Flintstone Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3B IV (v3a2 IV) Raps:11, max ↨100ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 45min Vehicle:High Clearance Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 7 Sep 2024
"A rugged and wild route with a remote wilderness feel and neat features thoughout.. Approach down to first drop is a loose downhill bushwhack but |
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| Best season: | Spring and Summer
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35.0272, -111.7847
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WaterflowIntroduction[edit]
A beautiful canyon located on the north side of West Fork Canyon. Raw and rugged, with lots of greenery and a few sculpted slots, less traveled than other more famous canyons nearby.
Due to fire damage in the area, many of the anchors are off of large dead logs, dead trees, or rock cairns. Anchor points need to be inspected and have higher chance of needing replacement or may even be non existent after storms.
Optional sneak exit requires 4th class scrambling and some mild 5th class climbing on highly volatile terrain. If taking the sneak, canyon rating is 3B III R.
Approach[edit]
Take FR 536A in off of FR 536 and drive to the end of the road and park there. Head in a North West direction to pick up the shallow drainage marked on the map. Descend the drainage until you are forced to rappel 100ft to the canyon floor of Flintstone.
Descent[edit]
R1: 100' tree RDC
R2: 40’ into pool with short swimmer.
- R2 alternate: From the watercourse at the base of R1, climb up opposite side and traverse along ridge on left side of drainage to find R2 hidden in the trees. 50' tree backed up with rock pinch LDC (avoids pool).
R3: 65' large log. (30' back)
R4: 50' rock cairn
R5: 75' rock cairn (15' back)
R6: 70' bolt RDC into slot
R7: 65’ wedged stump into pool
Multiple downclimbs
R8: 35' large log into pool
R9: 20' large log LDC
R10: 20' tree LDC or downclimb
R11: 45' boulder RDC into pothole with potential pool
Exit[edit]
West Fork Creek Exit
Continue down canyon to the confluence with West Fork of Oak Creek. Turn left and follow the creek downstream. After the scenic subway section, pick up West Fork Trail and follow it 3 miles to the Call of the Canyon parking area to retrieve the shuttle vehicle. Although it includes more hiking and a long shuttle, this is the safer and recommended exit option.
Sneak Exit
Continue down canyon following KML track until reaching the exit drainage. Scramble up the loose, brushy drainage eventually turning right and scrambling up another even steeper and looser drainage until you reach a saddle. Turn left, traverse to the final gully, and you will be soon faced with a 10' 5th class climb with good hand holds. Once up, there is more 4th class climbing up a particularly dirty section of the gully with minimal hand and footholds. This section is very vertical and is riddled with unstable rock and downed trees. Wear helmets and use extreme caution! Continue along the ridge line until it flattens out and you reach your vehicle. Pants and long sleeves highly recommended, as well as body armor if you have it.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
BluuGnome.com : Flintstone Canyon- CanyonChronicles.com : Flintstone Canyon
- HikeArizona.com : Flintstone Canyon
Arizona Technical Canyoneering Book by Todd Martin : Flintstone Canyon- Super Amazing Map : Flintstone Canyon
Trip reports and media[edit]
- https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1341245169229253.100000313473011&type=3
- Candition.com : Flinstone Canyon
Background[edit]
First descent by Todd Martin and Aaron Locander in July 2004.
First rap on loop route and sneak exit by Jay Wisocki and Todd Holmes.
