Big Canyon (New Mexico)
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:2-3, max ↨55ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone, Gypsum/Alabaster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 19 Sep 2024
"This was our first canyoneering trip and it did not disappoint! This canyon was a lot of hiking, but it was beautiful. All of the rappels were straigh |
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| Best season: | may-nov
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36.3779, -106.7741
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Introduction[edit]
Though long with extended periods of hiking, the striking geology of the Entrada sandstone and gypsum, the sweet slot section and the beautiful exit hike up and out of a nice area on the Rio Gallina make this canyon well worth it.
Approach[edit]
walk down into the shallow drainage, following old roads where found.
Descent[edit]
the first major obstacle is a 55' rap over a cliff band that can be bypassed on either side (LDC is easier). after this is a 10' which can be downclimbed by the skilled or with a handline for others. could set a rap off of a pinch here. the material can be retrieved from below. last rap is 30' from a tree RDC into the sandstone slot section
Exit[edit]
Walk through the slot and continue down to the Rio Gallina. Walk upstream (left) and scramble up the steep drainage indicated on the kml. a long but pretty hike through mostly open forest will get you back to your car. a steep section traversing on the northwest side of a peak is best done by following a substantial elk trail (indicated on kml map).
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Doug Scott's New Mexico Slot Canyons : Big Canyon