Rimrock Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A I (v3a1 III) Raps:4, max ↨130ft
Red Tape: Shuttle:Required 1 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
39.0331, -108.6506
39.0299, -108.6464
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Introduction[edit]
Rimrock is a short canyon with a few rappels on the Eastern side of Colorado National Monument (Parks Pass required).
The car shuttle makes it a nice, quick, low effort adventure.
Approach[edit]
Park at the Devil's Kitchen Picnic Area, which is open 7:30am-8pm or the Devil's Kitchen Trailhead across the street.
Drive uphill from the Devil's Kitchen parking turn offs 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 (39.03319, -108.65056), which is the start of a flat, straight part of the road before the Cold Shivers pull out.
Hike South from the parking location along the rim of slickrock to the start of the canyon and the first rappel at (39.02839, -108.64894).
Descent[edit]
R1: 100' from a tree in the main watercourse. Some poison ivy is avoidable at the bottom of the rappel.
R2: 130' from a tree. A tree slightly DCL of the center of the watercourse will avoid landing in trees below.
R3: 25' from a tree DCR
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.
Exit[edit]
After the brushy section at the bottom of R4 follow the cliff band DCL to the car parked on the road below.
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]
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
