Chipitin
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| | Raps:7, max ↨150ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:4WD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 22 Mar 2026
"First four raps were dry, as is normal in this season. Excellent bolts through. Slide was fun! Water colder than Matacanes. We wore 5mm and 6mm wetsui |
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| Best season: | Mar-Aug
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25.2626, -100.1560
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Introduction
This canyon has a stellar 35' toboggan, and finishes with a spectacular 300' 2-stage rappel over a travertine grotto with hanging mossy gardens. From here a well used trail leads back up to Potrero Redondo. Many tourists hike or ride horses down to the grotto to view the waterfall, and a horse might be available for hire to take your group's packs back up (likely only available on weekends). The upper part of Chipitin has an additional 4 rappels and is beautiful to descend, but around May of each year the stream and pools become completely dry. The lower part of Chipitin has a side-stream that flows in year round.
The section of canyon that continues downstream from the big waterfall is Hidrofobia.
Near the start of this canyon is the water cave Tia Rosa which can be explored before starting the canyon.
Beware poison oak throughout the canyon.
Approach
20-30 min from Potrero Redondo down to the start, which may include the upper rappels (recommended only if the upper pools are full), or you may bypass to start the lower section directly. There may or may not be a local with a sign at the start asking for 60 pesos ($3USD).
Descent
The outline shown below shows only the lower gorge section, which is roughly 300' in length consisting of the entrance rappel into the lower gorge, a 35' toboggan, and the final 300' two-stage waterfall. It is possible to do the final two rappels as a single drop with a long enough rope (100-meters), but the pull down can be very problematic due to friction on the travertine.
There is an upper section of the canyon which adds 4 more rappels (140' max), but is recommended to do only if the pools are full of water, or else they will be muddy and dry and not particularly worth doing. Note that two of the rappels may take you into keeper potholes when dry. These rappels can be bypassed by a faint and very steep trail on canyon left.
You can rappel the big rappel direct from the top anchor - about 300' (100 meters). However, almost all parties break it into two rappels: the first about 155 feet and the second closer to 140 feet.
- When doing this rappel in two stages, as is recommended, on the first rappel, stay to canyon-right of the fin-like feature as you rappel - do not rappel down the waterfall path! This is because the large ledge for the second rappel is off to canyon right of the waterfall and out of the direct rappel path, and you need to gradually move to canyon-right as you rappel, over slippery rocks. A fall while on rope here would not be dangerous, but you'd pendulum 10-20 feet into the flow, and may have to ascend up the rope and start over again. Always tie a knot on the end of your rope here! It's debatable if this canyon deserves a PG rating for this move.
- Please note the the first rap of the waterfall is probably more like 46-47 meters than 45 meters, and if you are cutting it that close, plan your whistle signals in advance, or carry walkie-talkies. You cannot see each other from the top and the bottom of this rap, and it's too far to shout. For these reasons, while not imperative, it's best to have 100 meters of rope, to plan on this rap being closer to 50 meters.
Exit
45 min hike back up a very well used trail to Potrero Redondo.
Red tape
Lifejackets are required, and this is enforced by Protección Civil (although they are rarely seen).
In years past, a guide was required for this canyon, and it was also closed during the winter months, but these restrictions are no longer in effect.
Beta sites
Chris Brennen's Adventure Hikes (Southwest) : Chipitin- Explore Pangea
Cañonismo.com : Cañón del Chipitín
Wikiloc.com : Cañón de 7 rapeles (completo) - Cascada del Chipitín- Wikiloc.com : Chipitin 7rapeles
Trip reports and media
- Randi Poer on Canyon Tales : Chipitin