Mordor Canyon
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| | Raps:14 rappels, max ↨131ft
Red Tape:Access is Restricted Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Basalt-volcanic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 19 Mar 2024
"We combined with mordor medio and the time reflects both. This canyon is absolutely beautiful. The water is extremely blue and clear. There are multip |
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| Best season: | january-march
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10.2002, -84.2514
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Introduction[edit]
Starting high on the barren rocky slopes of an active volcano, as you breath in sulfuric acid fumes reminiscent of being on the flanks of Mt Doom, you descend down down down in rappel after rappel in beautiful sky blue water, all the while with the jungle creeping slowly back in on the sides, until you finally finish in greenery worthy of the Shire. Mordor is an aptly named canyon like no other. Every aspect of Mordor is just amazing.
Beware that Mordor has extreme flash flood potential with no escapes, and these happen frequently in the rainy season. Only descend Mordor in the dry season, with a perfect weather forecast, and start very early in the day (6:30am walking from the car or thereabouts).
For even experienced canyoners, a good friendly local guide Tony +506 8305 3949 (WhatsApp) will help your day and logistics go that much easier, especially land crossing issues.
Approach[edit]
There is a large parking area for many tourists indicated on the map, which is the usual place to park. In 2021, we were allowed by the person living at the gate to the private road, to open the gate and drive up the road a short ways, parking in front of the pink house. This saved about 0.25mi of walking each way. In 2023 it was also possible to park beyond the gate across from a small home. When asked, the owner of that home contacted Omar by telephone. He and his wife Dyana were on site within minutes to discuss use fees.
Hike up the well-travelled trail, first through cow pastures and eventually into dense forest but still with a nice trail. Right when you think the forest will not end, you emerge into a barren, bleak landscape and smell the sulfuric acid in the air, that is the namesake of this route. Do not linger too long here without respirators, get down the first drop as efficiently as possible to get out of the worst of the fumes.
The water in the canyon is an incredible sky blue, but also has the acid dissolved in it so opening your eyes underwater on the many jumps will sting them.
Descent[edit]
The first drop of this canyon is exposed to so much sulfuric acid that metal bolts placed there don't even last a year before corroding into pieces of rust. The Toros Canyoning Group has drilled holes through the rock to accept 7mm cord as an anchor. Of course this cord dissolves quickly as well so you should always replace with fresh cord -- you should bring 4-5m of it to properly equalize the two anchor points.
The rest of the canyon is 14 rappels, and many jumps and slides. Be sure to scout all jumps beforehand, as there are many jumpable spots requiring clearing rock and some precision.
The first rappel is dry, and there is a nice spot for suiting up at the bottom of the first rappel. You enter the water about 100m downstream of this drop.
It can't be stressed enough -- this drainage is known for its extreme flash floods. So you MUST GO WITH GOOD FORECAST. The 'Windy' app works well for forecasts in Costa Rica.
Exit[edit]
Exit the same way you came up, which is just upstream of the first drop of Middle Mordor (Wo Hen Hao). Or if you feel so inclined, of course you can continue downstream.
Red tape[edit]
The owner of the farm through which you must pass is Omar. Consult with him to obtain the right of way for his property, and do so the day before due to the early start required. You can contact Omar by phone +506.8603.2593
Also, passage into the volcanic park to do Mordor is not allowed by local regulations and you may be cited by park rangers if caught. Tourists will likely just get a warning for the first offense. But it is advised to do Mordor only on weekdays (and to get an early start) as the rangers patrol much more frequently on the weekends. Nevertheless, it is descended frequently by canyoneers as it is one of the very best routes in the country.
Beta sites[edit]
Toros Canyoning Group : Mordor
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
Led by Daniele Rocchi, the Toros Canyoning Team opened the route in Feb 2017, and then again in Jan 2019 after a lahar devestated the cañón. On their second visit they found the original anchors heavily oxidised and inspired by the V-thread anchors used in iceclimbing, drilled through narrow sections of the rock thereby avoiding the need for bolts on a couple of the drops.