Conditions:Devil's Tail Canyon-20250302045344

Latest:	1 Mar 2025 (20 days ago)

Reported by:	Canyon Cartel (14 reports)
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:	Dry
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:
Difficulty:
Time:	10 hours

Team: 1 people with experience level Expert

Trip report URL:

Comments: Onsight solo. Approached from Devil's Chasm. Chose the left gulley at the split while on approach and did a V1 boulder move to get up into the ramp. Totally not worth it imo. Above are more moves on very bad rock. Next time would just go to the right. Approach took me 4 hours.

The canyon itself was pretty underwhelming. Considering a 4 hour approach and what I'll say is a 5 hour exit, the 1 hour of canyon is a huge letdown. The beginning slot section is pretty good but it's over quickly in about an hour. The remainder of the time is spent rock hopping through flooded boulder fields with the occasional rappel in between. Not my style but maybe for someone looking for more of a remote wilderness experience

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
1 Mar 2025	Good	Dry	None		10 hours	1 people Expert	Canyon Cartel (14 reports)
Comment: Onsight solo. Approached from Devil's Chasm. Chose the left gulley at the split while on approach and did a V1 boulder move to get up into the ramp. Totally not worth it imo. Above are more moves on very bad rock. Next time would just go to the right. Approach took me 4 hours. The canyon itself was pretty underwhelming. Considering a 4 hour approach and what I'll say is a 5 hour exit, the 1 hour of canyon is a huge letdown. The beginning slot section is pretty good but it's over quickly in about an hour. The remainder of the time is spent rock hopping through flooded boulder fields with the occasional rappel in between. Not my style but maybe for someone looking for more of a remote wilderness experience
19 Oct 2024	Amazing				10 hours	2 people Intermediate to Advanced	RFontaine (247 reports)
Comment: This is really a fantastic adventure route with tons of unique features thoughout. We approached via Devil's Chasm, starting at 7:30am, and paid a visit to the spectacular ruin site on our way up. We eventually ended up in the same side drainage Eric and team found, facing a 5th class obstacle. We did not see an obvious path around this obstacle as the main drainage funneled us into this spot. We didnt see a break away where there'd be any other way to go, but perhaps it was much further back. Infact, it only became obvious that this was a side drainage once we were above the 5th class climbs and rejoined the main drainage. The first climb has a dead tree leaned over on to it. I was able to girth hitch a 4ft sling/biner around the tree up high to protect the climb. My partner belayed me up, I chose the outside line which has a slight over hang. The move was definitely challenging and would not be safe without protection. Took me a minute to defeat this crux, I was able to move the girthed sling up the tree to continue protecting as I climbed. Once up, I had my partner ascend the rope. There was another easier 5th class section following this that I was able to free climb and top rope belay my partner from a tree. Rejoining the drainage there were plenty of easier 4th class scrambles throughout, not terribly bushy. Autumn colors are coming in nicely at higher elevation. Approach took us 5.5hrs total to 1st rap. This canyon is really unique with it's tall narrow halls and intricate layered basalt rock throughout. There were a few spots early on that we got our feet wet, no real wades or swims. Lots of larger good quality rappels, especially in the lower half! Surprisingly, despite the last report, there was still plenty of webbing that needed replacing bad throughout, mostly due to abrasive cuts. Anchors should all be good for now. Technical section and exit took us 4.5hrs. Back at camp with plenty of daylight! I feel that this route has been made even better with the addition of the Devil's Chasm approach, adding a ruin site, removing the short shuttle and making it easy to start/end your day right at camp!
13 Oct 2024	Good	Dry	None	Normal	12 hours	2 people Expert	Bioject (12 reports)
Comment: A very long day with a long approach and exit. Considering Waterslides is in the same area, I'm not sure I would do this one again. It's kind of a one and done. The ruins are definitely the best part. If the canyon had a shorter approach and exit I might give it a 3.5/5 stars but the effort necessary is why I give it a 2. I ended up replacing multiple piece of webbing so that anchors are now all in good condition.
15 Apr 2024	Great	Low			10 hours	3 people Advanced	EMoorcroft (440 reports)
Comment: Geat adventure! We ascended devils chasm for our approach and spent 1 hour at the indian ruins. Our route had two 5th class sections to negotiate. We entered a chasm on the left side and that presented climbing challenges. If you stay in the main drainage you may be able to bypass these obstacles. The approach took 5 hours with the stop at the ruins and the canyon + exit took another 5. Approaching from Devils Chasm will likely save time over the shuttle and pueblo approach but could increase difficulty. We replaced a lot of anchors with black webbing. The canyon had some flow after the slot section. Rain jackets were useful, wetsuits would be overkill.
11 Nov 2022	Amazing				12 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	RFontaine (247 reports)
Comment: Beautiful, raw, and remote! As of this weekend, Cherry Creek Road is still open! However, there are plans to close this road in the future. Also keep in mind that in the rainy season, Cherry Creek will become impassable, however, water levels were low when we went! We did the bottom up approach, driving up Cherry Creek Road all the way up to the trailhead, where the approach for Pueblo and Devil's Tail begin. The drive up Cherry Creek Road begins as easy dirt, eventually has some small boulder fields to navigate, and finally a semi-steep uphill crawl with some loose rock up to the parking area. This can be done in a stock 4wd vehicle. From the pavement to TH, this drive takes on average 1.5hrs. Airing down your AT/MT tires is recommended, as this is a very remote trail and tire damage is possible! The approach took about 4hrs total, which starts up the Pueblo trail then cuts off into a drainage which you follow all the way up to the saddle, gaining 3000' of elevation. Multiple fields of very loose rock must be navigated along the way but overall very manageable and wasn't too strenuous. Once on top, following the KML track we made our way to the Ridge Trail, following that over to the drop in. The Ridge Trail is very easy hiking but disappears a few times. We took the easy shortcut through the flat woods on multiple occasions, meeting up with the trail along the way. Staying closer to the ridge's edge in the open forest, avoids the terrible Black Locust forest the the KML leads you through! The Fall colors were in full effect and gave a fantastic display!! Dropping into the crack is spectacular, once inside, surrounded by tall sheer walls, you get immersed into another world. The long rock hallway is amazing. There is a point where you can look up and the long shape of the hallway combined with an opening in the roof makes the shape of a "Devil's Tail" which is where I believe the canyon's name originated! Lots of fun downclimbs and rappels through this hallway which eventually spits you out into a lush gorge with interesting rock, beautiful features, and multiple large cliffy rappels with far reaching views of a primitive, old world landscape. Truly feels as though you are stepping back in time! Lots and lots of downclimbs through out this route, it is much longer than you may think! As you follow the drainage, water becomes more and more abundant, eventually turning into a flowing stream then as you near the end, a babbling brook where 2 drainages meet! We picked up a well used trail near the end DCR which led into a camping area near the road where we dropped our packs and began the 45min hike back up to where we parked the truck at the TH. All webbing looking pretty good! Fantastic day, we did the last quarter of the canyon/exit in the dark, plan on headlamps!
14 Nov 2021	Great	Dry	None	Normal	7 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	McMurphy (1 reports)
Comment: We did the shuttle - dropped a car at Devi's Chasm Saturday night, camped near Parker Canyon, then drove to the upper terminus (by the ranch) on Sunday morning. Payson Ranger District says Workman Creek Road is closed...gate was open and road was in fine shape...not sure if they will close it soon. Trail 141 is fine...trail 139 only exists on paper and is full of locust. I agree with previous poster who said to go in from Aztec Peak...this too will be full of locust but is the shortest route so pick your poison. Approach sucks. Canyon rocks. Some small pockets of very avoidable shallow water. All rappels were in pretty good shape- # 2 and window to the world are even bolted. We fiddle sticked the 180 foot rap which worked well...feels like that pull could easily trap a conventional rappel set up. All in all great wilderness canyon that I would do again.
30 Oct 2021	Great	Dry	None	Normal	8 hours	4 people Intermediate	Bconklin (3 reports)
Comment: We did the shuttle. Started at 9:15 and didn't reach R1 until 10:45. The track on the map was heavily overgrown with thorny bushes. I would strongly suggest that anyone else approach directly from the direction of Aztec Peak to avoid crossing a number of overgrown drainages along the way. We weren't in any hurry, so we wound up walking out 30 minutes after dark. There was a black-tailed rattler a quarter-mile from the bottom, in spite of the cold overnight temps. Anchors were just adequate. They will need help shortly. The newer ones were 1/2 inch webbing.
5 Apr 2020	Great	Low	Rain jacket	Normal	13 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	Canderson (15 reports)
Comment: A long day completed by doing the bottom-up approach loop. A high clearance vehicle is required. Hiked up to the waterfall in Pueblo Canyon and then south up a gully to Rim Trail 139 that was easy to find. This detour had us exiting in the dark at the end of the day. Webbing was all fairly new. Water was flowing after leaving the corridor. A light rain jacket was used but no wetsuit was required on and after the big rap which we had a rope pull issue. Lots of easy downclimbing and boulder hopping.
4 Nov 2017	Great	Dry	None	Normal	11 hours	4 people Intermediate to Advanced	PatWinstanley (80 reports)
Comment: 11 hours car to car using the Pueblo Canyon trail and the gully to reach the top. The trail that takes you south to the canyon once you top out is pretty easy to follow, but having the GPS track to follow would be helpful. Trail was overgrown with thick new mexico locust in one spot that was fairly painful - long sleeves and pant would help. Rebuilt many anchors - this canyon is rarely done and has many rappels - bring webbing and rings. Nice fall colors. There can be a few shallow pools in the first long hallway where you will get your feet wet.