Hog Canyon in Dinosaur NM
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v4a1 V) Raps:3-5, max ↨270ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | May-Jun, Sep-Oct
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40.4353, -109.1627
40.4257, -109.1747
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Introduction[edit]
Hog Canyon contains a few rappels including a large headwall entrance rappel. The drainage contains a lot of vegetation and many large jumbled boulder down climbs.
- The season may be able to start sooner or end later than other DNM canyons based on the southern-facing aspect and the park maintenance of this lower elevation road.
Approach[edit]
DRIVE 9.75 miles East from the Dinosaur National Monument Quarry Visitor Center to the Josie Morris Cabin Trailhead Parking Lot on a paved and maintained dirt road.
HIKE toward the Hog Spring Trail departing the parking lot to the East. At the fence line, depart the trail and continue off trail east for another half mile, which should be far enough to avoid cliffing out on the approach. Reference the GPS track and waypoints to navigate a known path up the slickrock. Crest the top of the ridge and descend just above the large headwall entrance rappel.
- Note: This approach has almost no shade and will be fully exposed to the sun. By June, the temperatures get quite warm.
A CAR SHUTTLE option exists but is unverified as of this beta update. Skip the uphill hike and park on top of the Yampa Plateau by driving 20 miles up Blue Mountain Road / CO 1550.
Descent[edit]
R1: 270' from a tree in Canyon Center. Another group broke up this headwall rappel by using a ledge ~200' down, however the ledge is set back out of reach from the plumb line in this free-hanging rappel. On a 2023 descent, it was felt a single long rope would be preferable for this large pretty rappel.
Downclimb Canyon Left
R2: 110' from a tree or optionally downclimb further Canyon Left
A few downclimbs before R3
optional R3: 50' nuisance rappel from a tree or downclimb in a choked drainage on Canyon Left
A downclimb before R4
R4: 60' fiddle from a tree
R5: 85' from a tree set 20' back from the drop
Exit[edit]
The technical section ends shortly after R5. Hog Spring starts to produce clear water in the streambed and a trail is soon picked up that leads right back to the fence line. Beware of avoidable poison ivy on the trail. After the fence, follow the trail back to the right (West) and the Josie Morris Cabin Parking Lot.
Red tape[edit]
A National Park's pass or a Dinosaur National Monument entrance fee is required.
Beta sites[edit]
SummitPost.org : Hog Canyon
Trip reports and media[edit]
2023-06 photos and ropewiki beta update
Background[edit]
First known full descent June 18, 2016 led by Scott P, Peter, Ron, George, and Kessler.