todd Martin's Grand Canyoneering book.
Descent[edit]
Five or six rappels under 100' - all from natural anchors.
As of Sep 2023, sediment has been washed out of the spring room below the first rappel and it's now a mandatory long swim. Expect at least two swims, potentially more depending on the group's climbing ability and whether the upper section of canyon is holding water.
Exit[edit]
After the final rappel, look to canyon left for a cairned trail that leads to the LCR, and then for a river right trail that weaves through dense reeds to a campsite and the bottom end of the Salt Trail.
Expect the Salt Trail to take 4-5h total. Bring enough water and do not underestimate the difficulty of this trail - particularly in the heat.
Red tape[edit]
A Navajo Nation backcountry permit is required to run this canyon.
As of June 2023, the best way to get this permit is to call the Cameron office (928-679-2303). You can pay with a card over the phone and they will email you the permit. It's $15 per person per day.
They generally keep normal business hours, except for when they don't.
Beta sites[edit]
Super Amazing Map : Big Canyon- HikeArizona.com : Big Canyon to LCR Gorge
Grand Canyoneering Book by Todd Martin : Big Canyon
Trip reports and media[edit]
- Candition.com : Big Canyon
- Mark Kilian's Adventures : Big Canyon - LCR
- https://www.facebook.com/pat.winstanley.7/media_set?set=a.1768342643224425.1073742198.100001461198708&type=3&uploaded=26
