Conditions:Skunk Canyon-20260521000247

Latest:	9 May 2026 (12 days ago)

Reported by:	Davey (1 reports)
Location:	Skunk Canyon
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:	Moderate
Wetsuit:	Thin wetsuit
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Special challenges
Time:	8 hours

Team: 2 people with experience level Intermediate

Trip report URL:

Comments: Fun canyon for a good adventure. Lots of tree debris throughout, very slippery in the watercourse, and expect to ghost most anchors. Navigating the debris slowed us down a lot. Some fun low angle slides but use caution sliding into a pool because most weren’t clear enough to see the bottom and were only 1-3 ft deep (upper portion of the descent).

Left a few tree anchors behind and plan to run again this summer to leave more. Inspect all tree anchors, lots of burned and fallen ones in there. There are some raps before the ⅔ marker in the Caltopo file, but below that is where the best raps are for sure.

Downclimbed one potential rap with a cool chockstone to go under because didn't see a clear anchor between that one and the next one. Also bypassed another section with similar circumstance - perhaps at lower flow and lower pool levels an obvious anchor would appear.

A couple spots have raps in close succession so would be easier if you have a long enough rope to use the first anchor for all. Be careful on rope pulls, got rope stuck on one towards the end using a Friction Saver anchor and had to cut it (there also was another anchor with a cut rope there that should have been my warning to leave an anchor and not try to ghost). I believe the possible jump from a stem is around the last bend of the creek.

Group of 2 took over 7hr on the descent with a casual pace. Some rusted metal mining equipment randomly spread out across the canyon, some in watercourse so keep an eye out.

Would likely still be fun and worth it if you could drop in before the ⅔ marker. Could possibly go down the creek northwest of that marker, about halfway down the original descent route.

Flow on 5/9/2026: No. American - Inflow Lake Clementine gauge = ~950 cfs. This was runnable for intermediate level and up. Would be difficult for beginners with all the scrambling and slippery raps. I imagine at lower flows could be good for beginners. You can look at the flow at the parking area, either looking at the waterfall below the culvert or hiking up a few minutes to check out the end of the route.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
9 May 2026	Good	Moderate	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges	8 hours	2 people Intermediate	Davey (1 reports)
Comment: Fun canyon for a good adventure. Lots of tree debris throughout, very slippery in the watercourse, and expect to ghost most anchors. Navigating the debris slowed us down a lot. Some fun low angle slides but use caution sliding into a pool because most weren’t clear enough to see the bottom and were only 1-3 ft deep (upper portion of the descent). Left a few tree anchors behind and plan to run again this summer to leave more. Inspect all tree anchors, lots of burned and fallen ones in there. There are some raps before the ⅔ marker in the Caltopo file, but below that is where the best raps are for sure. Downclimbed one potential rap with a cool chockstone to go under because didn't see a clear anchor between that one and the next one. Also bypassed another section with similar circumstance - perhaps at lower flow and lower pool levels an obvious anchor would appear. A couple spots have raps in close succession so would be easier if you have a long enough rope to use the first anchor for all. Be careful on rope pulls, got rope stuck on one towards the end using a Friction Saver anchor and had to cut it (there also was another anchor with a cut rope there that should have been my warning to leave an anchor and not try to ghost). I believe the possible jump from a stem is around the last bend of the creek. Group of 2 took over 7hr on the descent with a casual pace. Some rusted metal mining equipment randomly spread out across the canyon, some in watercourse so keep an eye out. Would likely still be fun and worth it if you could drop in before the ⅔ marker. Could possibly go down the creek northwest of that marker, about halfway down the original descent route. Flow on 5/9/2026: No. American - Inflow Lake Clementine gauge = ~950 cfs. This was runnable for intermediate level and up. Would be difficult for beginners with all the scrambling and slippery raps. I imagine at lower flows could be good for beginners. You can look at the flow at the parking area, either looking at the waterfall below the culvert or hiking up a few minutes to check out the end of the route.