Conditions:Blue Velvet Canyon-20240108140549
Latest: |
7 Jan 2024 (1 yr, 4 mos ago) |
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| Reported by: | RFontaine (270 reports) | |
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| Quality: | Great |
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| Time: |
Team: 2 people with experience level Advanced
Trip report URL:
Comments: A really great route for the area with narrow slotty corridors that twist around rapidly plunging towards the river.
We did this route as a part of a 3 day trip paddling down the river from the dam camping and hitting canyons along the way. We started the day from the AZ Hotsprings Beach. The hike from beach to turn off took maybe 30mins going though the hot springs. From the turn off it took us 2.5hrs for the approach/descent at a casual pace, back down to the river. The approach does follow a very faint trail crosscountry.
The descent is short and committing, rappels all enjoyable enough, many of which down large chutes. We were able to stay dry, one pothole had water but was avoidable, may not be in wet season. All webbing in good shape, we added an anchor on the questionable 2 stage to break up the pulls. The route ends with a short stemming down climb though a crack LDC to a small beach to inflate rafts.
Paddle upstream to AZ Hotsprings was short and despite the opposing wind, we managed just fine. I feel this is a great full featured route for those wanting a short descent with day trip to the hotsprings that is a much more interesting option than Secret Canyon.
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | |  9 hours
| 7 people Beginner to Advanced | Cheveran (92 reports) | ||
Comment: Lovely canyon! Floated out to Crane's rest on a no-wind day. Mixed crew of alpackas and explorer 200s. Time includes the rather leisurely float.
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| Great | | | | | 2 people Advanced | RFontaine (270 reports) | |
Comment: A really great route for the area with narrow slotty corridors that twist around rapidly plunging towards the river.
We did this route as a part of a 3 day trip paddling down the river from the dam camping and hitting canyons along the way. We started the day from the AZ Hotsprings Beach. The hike from beach to turn off took maybe 30mins going though the hot springs. From the turn off it took us 2.5hrs for the approach/descent at a casual pace, back down to the river. The approach does follow a very faint trail crosscountry. The descent is short and committing, rappels all enjoyable enough, many of which down large chutes. We were able to stay dry, one pothole had water but was avoidable, may not be in wet season. All webbing in good shape, we added an anchor on the questionable 2 stage to break up the pulls. The route ends with a short stemming down climb though a crack LDC to a small beach to inflate rafts. Paddle upstream to AZ Hotsprings was short and despite the opposing wind, we managed just fine. I feel this is a great full featured route for those wanting a short descent with day trip to the hotsprings that is a much more interesting option than Secret Canyon.
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