Big Green Falls
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| | Raps:1, max ↨150ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:High Clearance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Jun-Oct
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38.1627, -107.5201
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Introduction[edit]
Big Green Falls is a short roadside waterfall rappel with sufficient height and easy pay-to-play to make it interesting enough.
This waterfall is a confirmed nesting site for the Black Swift, listed as a Species of Special Concern by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The swifts migrate from Brazil annually to occupy this site from late May until late September, raising a single chick. The swifts are susceptible to disturbance from human activities near their nests, including noise and movement, direct disturbance or destruction of their nests, and trampling of vegetation. Canyoneering/climbing at this waterfall during the Black Swift nesting season (late May - late September/first frost) is likely to cause direct damage to nests, eggs, and young, and disturb adult swifts enough to cause them to abandon their nest and offspring. Click here for more information on the Black Swift.
Approach[edit]
Drive: Just North of Ridgway, CO, drive Owl Creek Pass Rd 22 miles East to the intersection of the East and Middle Cimmaron Forks, continue 3 miles South in the Middle Fork Cimmaron Rd. Alternatively just East of the town of Cimmaron, CO drive 20 miles South of US 50 on Cimmaron Rd to the same intersection and then 3 miles further South on Middle Cimmaron Rd.
Hike: Park at one of many wider sections of the road. Hike the road South of the trail to the bottom of the falls and gain the top of the rock band by looping around through the forest on a more gentle grade. Descend into the creek bed via an steep game trail. Locate the single waterfall a short distance downstream.
Descent[edit]
R1: 150' from one of a few trees up the slope on Canyon Right.
Exit[edit]
Depart the bottom of the falls on a well-worn trail on Canyon Left a few minutes back to the road.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
9Jul2023: Descended Big Green Falls and created beta entry
9Jul2023: walked up to Baby Green Falls, which is also an ice climb in winter. See kml map. Not worth rappelling in summer.
Background[edit]
The name of this waterfall was proposed by Marc and Nancy Conly, authors of Waterfalls of Colorado, as a juxtaposition of the verdant nature of the alcove around the falls with the adjacent Big Blue Wilderness area. The forest service doesn't seem to recognize the waterfall by any name. reference: https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Big-Green-Falls-8367
This is an ice climb in winter.