22 Nov 2025 "Nice dry canyon. The traverse at bottom of P7 is sketchy as with chossy rock and extremely marginal protection (dead of shallow rooted small trees).
Sarcophagus canyon can be done all year round due to its low flow (a small trickle in normal conditions) and features a sequence of drops through an impressive but short constriction. No wetsuit required. The walk out, which is long and scrubby, will have you questioning if the canyon is worth repeating.
A great wet weather option for when there is too much water in other canyons. After rain this canyon becomes a low volume A2 canyon.
Approach
A car shuffle is required
Leave a car at the Pierces Pass picnic area carpark at -33.570410, 150.338810
Park your other car at Bells Line of Road & Mt Wilson Road intersection at approximately -33.545871, 150.336095
Download the GPX or work out our own route to the start at -33.5693, 150.3235
A faint track is present for approximately 80% of the route in
Descent
Number
Metres
Location
Note
1
5m
RR
Right hand branch of confluence of two small gully lines. You can also bypass this small drop if you enter via left hand branch which only requires a small scramble down. Right hand branch is prettier and more canyon like. From the top it looks like a deep pool but you can land on the river left and walk around the pool.
2
15m
RC
Sling on large log. Awkward overhang at start of drop. Finishes in small shallow pool.
3
15m
RL
Finishes in small shallow pool. Emergency exit opportunities exist between P3 and P4.
Walk approximately 100m downstream. There are two small drops of approximately 2m or 3m, first one finishing in a deep pool and the second one in shallow water. These can be avoided by walking around on the river right (common route).
4
20m
RR
Sling on broken tree on river right. Finishes in deep pool but can easily be avoided on the river left.
5
10m
RR
Anchor on RR wall. This drop used to be combined with P4 and was approximately 30m in total. Finishes in shallow pool, deepest part can be avoided on the river left.
6
20m
RL
Finishes in deep pool. Can be bridged with enough skill and body height. Consider rigging guided rappel using P7 anchor for party members who need assistance staying dry.
7
20m
RL
Down the slot... dry finish. Recommend dangling backpack underneath you. This is the 6th pitch in Richard Pattison's video. The log in video is gone. You can exit river left at the bottom on P7.
8
45m
RL
Optional. Anchor off a large tree. Exit river left.
Exit
Exit river left at bottom of P7 or P8.
The beginning of P7 exit features a high risk traverse with brittle chossy rock. Rigging a traverse line to safely bring your party across is STRONGLY recommended. However, please note that the intermediary protection (small trees) are marginal at best (dead or shallow rooted and small).
If exiting at bottom on P8 you can scramble up a ramp to the same level as the P7 exit... but joining after the sketchy traverse.
Continue along cliff line for approximately 1km until you reach the bottom of Yileen canyon
Continue along Yileen canyon exit track until you reach the Pierces Pass picnic area carpark
-33.5693, 150.3235
-33.5475, 150.3372
-33.5704, 150.3388
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