Conditions:Salome Canyon (Upper)-20230414035300

Latest:	12 Apr 2023 (2 yrs, 1 month ago)

Reported by:	Nclegg (407 reports)
Quality:	Great
Waterflow:	Moderate High
Wetsuit:	Full wetsuit
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Special challenges
Time:	14 hours

Team: 2 people

Trip report URL:

Comments: Tackled in one long, incredibly arduous day. The rock in the watercourse was unbelievably slick (particularly in Park) which slowed our progress considerably. Replaced or rebuilt all but one anchor. Flow in Salome made the descent moderately more challenging, but manageable. Flow in Workman was HIGH and we were barely able to upclimb some of the obstacles or swim up canyon. To bypass the most formidable Workman waterfall we picked a 40' 4th class line RUC. We ended up doing the entirety of the 6 mile Hell's Hole Trail exit in the dark, and it was heavily overgrown in sections, full of spiders, and just overall a really terrible time. The "grotto" and granite narrows are certainly quite remarkable, but I wouldn't recommend this route as a day trip to my worst enemy.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
12 Apr 2023	Great	Moderate High	Full wetsuit	Special challenges	14 hours	2 people	Nclegg (407 reports)
Comment: Tackled in one long, incredibly arduous day. The rock in the watercourse was unbelievably slick (particularly in Park) which slowed our progress considerably. Replaced or rebuilt all but one anchor. Flow in Salome made the descent moderately more challenging, but manageable. Flow in Workman was HIGH and we were barely able to upclimb some of the obstacles or swim up canyon. To bypass the most formidable Workman waterfall we picked a 40' 4th class line RUC. We ended up doing the entirety of the 6 mile Hell's Hole Trail exit in the dark, and it was heavily overgrown in sections, full of spiders, and just overall a really terrible time. The "grotto" and granite narrows are certainly quite remarkable, but I wouldn't recommend this route as a day trip to my worst enemy.
30 May 2020	Good	Deep pools	None	Normal	12 hours	4 people Advanced to Intermediate	Erek (206 reports)
Comment: Two of our group wore wetsuits, two did not. Chilly but doable without wetsuit. Time is one day, car to car loop from Reynolds Creek TH. Definitely doable in long day by moderately fast hikers. Water filter was useful to have. Approach trail had very little bush, except near Park Creek junction near start. Considerable amount of poison ivy in canyon, but easily avoidable. Water flow was low, but pools full. Class 5 climb can be avoided by going about 100-200 feet back down canyon from Class 5 climb to much easier climb out up canyon right. After climb out, find lightly used trail to remain out of creek for remainder. Exit trail has some over growth, but overall pretty good. Lots of creek walking and hiking for very short section of unique and beautiful section of canyon.
1 May 2020	Amazing	Moderate Low	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges	19 hours	2 people Advanced	Eddyl (76 reports)
Comment: The GPX data on ropewiki is flawless. Get it. Flow level perfect. Higher would be tougher, lower would be less fun. Lots of snakes. Watch your step, wear thick pants or at least thick socks. Endless bushwhacking. You absolutely need long pants, long shirt, gloves, face mask, eye protection. From the confluence up Workman's Creek is a nightmare. Slow, difficult progress. The 5th class climb out is tough and filled with cactus. Impossible with a heavy pack. After free climbing it, I set an anchor at the top and rappelled back down to ascend with packs and my partner. There is no viable camping in the canyon. We bivyed in an uncomfortably tiny spot an inch above the water in Workman's creek, above the tough climb out. Two large scorpions outside our tent. The trail up from Hell's Hole is highly overgrown for the first two miles. Lots of sharp plants and tarantula wasps. Would never attempt this canyon in a day. We camped, with absolutely minimal gear, which I would recommend. This is a hard, difficult and long canyon, with 15+ hours of hard effort of boulder hopping, slippery rocks, bushwhacking and route finding for two hours of the most amazing canyon in Arizona. Worth it.
22 Apr 2017 Trip report							JeffWatkins@Facebook (6 reports)
Comment: extracts from Facebook posts, click link for full details (privacy restrictions may apply) " An overnight in a remote section of the Sierra Anchas. Grueling and beautiful." 04-22-2017 Upper Salome
25 Mar 2017 Trip report							Candition.com (287 reports)
Comment: Most recent conditions reported at Candition.com
10 Apr 2012 Trip report	Great						HikeArizona.com (271 reports)
Comment: Most recent conditions reported at HikeArizona.com, see Trip Report for full details.