Conditions:El Prieto Canyon-20260119002721

Latest:	18 Jan 2026 (2 mos ago)

Reported by:	Jcsjcs (146 reports)
Location:	El Prieto Canyon
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:	Very Low
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Normal
Time:	6 hours

Team: 1 people

Trip report URL:

Comments: I heard Chaney gate was closed so I parked at the top of El Prieto Road which adds less distance in total than Loma Alta. I walked over to Millard Falls Trailhead and continued on trails past Dawn Mine and up to Tom Sloan Saddle, then west along the ridge to the drop-in. Approach took three hours. This approach hike has spectacular views and is well worth doing of its own merits. El Prieto Canyon was pretty brushy in the upper reaches but became easier to travel down in the meat of the technical section. There were plenty of downclimbs and all rappels had easy anchors. I did around 8 rappels. Lower down once the water started, there was canyon kelp and sticker bushes so I kept to the watercourse as much as possible. Beyond where the first descent party left the canyon, there was only one drop that didn't seem downclimbable but I was able to slide down a log. Climbed down two debris control dams just before the junction with the trail.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
18 Jan 2026	Good	Very Low	None	Normal	6 hours	1 people	Jcsjcs (146 reports)
Comment: I heard Chaney gate was closed so I parked at the top of El Prieto Road which adds less distance in total than Loma Alta. I walked over to Millard Falls Trailhead and continued on trails past Dawn Mine and up to Tom Sloan Saddle, then west along the ridge to the drop-in. Approach took three hours. This approach hike has spectacular views and is well worth doing of its own merits. El Prieto Canyon was pretty brushy in the upper reaches but became easier to travel down in the meat of the technical section. There were plenty of downclimbs and all rappels had easy anchors. I did around 8 rappels. Lower down once the water started, there was canyon kelp and sticker bushes so I kept to the watercourse as much as possible. Beyond where the first descent party left the canyon, there was only one drop that didn't seem downclimbable but I was able to slide down a log. Climbed down two debris control dams just before the junction with the trail.
4 Jul 2023	Ok	Very Low	None	Normal	14 hours	3 people Brand new to Expert	Dangel (160 reports)
Comment: First (partial) descent woo. Pretty sweet place if you can get over the approach and exit. We moved at .1mph for 8 continuous hours but did not function as a highly efficient team. An efficient team could easily go twice as fast. I put "14 hours" car to car as an estimate of adding the entrance and exit hikes.