Conditions:Black Star Canyon-20250104221918

Latest:	4 Jan 2025 (17 days ago)

Reported by:	Mikeatran (64 reports)
Quality:	Ok
Waterflow:	Dry
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Normal
Time:	2 hours

Team: 1 people

Trip report URL:

Comments: Canyon conditions were pretty good. R0 was intact with red webbing off of the tree dcl. It might be spicy for some folks to downclimb from the split shown in the map to approach R0 so take it slow as it seems pretty exposed. Main rappel was set up with a toggle. Ended up bringing 2x 200’ to run the canyon. Used the barkless tree as my anchor for an easier toggle pull. Exit hike out was fine; some hand lines throughout and it’s helpful to have the track to get back into the creek to follow back up to the bike. Ended up guiding a couple out to the fire road which ate some time. Canyon is completely dry but likely to change in a few months (hopefully).

Took the long bike ride up; fire road is in good shape, but with a heavy pack and using an untuned bike along with it being a hard tail kinda killed my back. Would recommend full suspension if you’re carrying a lot of rope and gear. A little over 2 hours car to car; definitely a strenuous ride more so with the weight of the gear, but doable for those with ghosting skillsets and any kind of mountain bike (as the ride is non technical).

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
4 Jan 2025	Ok	Dry	None	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Mikeatran (64 reports)
Comment: Canyon conditions were pretty good. R0 was intact with red webbing off of the tree dcl. It might be spicy for some folks to downclimb from the split shown in the map to approach R0 so take it slow as it seems pretty exposed. Main rappel was set up with a toggle. Ended up bringing 2x 200’ to run the canyon. Used the barkless tree as my anchor for an easier toggle pull. Exit hike out was fine; some hand lines throughout and it’s helpful to have the track to get back into the creek to follow back up to the bike. Ended up guiding a couple out to the fire road which ate some time. Canyon is completely dry but likely to change in a few months (hopefully). Took the long bike ride up; fire road is in good shape, but with a heavy pack and using an untuned bike along with it being a hard tail kinda killed my back. Would recommend full suspension if you’re carrying a lot of rope and gear. A little over 2 hours car to car; definitely a strenuous ride more so with the weight of the gear, but doable for those with ghosting skillsets and any kind of mountain bike (as the ride is non technical).
5 Oct 2024	Ok	Dry	None	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: The water flow has completely stopped (see pics), except for the tiniest flow in a few spots. The pothole at the bottom of the main chimney is still full of water though. Also, I need to replace the R-bonus anchor, because I forgot my 100' pull cord so I untied that webbing to add to what I had to have enough pull material.
20 Jul 2024	Good	Very Low	None	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: The flow is getting pathetic (see pic), but hey, there is still water coming down the main falls and the pool at the base is full. The bonus was seeing salamander in the big pool (see 2nd pic)!
17 Jun 2024	Good	Low	Rain jacket	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: Flow is still amazingly good (see pic), and there where no biting flies. That is a BIG plus compared with front range canyons right now. Someone did swipe the anchor for my (beta R extra) R2 though.
2 Jun 2024	Great	Low	Rain jacket	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: Waterflow is holding in there (see pic). The poison oak is growing like crazy, but still is avoidable, however it will need trimming soon.
8 May 2024	Good	Low	Thin wetsuit	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: Water flow was on the high side of "low", like touching class C (see pic)
27 Mar 2024	Great	Moderate Low	Thin wetsuit	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: Water flow is holding class C status (see pic), and totally clear. Since the PO has been trimmed back, moving through the canyon and the bypass trails is less "scary". Much of Black Star road is rougher than normal because it was muddy and many people walked on the mud, which made for a bumpy MTB ride back downhill on my hardtail bike.
28 Feb 2024	Great	Moderate	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: Normal MTB ride to the top and canyon run, except I brought a full body wetsuit, since the water is chilly. I also spent some extra time trimming PO twigs in spots where it's easy to brush into them.
14 Feb 2024	Great	Moderate Low	Thin wetsuit	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: I brought a full body wetsuit, since Black Star is now running class C, barely (see pic).
23 Jan 2024	Good	Very Low	Rain jacket	Normal	3 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: This was a normal MTB run, but I also spent time trimming back the PO mid canyon. Water flow is "very low" (see pic), and unfortunately there is quite a bit of new graffiti.
21 Nov 2023	Ok	Dry	None	Normal		3 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: I helped 3 other "canyoneers" get through the canyon without technical gear.
17 Nov 2023	Ok	Dry	None	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: The flow was extremely low flow (see pic)
17 Jul 2023	Good	Low	Rain jacket	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: The water flow is still there (see pic) between "low" and "very low". This was my normal MTB ride to the top, run the canyon, climb back up, ride down. The bonus rappel dropping into the canyon needs new webbing.
27 Jun 2023	Good	Low	Rain jacket	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
9 May 2023	Great	Moderate Low	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges	2 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (973 reports)
Comment: I went without rope and climbed down and back up the canyon (using the bypass trial for the main waterfall).

...additional reports