Guanapo Gorge Canyon
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| | Raps:0, max ↨0ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 12 Nov 2022
"Trail with good flagging. Water seemed too high at the initial downclimb, as it went into a scary looking boil. We we retreated on the approach trail |
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| Best season: | Any, AVOID rain
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10.7117, -61.2670
10.6941, -61.2634
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Introduction[edit]
Guanapo Gorge seems to be the only known/explored slot canyon in Trinidad, although there are almost certainly others, which may or may not be known and explored. While not a technical canyon, you're bound to have fun here, with some jumps and swims. A handline is useful. Avoid rains and high water at all costs - there is absolutely no escape!
Two things to know:
1. Trinidad is filled with extremely venomous snakes, such as the bushmaster. Bites are rare, but keep your eyes open. Wearing boots is recommended.
2. The Gpx track on this page may be off by 100 feet or so - thick jungle canopy decreases accuracy. Take the description on this page with you.
That said, this is a small adventure that Trinidadians do on the weekend. Experienced canyoneers should be fine here.
Approach[edit]
Guanapo is accessed by a dirt road to a quarry, and then a hiking trail cut by hunters. The road is fine for passenger vehicles, except after heavy rains. Hitchhiking the last few kilometers is easy.
The 'Trailhead' is a split just past the first quarry on your left. Take the dirt track on the left, using the GPS point.
Follow the trail for almost 2 kilometers. It's a poorly maintained 4wd track. You'll pass a couple shacks about 30 minutes in. Then, the jeep track ends, and you're on a foot-only path which will quickly drop down maybe 50 vertical meters to a stream.
At the stream, walk in the water, which is generally knee-to-thigh deep, and head upstream for 15-20 minutes until the first confluence.
Take a bush path that goes between the two streams. There should be orange flagging here. After barely a minute or two, you'll see an obvious sign that says 'Sombasson Tr.'
Follow the bush path uphill for 10-15 minutes. The flagging is near-continuous, and the trail is easy enough to follow. You may have to pass a couple of downed trees, but you should not be bushwhacking at all.
The trail then goes down briefly, is somewhat flat, goes up a little, and comes to a nondescript T-intersection. Head right.
Follow the trail for several minutes downhill, until arriving at a stream. There is a small, old concrete dam here. This is the start of Guanapo Gorge.
Descent[edit]
From the dam, walk and swim in the water heading downstream for 10 minutes.
The canyon will start to slot up.
The true start starts with a waterfall downclimb of around six feet. In high water, this may seem terrifying, and could be dangerous. Please assess carefully! If in doubt, retreat! You can always go back and upclimb from the bottom.
Do no jump blindly into this pool - though it appears deep, plenty of logs get watching in regularly.
A handline may be helpful here.
Within the slot, there a number of small downclimbs and swims. There's no escape until the end. Going through the slot should take around 30 minutes, possibly less.
As mentioned, every flood washes in logs and trumps and can create real hazards.
The slow started to open at a final 1.5 meter falls, which you can jump into a stunning deep, blue pool. Here, the canyon ends.
Exit[edit]
After exiting the gorge, follow the stream for 100 meters to a small confluence, and follow this downstream for another 100 meters to re-intersect with the trail you used for the approach. No bushwhacking here!
Red tape[edit]
There are sometimes hunters in the area. Hunters are friendly and pose no problems. They use hunting dogs, which are generally friendly. If in doubt, just say hi and wave. Crime doesn't seem to be a problem in this part of Trinidad.
Beta sites[edit]
More info on the canyon and surrounding jungle: www.lukaseddy.com/Trinidad-and-Tobago/
A video with clips of the canyon can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APvJ5_C9wW4
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
This slot has been known of, and occasionally descended by locals, for many years. The first discovery is unknown, and seems probable that indigenous peoples would have known of it. This beta was written by Lukas Eddy in December 2022.