Conditions:Barney Spring Canyon-20230918205755

Latest:	16 Sep 2023 (6 days ago)

Reported by:	RFontaine (145 reports)
Quality:	Great
Waterflow:	Deep pools
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:
Difficulty:
Time:	8 hours

Team: 2 people with experience level Advanced

Trip report URL:

Comments: We approached via Buckhead Ridge and took the Immaculate exit out. Updated GPX is on point. This ended up being a very worthwhile option adding a few nice rappels and some more pretty canyon sections! This approach isn't as nasty as the typical approach but does add a bit of time. The 1st rappel we fiddled and ran out my 200’ rope, passing a midway ledge with a tree that could be easily re-rigged.

The main part of Barney is very pretty, neat sculpting, a 3 or 4 very cold pools. I was happy to shiver for a short swim to not be weighed down with a wetsuit. The historic keeper pothole is not in play as it is still fairly full of sand/rocks. Still, there is an option to climb up DCR and rappel past it if desired.

Exit down West Fork and over to Immaculate was very picturesque. The short bit of section from West Fork to Immaculate is annoyingly overgrown. Immaculate exit is the typical grind, claw your way up a loose deteriorating incline to the top, then skip merrily through the forest!

Over all a fun and interesting day, not sure that I prefer the Immaculate exit to Barney’s standard exit (I didnt think it was that bad last time) but it was worth it to experience a different side of this route!

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
16 Sep 2023	Great	Deep pools	None		8 hours	2 people Advanced	RFontaine (145 reports)
Comment: We approached via Buckhead Ridge and took the Immaculate exit out. Updated GPX is on point. This ended up being a very worthwhile option adding a few nice rappels and some more pretty canyon sections! This approach isn't as nasty as the typical approach but does add a bit of time. The 1st rappel we fiddled and ran out my 200’ rope, passing a midway ledge with a tree that could be easily re-rigged. The main part of Barney is very pretty, neat sculpting, a 3 or 4 very cold pools. I was happy to shiver for a short swim to not be weighed down with a wetsuit. The historic keeper pothole is not in play as it is still fairly full of sand/rocks. Still, there is an option to climb up DCR and rappel past it if desired. Exit down West Fork and over to Immaculate was very picturesque. The short bit of section from West Fork to Immaculate is annoyingly overgrown. Immaculate exit is the typical grind, claw your way up a loose deteriorating incline to the top, then skip merrily through the forest! Over all a fun and interesting day, not sure that I prefer the Immaculate exit to Barney’s standard exit (I didnt think it was that bad last time) but it was worth it to experience a different side of this route!
30 Jun 2023	Ok	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges	12 hours	2 people Advanced	Nclegg (297 reports)
Comment: Approached from Buckhead Ridge and exited via Immaculate sneak. The approach route surprised us with 6 additional rappels before reaching Barney proper - 3 of which needed to be established to descend from the rim down a steep side drainage into the south fork of Barney. Will update the KML and beta to reflect this as it added considerable time. Horrific brush on approach and lots of fresh flood debris in the canyon which further slowed our progress. A number of rope eater cracks exist in the upper section of canyon which took care to avoid - recommend not skimping on the extra rope. Keeper was full. 2 swims and 2 deep wades. 3/2 wetsuit was nice but not completely necessary. The section of West Fork between Barney and Immaculate was spectacular. Lower section of Immaculate was flowing lightly and immensely overgrown and 15' upclimb was challenging. Knew this route would be longer but thought it may be less hellish than the Barney sneak / Buzzard Point loop - it wasn't. Next time exiting out West Fork.
22 May 2022	Good		Thin wetsuit	Normal	7 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	EMoorcroft (310 reports)
Comment: Pothole is a 30' downclimb on tree followed by a 50' rappel off 2 bolts. It is full and an easy escape currently. 100' rope and 100' pull works well. Anchors looked great. Overnight in Westfork and camping just down stream from the confluence next time. Hiking out Westfork is probably the way to go on this one. Sneak exit was loose and thick with locusts and poison ivy. Rocks are GUARANTEED to fall, and the vegetation will surely attack.
8 May 2022	Great	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit		7 hours	3 people Advanced	RFontaine (145 reports)
Comment: Super fun! Super beautiful, lush, and green! The slotted sections were large and picturesque! Many of the rappels were quite fun and very pretty! R5 was especially memorable! Multiple pools/wades; I was plenty comfortable in my 4/3 suit. We bypassed the "keeper" but looking into it, it seemed easily escapable without gear. Still, the bypass rappel was very enjoyable dropping down a lovely wall with big forest views! The exit hike was also super pretty! The section of West Fork we traveled up to get to the main sneak exit was gorgeous! The exit is not nearly as bad as others had made it sound. Lots of huge trees lying down the drainage made for fun tree trunk walking and a few spots required climbing dead tree trunks to get over ledges. There were a few 5th class moves required in spots to get up walls but nothing major. Looking back as you climb the exit drainage yielded incredible views. We even heard a large rock slide occur in a nearby side drainage! Loud as hell but sounded incredible! Definitely thorns throughout the exit and approach, we dressed appropriately and no one got too scratched up. Absolutely loved this canyon! Very enjoyable! (except the thorny approach) Great camping up top too!
29 Jul 2020	Great	Deep pools	None	Normal	8 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	Coalemus (154 reports),Rocknbob33 (10 reports),Megibbo2 (7 reports)
Comment: 3 swims and a couple wades. Plenty of opportunities to warm up after getting wet. The keeper pothole is filled in with large rocks (many ~1' diameter) and gravel and is very easy to walk out of.There's a big log going into it that we climbed down. The canyon currently does not deserve the 4 or R ratings though a flood could scour out the keeper at any time. Replaced webbing at 3 anchors. We used the Immaculate sneak exit loop. This approach is not fun. Steep and a lot of bush bashing. From west fork to Immaculate sneak is also fairly unpleasant... And then you have to do that sneak. Bees were loud but didn't bother us
15 Jun 2019	Good	Deep pools	Full wetsuit	Normal	6 hours	4 people Intermediate to Expert	Erek (201 reports)
Comment: Keeper pothole full, easy swim across. Sneak exit is horrific. Water cold, 3-4 swimmers.
15 Jul 2017 Trip report							ScottBetz@Facebook (9 reports)
Comment: extracts from Facebook posts, click link for full details (privacy restrictions may apply) " Thanks to Lisa and Jennifer for pointing the way." Barney Spring Canyon 7-15-17
17 Sep 2016	Great	Deep pools	Thick wetsuit	Normal	5 hours	1 people Advanced	PatWinstanley (80 reports)
Comment: Used both sneak approach and exit routes from East Buzzard Point - 2 miles, 5 hours car to car. Exit route here is very short, but dangerously steep and loose in a few spots. Another option would be to approach from Buckhead Ridge (Immaculate Canyon) and use the Immaculate Canyon sneak exit - this would add a mile or two, but would only have one short steep climb, and is fairly straight forward the rest of the way. A third option is to hike all the way through West Fork of Oak Creek to SR89 and drive your shuttle vehicle 1.5 - 2 hours back to where you started. The keeper in Barney was full (I bypassed) and may have been able to escape with a beached whale move. There is also a two bolt anchor immediately after the keeper now to finish the drop.
30 Jun 2015 Trip report							HikeArizona.com (271 reports)
Comment: Most recent conditions reported at HikeArizona.com, see Trip Report for full details.