Conditions:Canyon Del Salto-20251210225053
Latest: |
9 Dec 2025 (4 days ago) |
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| Reported by: | Dyln cole (86 reports) | |
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| Quality: | Good |
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| Waterflow: | Very Low |
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| Wetsuit: | None |
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| Water temperature: | ||
| Difficulty: | ||
| Time: |  4 hours
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Team: 1 people with experience level Advanced
Trip report URL:
Comments: Plan on webbing and hardware, floods seem to wipe the drainage of existing anchor material. Warm winter day, no neoprene or windbreaker, felt very hot. No mandatory swimmers, though higher water levels would require a chest deep wade (I am 5'11"). It only hit my calves. Optional swimmers adjacent to the final rappel and exit should you get too toasty.
Very leisurely pace allowed for a very enjoyable canyon experience. While I still rated this canyon as a 2 star, the geology and sustained water presence make this canyon very enjoyable. I was surprised with how much fun I had (downclimbs very pleasant too). There was no algae, though some developing in an unavoidable wade that will surely turn in a few weeks. Despite there being no consistent through flow up top, many springs seem to continue to provide flow in intermediate points in the canyon.
There was really only 1 mandatory rappel, though the first downclimb will leave you questioning if you are new to slick granite and soloing (easy with a partner assist). The rest of the rappels are not technically downclimbable but bypassable. I found the granite in some of the sections beautifully striped.
There is an easy exit with a use trail just before the exit provided in the kml, I may update it if I can. This may be the source of the aforementioned disgruntled attitude towards the canyon. Otherwise, if you take your time, you should not have many issues picking your way through the cactus and thorn. I would recommend this canyon to any who have patience.
Oh, and your minivan or sedan or what you have will absolutely make it to the trailhead. No issues. Very well graded road, simply go when dry.
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Very Low
| None
| | 4 hours
| 1 people Advanced | Dyln cole (86 reports) | |
Comment: Plan on webbing and hardware, floods seem to wipe the drainage of existing anchor material. Warm winter day, no neoprene or windbreaker, felt very hot. No mandatory swimmers, though higher water levels would require a chest deep wade (I am 5'11"). It only hit my calves. Optional swimmers adjacent to the final rappel and exit should you get too toasty.
Very leisurely pace allowed for a very enjoyable canyon experience. While I still rated this canyon as a 2 star, the geology and sustained water presence make this canyon very enjoyable. I was surprised with how much fun I had (downclimbs very pleasant too). There was no algae, though some developing in an unavoidable wade that will surely turn in a few weeks. Despite there being no consistent through flow up top, many springs seem to continue to provide flow in intermediate points in the canyon. There was really only 1 mandatory rappel, though the first downclimb will leave you questioning if you are new to slick granite and soloing (easy with a partner assist). The rest of the rappels are not technically downclimbable but bypassable. I found the granite in some of the sections beautifully striped. There is an easy exit with a use trail just before the exit provided in the kml, I may update it if I can. This may be the source of the aforementioned disgruntled attitude towards the canyon. Otherwise, if you take your time, you should not have many issues picking your way through the cactus and thorn. I would recommend this canyon to any who have patience. Oh, and your minivan or sedan or what you have will absolutely make it to the trailhead. No issues. Very well graded road, simply go when dry.
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| Good | Dry
| None
| Normal |  2 hours
| 2 people Intermediate to Expert | Rocktherapy (5 reports) | |
| Good | Dry
| None
| Normal | 3 hours
| 1 people Advanced | Korey (86 reports) | |
Comment: I think this canyon would be a much more fun romp in better conditions, but as most people could tell you 101 degrees isn’t ideal conditions. The approach and exit are what I imagine a prison gang fight to be (everything is trying to stab you) and a cholla cactus managed to sink a needle in my heel on the exit. The canyon itself had a lot of cool geology, although the rock was shockingly slick, even with the water being only a few small pools inhabited by garter snakes and tadpoles. Found two sets of webbing on the first rap, removed one, replaced the other with new webbing, downclimbed everything else, I think all DCL. Packed 4 liters of water, went though a little over two of it. This one dissuaded me from further canyon exploration while I was in the area, but would love to come back in better conditions.
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| Ok | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| Normal | 4 hours
| 1 people Advanced | Nclegg (453 reports) | |
Comment: A few waist and chest depth wades. No swimmers that were mandatory but a couple optional ones if staying directly in the watercourse. 3/2mm wetsuit was a luxury, but not completely necessary. Very light trickle of flow, with algae beginning to develop in some of the pools. Some interesting sculpted rock and optional fun chimney downclimbs. Approach and exit (particularly the exit) were rough. Won’t be recommending this canyon to anyone who isn’t a masochist.
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| Poor | Very Low
| None
| Normal |  6 hours
| 2 people Advanced to Beginner | Erek (206 reports) | |
Comment: Lots of cactus on approach and exit. Scenic canyon with some interesting sculpted sections, pools, and high walls. Little rappel or canyoneering appeal, short easy raps. A few interesting downclimbs. Overall, not worth the hell that is the approach and exit. Downclimbed rappel #1 LDC about 15' rappel. Downclimbed rap #2 LDC in challenging slopping crack about 25' rappel. Rappelled #3 about 90' from tree LDC, instead of doing bushy downclimb more LCD. Replaced webbing on rappel #1, #3, and #4. One and done for this canyon for me.
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| Good | Low
| None
| Normal | 4 hours
| 4 people Brand new to Intermediate | Hdjohnson (7 reports) | |
Comment: More than a trickle made for very nice waterfalls but still straightforward. Briefly chest deep
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| | | | | HikeArizona.com (271 reports) | |||
Comment: Most recent conditions reported at HikeArizona.com
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| Great | Swimming
| None
| Normal | 3 hours
| 3 people Intermediate to Advanced | Airkewled (12 reports) | |
Comment: Flowing water. Waist to chest deep at max for short distance. Found cairned trail on the way out
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