Hidden Canyon (CNM)

For other features with similar names, see Hidden Canyon (disambiguation)

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‌

Difficulty:‌3A I (v4a1 I)

Raps:‌2, max ↨175ft

Metric

Overall:	1.5-2h	⟷1.7mi
Approach:	5min	⟷634ft	↓50ft
Descent:	30min-1h	⟷0.3mi	↓300ft
Exit:	40min	⟷1.3mi	↑565ft

Red Tape:‌

Shuttle:‌Optional 0.82 mi

Vehicle:Passenger

Rock type:Sandstone

Start:

39.0410, -108.7184

Parking:

39.0408, -108.7189

Shuttle:

39.0369, -108.7089

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Condition Reports:

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Weather:

Weather forecast

Waterflow

Best season:

Any, Hot in Summer

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Regions:

Colorado National Monument

Download: KML / GPX | Open in CalTopo | Printable Map

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Introduction[edit]

Hidden Canyon is a short tributary to Upper Ute Canyon with a large, roadside free-hanging rappel into a pretty sandstone amphitheater. The big rappel is close to the road with a steep, maintained trail exit. As a novelty, the approach can be done through a giant carved Culvert Tunnel under the road.

Approach[edit]

Drive RimRock Drive into the Colorado National Monument from the Devil's Kitchen southern entrance. Leave an optional Shuttle vehicle at the Upper Ute Trailhead.
Park at the top of the drainage along the side of the road before Suction Point.

Hike to the south side of the road to walk through the tunnel culvert and to the top of the canyon.

Culvert Tunnel entrance south of the road
Culvert Tunnel looking upstream

Descent[edit]

R1: 180' free-hanging rappel from a tree or bush set +50' back from the edge. Using the tree sets a fall line down the drainage over a sharp lip. Using a bush sets the fall line just a bit DCR over a fatter section of the lip, which may be easier for everyone to negotiate. The long rope can be retrieved after the descent.

R2: 45' from a small bush DCL on a ledge

DC until the bottom of Ute Canyon

R1 top lip
R1: 180' free hang
R2: 45'

Exit[edit]

Hike downstream in Ute Canyon to the base of the Ute Canyon Trail and the set of switchbacks leading back up to Rimrock Road above. A GPS may be helpful as the trail in the bottom of Ute Canyon may be hard to find upstream/west of the start of the switchbacks. The swtichbacks on the Ute Canyon Trail are well-maintained.

Upper Ute TH switchbacks
Upper Ute TH switchbacks

Red tape[edit]

A National Park's pass or a Colorado National Monument entrance fee is required for parking.

Beta sites[edit]

Trip reports and media[edit]

July 2019: explored:

Feb 2026 descended and beta added to ropewiki. Ira Lewis, Chris Welsh

Background[edit]

Incidents

Credits

Information provided by automated processes. KML map by (unknown). Main photo by (unknown). Authors are listed in chronological order.

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