Elder Spring (West Fork)

Elder Spring (West Fork) Canyoneering Canyoning Caving

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‌	Difficulty:‌3A III (v4a1 IV) Raps:‌4-5, max ↨180ft Metric Overall: 3.5-4.5h  ⟷4.2mi Approach: 1-2h  ⟷2.2mi  ↑1880ft Descent: 2h  ⟷1mi  ↓1700ft Exit: 30min  ⟷1mi  ↓200ft No Red Tape:‌No permit required Shuttle:‌None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone
Start:	40.4424, -109.1816
Parking:	40.4217, -109.1812
Condition Reports:
Weather:
Best season:	Autumn to Spring, Avoid Summer winter spring summer fall Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
Regions:	North America United States Colorado Utah Western Slope  Dinosaur National Monument

40.4424, -109.181640.4217, -109.1812https://ropewiki.com/images/d/d3/Elder_Spring_%28West_Fork%29.kmltopo

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Introduction

Elder Spring (West Fork) gets its name from Elder Spring at the confluence of the east and west fork. This is a fun sandstone canyon consisting of four rappels and a solid down climb. There are enough small down climbs mixed in with sandstone narrows and sandstone ramps to keep it interesting. While fun, I probably wouldn’t repeat the canyon.

Approach

Use the same parking as Elder Spring (East Fork). Park at a pull off just after an old fence 40.42172, -109.18117. Follow the gravel road north until you find a cattle trail heading west. Cross the bush choked gully to reach the west side of the canyon. Hike up the obvious slope west of the canyon. Easy hiking, staying along the west edge of the canyon, until you reach a break in the cliffs that can be descended.

Descent

Scramble into the canyon to reach 40.44244, -109.18158. From this point head down canyon over loose rocks and small sandstone slides. The first rappel is only 15-20 minutes down canyon. There are multiple small down climbs where a handline is useful. The last person can down climb with spotting or partner assist.

• R1: 70’ from a tree. Ending on a small bench above the narrow canyon floor. Rappelling into the narrow canyon is 120’+

• R2: 150’+ from a tree. This rap could be 200’, but the last 50’ is an easy down climb.

Top of R2

• 20’ DC: 20’ through a rabbit hole. Larger canyoners may want to rappel over top of the large boulder forming the rabbit hole. A handline is useful here. Be careful of the floor at the start of this down climb, portions are a false floor.

20ft DC

• R3: 70’ from a slung rock / deadman.

R3

• R4: 40’ to 100’ depending which tree is used for an anchor. We used a solid tree set 60’ back from the edge. This rappel is low angle with the last 5’ being undercut.

R4

Sandstone slabs

• R5 (this is best bypassed by staying right LDC): From rappel 4 hike down the sandstone ramps, staying right (LDC) to the exit. Going left leads to a small alcove with a rappel off a tree (30’ off a tree) or as a 15’ down climb to enter the alcove. A handline or rappel off a tree is useful here.

• Note: We fiddled all of the rappels with no problem retrieving gear. Webbing was only left on R3. Canyon was dry.

Exit

Same as Elder Spring (East Fork). Work a short distance through the brush, staying east on a bench, above Elder Spring, to avoid the worst of it. It’s an easy hike back to the car along the cattle trail.

Red tape

A National Park's pass or a Dinosaur National Monument entrance fee is required.

Background

First known decent November 5, 2023. Mike P., Rob D., & team.