Matkatamiba Mauv Narrows
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| | Difficulty:1B VI (v1a2 VI) Raps:
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| Condition Reports: | 23 Mar 2025
"Six hours to go from Upset Rapid, up the three bottom ascents of 150-Mile, past the Ledge, hike up along the river, cross the river in packrafts, cont |
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| Best season: | Spring;Fall
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36.3407, -112.6712
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Introduction[edit]
Matkatamiba slot is not really a canyoneering route, but it is a stunningly beautiful sculpted slot with flowing water and is well worth a visit. The Grand Canyoneering book describes it as one of the prettiest slots in the whole Grand Canyon. Though short and nontechnical, even experienced canyoneers will enjoy this one.
The problem is the access. Rafting groups occasionally see it from the river, although the beach is small and immediately above a rapids. Rafting groups that camp at Matkat Hotel beach campsite 3/4 mile downriver on the south bank will find a well-maintained, if hilly and exposed and somewhat long trail to access the slot.
This page describes how to access the slot by foot from 150-Mile Canyon, the only realistic access point for anyone not on a raft.
Approach[edit]
This approach describes starting above the final rappel in 150-Mile Canyon, and then ending at Upset Rapid, which is the mouth of 150-Mile Canyon.
You'll need to rig the final rappel and the two immediate subsequent handline drops in 150-Mile to ascend back up from the river. There's no other realist way to get from the river back up 150-Mile. Grand Canyoneering describes a difficult freeclimb, but this is really not recommended unless you have seen it before and are fully confident in yourself.
You can either leave your harness at the bottom of the rappel, or take it with you to Matkatamiba. You'll need it to ascend the rappel, and it can be helpful on the handlines. It's recommended to leave notes on the handlines asking river runners to please not pull your ropes.
After rigging the rappel and two handlines, climb up on the ledge on downcanyon-left just before the rappel. The ledge is maybe 15 feet above the canyon floor, and contours above the slot for around 100 meters. It does get narrow and exposed at a few points. Bellycrawling lowers the risk.
After passing the ledge, follow the faint, intermittent trail way upriver for about 3/4 of a mile. It's never too exposed or too high above the river. At the first obvious point where you can climb down to the river, you can access a beach. Follow this beach until it cliffs out, and inflate your packrafts.
Paddle upriver along the shore, following an eddy, and then paddle strongly across the river. The current is quick, but there is no whitewater. There's a beach on the other side (south side) of the Colorado River to deflate your packraft.
Climb up the ~50 foot cliffs above the river and work your way upriver. There's not much of a trail initially, but after a bit, you'll find yourself on a surprisingly well-maintained and easy-to-follow trail. This trail contours way up and down winding its way along the cliffs for a while. There's a fair amount of vertical gain and loss here!
This trail eventually wraps around a contour and into the Matkatamiba ravine, and gradually descends into the slot, just above the Matkatamiba Rapid. Here is the slot.
Descent[edit]
The slot is stunning, albeit brief. There are no technical obstacles, only a few downclimbs and chest-deep pools. It ends all too quickly at the Colorado River.
Exit[edit]
You can hike back the way you came.
However, it's a a lot more fun, and less effort and time, to packraft it!
As long as the river is not too high, you should be able to scramble downriver along the base of the cliffs, just above the waterlevel, to near the end of Matkatamiba Rapid. Inflate your packraft here. The put-in is a wide and stable ledge, but the water is choppy and has a current. Make sure you are confident in your ability to launch in the current here.
From here, it's a mostly easy float with just a few ripplse all the way back to the beach just above Upset Rapid. From Upset Rapid you'll need to ascend these three drops, so make sure you either brought your harness, or left it at the base of the drops somehow. Alternatively, if you have not fixed the bottom three obstacles/rappels in 150-Mile Canyon, you'll need to get out at the beach at the whirlpool where you cross the Colorado River earlier.
Red tape[edit]
A permit from Grand Canyon National Park is required. Please call or email the Backcountry Information Center to obtain the permit. You will need to let them know your entire itinerary and previous canyoneering/hiking/backcountry desert experience.
The permit area for Matkatamiba is BT9.
Beta sites[edit]
Super Amazing Map : Matkatamiba Mauv Narrows
Grand Canyoneering Book by Todd Martin : Matkatamiba Canyon
Trip reports and media[edit]
- Ram on Canyon Tales : 150 Mile, Matkat, Panameta, Olo
- https://www.facebook.com/pat.winstanley.7/media_set?set=a.888514404540591.1073741964.100001461198708&type=3