Rimrock Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A II (v3a1 I) Raps:3-4, max ↨130ft
Red Tape: Shuttle:Required 1.5 mile Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 12 Jan 2025
"2 people on Jan 12, 2025, this canyon is a great choice for practicing fiddle stick or other retrievable anchor techniques you may have in your tool b |
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| Best season: | Sep-Apr
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39.0284, -108.6489
39.0310, -108.6538
39.0299, -108.6464
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Introduction
Rimrock is a short canyon with a few rappels on the Eastern side of Colorado National Monument (Parks Pass required).
The 1.5 mile car (or bike) shuttle makes it a nice, quick, low effort adventure.
Approach
Drive uphill on Monument Road and drop a shuttle vehicle at (39.02992, -108.64636), which has room for two cars. Continue driving the rest of the 3 miles up the switchbacks and through the tunnel to the top of the Monument. Park at (39.03104, -108.65384) the Cold Shivers parking lot.
Hike across Monument Rd and enter the slickrock wash and go down the wash (east) until nearing the rim. From the rim, contour along the rim generally south while being careful to stay on slickrock to protect the soil crust until you reach the start of the canyon and the first rappel at (39.02839, -108.64894).
Descent
R1: 100' from a tree in the main watercourse. Some poison ivy is avoidable at the bottom of the rappel.
R2: 130' (2 stages) from a tree. A tree slightly DCL of the center of the watercourse will avoid landing in trees below. Consider courtesy rigging to avoid rope grooves and create an easier rope pull.
R3: 25' from a tree DCR (can also walk around on canyon left)
R4: 100' from a tree rooted high above, but trees DCL (better) or DCR will avoid a narrow V that is a tough lip to negotiate on rappel and may stick a rope. Poison ivy is avoidable at the bottom. Consider courtesy rigging to minimize rope grooves.
Exit
After the brushy section at the bottom of R4 follow the cliff band DCL to the car parked on the road below.
Red tape
A National Park's pass or a Colorado National Monument entrance fee is required.
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Descended in 2021 and captured on the Desert Underground YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/qVGrTEALwuM
2024-09 beta added to ropewiki by Ira Lewis from a descent with Wayne Herrick