Conditions:Punchbowl Canyon-20250120175239

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Latest:

19 Jan 2025 (27 days ago)

Reported by: Stber321 (32 reports)
Quality:

Good
Waterflow:
Deep pools
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Wetsuit:
Thin wetsuit
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Water temperature:
Difficulty:
Normal
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Time: Time4.png 12 hours Bar4.png

Team: 2 people with experience level Intermediate

Trip report URL:

Comments: Took gully to join with fin approach on the ledges. Bushwhacking was horrible in there. Had trouble finding the fin approach up there and probably got off route and wasted a ton of time in a chossy chimney (below the base of the cairn climb/traverse which was nothing after this). In hindsight, I suspect you probably should keep a little right of the line in the GPX file to find a way to the base of the cairn climb. Had 2 deep mandatory swimmers and a lot of wades. chilly



All condition reports


Date Quality Waterflow Wetsuit Difficulty Time Team Reported by
19 Jan 2025


Good

Deep pools
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Thin wetsuit
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Normal
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Time4.png 12 hours
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2 people
Intermediate
Stber321 (32 reports)
Comment: Took gully to join with fin approach on the ledges. Bushwhacking was horrible in there. Had trouble finding the fin approach up there and probably got off route and wasted a ton of time in a chossy chimney (below the base of the cairn climb/traverse which was nothing after this). In hindsight, I suspect you probably should keep a little right of the line in the GPX file to find a way to the base of the cairn climb. Had 2 deep mandatory swimmers and a lot of wades. chilly




Amazing

Deep pools
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Thin wetsuit
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Special challenges
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Time4.png 13 hours
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2 people
Reallimbic (12 reports)
Comment: Team of 2. We enjoy taking our time and enjoying every part of the canyon. 10am late start. 1 hr slow hike to bottom. Fin took fin approach 1 hr to top. Fin approach easier than expected for us with climbing experience and ok with huge drop off at the top with narrow sections. Take your time. Use caution. At the top of the fin we stayed for a while to soak in amazing 360 views. 1 hr from top of fin to cross over to R1 with only two of us and full packs. Day started off hot but turned cold after sunset. Caught the canyon with good flow and spraying waterfalls! Clear pools. Cold water but with wetsuits fine even at night. I used 4/3mm wetsuit with 2.5mm vest added later. 3mm gloves and 3mm socks. She runs colder and wore 5/4 wetsuit and 2.5mm vest later, 3mm gloves and 3mm socks. Replaced webbing at R3 and extended it for easier rope pull. Sun bleached webbing on a lot of raps so come prepared. R5 120' is off one bolt very far back with tons of webbing all tied making a super long piece with lots of rapides, so lot of points of possible failure with so many knots. Next time I'd look at repacing R5 with one super long piece of webbing. R5 replaced rusted rapide that was in watercourse. Come prepared with rapides too. One rap hanging far over huge pinch boulder made for an intersting start. Locked off to use two hands to climb over boulder and hang before starting the rappel. R8 anchor in watercourse with deep pools so have to check anchor underwater. After R8, at least 3-4 more raps before R9 off bolt. One of the raps after R8, couldn't find an anchor in the dark for a 15' rap but eventually looked RDC, looking up on rock face. Stuck rope on last rappel. Did it in pitch black night. Fiddled last rappel and rope fell on shelf rock half way down. Able to climb LUC to retrieve. 75 mins to hike out. Incredible canyon all to ourselves!




Good

Very Low
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Normal
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Time4.png 10 hours
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2 people
EMoorcroft (440 reports)
Comment: Took the gully approach and it took us about 3 hours to reach r1. Stuck a rope on r3 and was able to climb back up, but it did add about 30 minutes to our time. We walked the road both ways and camped up top at a nearby campsite. Flow is very low compared to a week ago. We enjoyed the perfect Temps and clear water.




Amazing

Moderate Low
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Thin wetsuit
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Time4.png 9 hours
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6 people
Beginner to Advanced
RFontaine (240 reports)
Comment: A top notch super fun class C canyon when flowing! A totally gorgeous gem full of high quality waterfall rappels!

We hiked the road from gate to approach in 45mins. We took the fin approach, climbing on wet class 4 terrain. Must be careful with steps and hold. Lots of loose crumbly rock. I did like this engaging approach, much less bush to wack and more spice! This approach took us 1hr & 45min to get to the canyon.

It had rained quite a bit a off and on for a few days prior and heavily the night before, into the morning! Water was clean and flowing moderately. Very fun, solid flow for our beginner to experience for the first time without it being dangerous. By far the most flow Ive seen on this route!! Multiple pools were full out swims. I wore a 4/3 and was on the chilly side of comfortable but not bad!

Most webbing intact and in good shape. Replaced 2 anchors.

Once down we hiked a 1/4 of the way up the road before a worker graciously picked us up in his truck to take us the rest of the way up. Just in time as a big evening storm started to roll in!!

This route is top notch and super fun!! All the rappels are quality and the scenery is splendid! A must do after the rain!


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  • Good

    Very Low
    Bar1.png

    None
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    Normal
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    Time4.png 10 hours
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    4 people
    Advanced to Beginner
    MRickerd (37 reports)
    Comment: Parked at the top behind the gate in our Prius (road in is in great shape). We were not passed by any vehicles while on the road that leads down to the river. 80 degrees to start, but peak temp of 93. Approach is easy to understand where you need to go, but bring GPS to be sure (we took approach two due to climbing abilities of group members). Steep and full of non-scratching bushes. Music and engine noise from those on the river was prominent throughout the entire canyon. This took away from most of the ambiance we seek out in canyons. Definitely a pretty canyon, but it doesn't offset the difficulty in getting there. 13 raps total, some so short it's annoying they can't be downclimbed by all in our group. Final rappel is beautiful. The trek back up to the car was in the shade, so while long, it wasn't too bad. Pools were full of algae and the temperatures were refreshing.




    Great

    Low
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    Full wetsuit
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    Normal
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    Time3.png 8 hours
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    3 people
    Advanced to Intermediate
    Erek (206 reports)
    Comment: Water in upper section was really cold. Air temp about 65 F. Lots of new webbing, did not have to replace any anchors. Be mindful of rope placement as some anchors are setup near cracks and possible rope pull issues. Was trickle flow, all pools were clean and clear.




    Amazing

    Low
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    Thin wetsuit
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    Time3.png 6 hours
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    2 people
    Advanced
    RFontaine (240 reports)
    Comment: Absolutely GORGEOUS! Deep clean pools with fresh rainwater runoff, every rappel was flowing!!

    We were lucky enough to get a ride to and from to the approach gully by Mr. Jeff Bennett, one of the workers replacing the power line poles near the dam!

    The approach up the gully is easy but a but thorny!

    It was very windy up top but not bad once in the canyon. I wore a 4/3 suit and was comfy!

    Alot of the webbing is starting to get worn and should be replaced soon. We replaced the webbing on the last rap.

    Beautiful gentle flow throughout canyon, super fresh and clean!

    Wonderful conditions!


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  • Amazing

    Moderate Low
    Bar2.png

    Full wetsuit
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    Special challenges
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    Time4.png 9 hours
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    5 people
    Advanced
    Nclegg (387 reports)
    Comment: Approached and exited along the Salt River via boat. Took the fin ascent route which was very engaging. Lots of exposed climbing on chossy rock. Views are some of the best in the Supes. Nice flow from recent rains with several swimmers and a few opportunities for jumps. Fresh rainwater was not too cold, was comfortable in a 5mm wetsuit + rain jacket. Others had less substantial neoprene and managed, but reported becoming cold about midway through the canyon. Webbing at the final anchor should be replaced soon, all other webbing was in fine condition. A member of our party sprained her ankle on one of the more challenging downclimbs with three rappels left to go. Fortunately our boat was docked near the base of the punchbowl and it was smooth sailing back to our vehicles.
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  • Great

    Deep pools
    Bar1.png

    Thin wetsuit
    Bar2.png

    Time3.png 7 hours
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    4 people
    Intermediate to Advanced
    RFontaine (240 reports)
    Comment: We were lucky enough to catch a ride to and from the parking area BY THE SAME GUY in a white F150 both on his way to and from work. His name is Joe and he works at the dam, super nice guy!

    For the approach we took the longer route up the drainage which spread out the elevation gain nicely. We also encountered a large heard of big horn sheep on the way up! Enjoy the incredible views of one of Canyon Lake's water ways as you look back!

    Quite a few pools, most were swimmers, cold but plenty bearable in a 4:3 wetsuit. Some pools were gross and stagnant with algae forming a thick film over the water. Updated a few anchors. Final rappel down into the "punchbowl" was fantastic. It puts you right back on the pavement where you can disrobe and hopefully solicit a ride from one of the workers driving up the road below.




    Amazing

    Low
    Bar1.png

    Full wetsuit
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    Normal
    Bar2.png
    Time3.png 8 hours
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    4 people
    Intermediate to Advanced
    Erek (206 reports)
    Comment: Nice flow in canyon. Pools super full. Some of us jumped rappel #3 and #6. Water was nice, not super cold. Anchors all looked good, but a few may need replacement in the next few months. Removed a lot of old bad webbing not in use. One bolt on last rap was a little loose.




    Ok

    Deep pools
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    None
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    Normal
    Bar2.png
    Time3.png 8 hours
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    3 people
    Intermediate to Advanced
    Erek (206 reports)
    Comment: No flow. Still a few mandatory swimmer pools. No wetsuits. Water was cool, but refreshing with the heat and hike out.




    Great

    Moderate Low
    Bar2.png

    Full wetsuit
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    Normal
    Bar2.png
    Time3.png 7 hours
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    4 people
    Intermediate to Advanced
    PatWinstanley (80 reports)
    Comment: Light, fun flow in the canyon after recent snow and rain - water was plenty cold. Parking area before the gate is getting more popular...getting there early might make getting a spot in the small parking area easier.




    Great

    Deep pools
    Bar1.png

    Thin wetsuit
    Bar2.png

    Normal
    Bar2.png
    Time3.png 7 hours
    Bar3.png
    7 people
    Intermediate to Advanced
    Airkewled (12 reports)
    Comment: via the super fun fin route. not flowing at all. several pools still are swimmers. brought wetsuits but could likely do with shorties or without if sunny. one pool had large quantity of algae.






    JenniferHarvey@Facebook (6 reports)
    Comment: extracts from Facebook posts, click link for full details (privacy restrictions may apply)
    • " Ran Punch Bowl with some friends yesterday. We were on the ridgleline and found rope. After we ran the canyon Dominic Tuso went back up the ridgeline to retrieve the rope. This crew wants to do the right thing. Is this your rope" Southwestern Canyoneering






    DominicTuso@Facebook (1 reports)
    Comment: extracts from Facebook posts, click link for full details (privacy restrictions may apply)
    • " Ran punchbowl with some friends yesterday. As we were on the ridgleline approach we came across some booty. After we ran the canyon I went back up the ridge line to retrieve the left behind rope setup for rappel. Lemme know if this is your gear." AZ Canyoneers


    ...additional reports