Pinyon Canyon (CNM)
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| | Difficulty:3A II (v3a1 II) Raps:2-4, max ↨135ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Required Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Best in Spring and Fall, Hot in Summer, Cold in Winter
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39.0598, -108.7185
39.0622, -108.7301
39.0778, -108.7280
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Introduction[edit]
Pinyon Canyon is one drainage beyond Highland and has the same Entrada (R1 & R2) and Wingate (R3 & R4) sandstone layers to work through. Pinyon offers several downclimbs around a few mandatory rappels. While the hiking distance is greater than the technical distance, Pinyon was a nice half day in the Monument.
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Approach[edit]
Leave a shuttle vehicle at the Upper Monument Canyon Trailhead.
Drive to the Highland Viewpoint and hike on a social trail at the edge of the parking area. Trend downhill to the southwest past the Highland drainage, contouring below the next ridge to the Pinyon drainage. Hike around to the Southeast corner of the Pinyon drainage.
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Descent[edit]
R1: 60' from a large, solid dead pinyon pine at the top of the drop. Or bypass DCR.
R2: 100' from a tree DCL or downclimb the slot. A shallow pothole can be avoided by stemming wide.
Hike 0.2 miles to the top of the final headwall.
R3: 40' from a juniper DCL
R4: 135' from a small tree DCL over an awkward sharp edge to the ground. Once the free hang is complete around ~90'? the last few sections could be downclimbed.
Downclimb a 0.2 mile series of boulder downclimbs from the last rappel to the wash below.
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Exit[edit]
Walk the wash 1.1 miles to intersect the Monument Canyon Trail. A 20' dry fall will be encountered in the volcanic layer further along the wash, but can be easily bypassed DCL.
The elevation gain on the Monument Canyon Trail back to the Upper Monument Canyon Trailhead occurs at a comfortable grade on a nicely maintained trail and seemed to go by quickly. This may be aided with a morning descent in the early season when the final series of switchbacks are in the shade.
Red tape[edit]
A National Park's pass or a Colorado National Monument entrance fee is required
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
2025-04-13 Explored. Ira Lewis, Carl Bern, Andrew Tanasescu, Kati Wright, Ryan Humphries, Arick Calhoun