Conditions:Pueblo Canyon-20220411180457
Latest: |
9 Apr 2022 (3 yrs, 1 month ago) |
|---|
| Reported by: | RFontaine (270 reports) | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality: | Amazing |
|
| Waterflow: | Low |
|
| Wetsuit: | None |
|
| Water temperature: | ||
| Difficulty: | ||
| Time: |  10 hours
|
|
Team: 2 people with experience level Advanced
Trip report URL:
Comments: Absolutely INCREDIBLE trip!!!
Drove out Friday night and camped a few hundred feet from Pueblo Canyon TH.
Cherry Creek RD is not challenging. The boulder in the middle of the trail people mention is not an issue to simply drive around in a midsize 4x4, and I suspect that even a full-size truck may fit with some careful maneuvering. The rocky areas on trail are not really 2wd friendly but a stock, high clearance 4x4 can handle them fine with low range and delicate throttle. Same goes with the rocky climb up the spur trail, to access Pueblo Canyon TH. In current conditions, there is no reason one couldn't drive straight up to the TH in a stock 4x4. (airing down with off-road tires definitely recommended)
We did the bottom up approach and completed the full upper/lower route. The long scramble up the gully wasn't near as bad as we were expecting. Bushwhacking was overall very minimal, and there are faint remnants of trail to follow throughout. Once on top, hiking around first drainage, through the woods, and over to start of canyon was a breeze. This approach took us nearly 3hrs total at a moderate pace,
Right away from the first drop in you can see that this is a special canyon. High walls, very cool geography. Has an ancient, untouched, old-world feel through out. Many of the rappels were in quick succession. Once reaching the water course we found a pleasant flow and great opportunity to filter water.
First waterfall rappel (R7) is out of water course and easy to stay dry. However, the next one (R8) was not and we definitely got wet. However, we were plenty comfortable without wetsuits.
The ruins were a real treat! Huge cliff site, and quite extensive! The largest, most well preserved collection I've seen to date. Absolutely incredible!
We continued down the lower section, some downclimbs were in flow and impossible to stay dry. "The Great Hallway" was really cool! Tall slot walls, lots of unavoidable ankle to knee deep pools; cold but far from unbearable.
Once out of the hall way section the water continues flowing down a picturesque, layered rock landscape.
We eventually made our way our to Cherry Creek Rd. Having only one vehicle we did not shuttle and hiked roughly 45mins down Cherry Creek Rd to the spur trail and back up to our campsite/vehicle.
Loved every bit of it! A fantastic adventure! One of my all time favorites!
Beta has been updated. Please, enjoy responsibly!
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing | Low
| None
| | 10 hours
| 2 people Advanced | RFontaine (270 reports) | |
Comment: Absolutely INCREDIBLE trip!!!
Drove out Friday night and camped a few hundred feet from Pueblo Canyon TH. Cherry Creek RD is not challenging. The boulder in the middle of the trail people mention is not an issue to simply drive around in a midsize 4x4, and I suspect that even a full-size truck may fit with some careful maneuvering. The rocky areas on trail are not really 2wd friendly but a stock, high clearance 4x4 can handle them fine with low range and delicate throttle. Same goes with the rocky climb up the spur trail, to access Pueblo Canyon TH. In current conditions, there is no reason one couldn't drive straight up to the TH in a stock 4x4. (airing down with off-road tires definitely recommended) We did the bottom up approach and completed the full upper/lower route. The long scramble up the gully wasn't near as bad as we were expecting. Bushwhacking was overall very minimal, and there are faint remnants of trail to follow throughout. Once on top, hiking around first drainage, through the woods, and over to start of canyon was a breeze. This approach took us nearly 3hrs total at a moderate pace, Right away from the first drop in you can see that this is a special canyon. High walls, very cool geography. Has an ancient, untouched, old-world feel through out. Many of the rappels were in quick succession. Once reaching the water course we found a pleasant flow and great opportunity to filter water. First waterfall rappel (R7) is out of water course and easy to stay dry. However, the next one (R8) was not and we definitely got wet. However, we were plenty comfortable without wetsuits. The ruins were a real treat! Huge cliff site, and quite extensive! The largest, most well preserved collection I've seen to date. Absolutely incredible! We continued down the lower section, some downclimbs were in flow and impossible to stay dry. "The Great Hallway" was really cool! Tall slot walls, lots of unavoidable ankle to knee deep pools; cold but far from unbearable. Once out of the hall way section the water continues flowing down a picturesque, layered rock landscape. We eventually made our way our to Cherry Creek Rd. Having only one vehicle we did not shuttle and hiked roughly 45mins down Cherry Creek Rd to the spur trail and back up to our campsite/vehicle. Loved every bit of it! A fantastic adventure! One of my all time favorites! Beta has been updated. Please, enjoy responsibly!
| |||||||
| Good | Low
| None
| Normal  |  8 hours
| 8 people Intermediate to Advanced | PatWinstanley (80 reports) | |
Comment: Approached the canyon from Cherry Creek Rd (FR 203) by taking the Pueblo Canyon trail up to the gully on the track, then scrambling up the gully/drainage to the top in 3.5 hours total from the alternate parking after Devils Chasm trailhead. Anchors in good shape in the entry side drainage, no water. No anchors present for the two drops in the main drainage of Pueblo; the first we anchored from a good tree on canyon left that keeps you in the light flow from the spring (fun hip slide), the big waterfall rappel (no more than 100 feet to the trail) we anchored from a big rock horn right at the top of the drop. Ruins were awesome - decided to skip the lower canyon and take the trail back, from the falls to the spot where you leave the trail on the way up the gully on the approach is quite thin/overgrown in spots and can be difficult to follow.
The road is in good shape up to Ellison Ranch, then decent shape up to Devils Chasm, though narrow and bumpy. Not long after Devils Chasm a large boulder partially blocks the road - some short, tough vehicles can squeeze past it, many will not want to try. If you have any doubt about passing the boulder, park at either the Devils Chasm trailhead or at a fairly large pullout at a spur road on the right shortly thereafter and hike the rest of the way. The road is quite narrow in this area and turning around can be difficult.
| |||||||
