Sean's River Canyon
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| | Raps:5-7, max ↨180ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 26 Feb 2023
"Approach mostly easy, not any bushwhacking. Canyon with low flow, as expected. Only one anchor, a set of bolts at the big rappel. We rappelled off tre |
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| Best season: | Any, AVOID rains
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18.1276, -76.5474
18.1373, -76.5496
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Introduction[edit]
Sean's River Canyon is a route in Fruitful Vale, Jamaica. While not a canyon, this is a steam with a few fun downclimbs and a big, slanting rappel down a waterfall with exposed views. It's not a slot. Overall, it's not that great of a route. In higher water, it's more fun and challenging.
As of 2023, the route has only one set of bolts. All other anchor points must be installed or constructed. There are ample trees and rocks to tie off of.
Approach[edit]
Us the gps track on this page! Without it, you'll likely get lost.
From the parking area, walk up the road into Fruitful Vale, and turn onto a paved road heading up and into the mountains. This road soon becomes a good trail through banana plantations.
After some time on the trail, you'll have to turn off the trail and cut across a banana plantation, using the gps track. This will go to a faint but distinguishable trail that steeply cuts up through brush. The bushwhacking is likely light, at most. After a sweaty 20 minutes or so, you'll arrive at a T-intersection. Turn right.
Now the trail is excellent again. Follow this trail for a ways, as it is mostly flat. You'll come to a Y-intersection. Keep right. In just a minute or two, you'll reach a stream. This is the start. Suit up here.
Descent[edit]
After suiting up at the stream, with the pip overhead, clamber over the bamboo and head downcanyon. There are a few downclimbs and small pools to negotiate with lots of deadfall. Quickly there is a small rappel. This canyon has almost no anchors - go prepared. There are plenty of trees to tie off of for anchorless rappels, as shown in the photos.
The route continues with a few more small obstacles. You'll soon reach the big rappel, about 55 meters off of two bolts. There used to be a midpoint bolt on this enormous sloping waterfall, but as of 2023 it appears to be gone.
Right after the big rappel there is another slanting drop. There is a difficult-to-access tree on canyon right, where you'll have to climb up a sketchy slope that has a centipede nest. Jungle canyoning at its finest!
Soon after this there is another rappel out of thick brush.
The route then crosses a path. Exit here to the right if you wish, or, better yet, head left up the trail to the much, much, much better Fish Dunn Canyon. Or, continue downcanyon to complete Sean's River. There is a few minutes of bushwhacking, then a very pretty rappel off a large branch down a wide waterfall.
After this rappel is the exit - follow the small pools and boulders downstream.
Exit[edit]
After the last rappel, boulder-hop downstream for a ways until seeing a concrete slab on the left bank. Climb up onto this path, and follow it. You will pass through a large red gate, which should be unlocked. It's only a few more minutes to your vehicle.
Red tape[edit]
No red tape. Locals are friendly and will gladly offer to help show you the way. With the gps track on this page, you shouldn't need locals. They may bother you to ask for money or gifts. Politely but firmly decline.
Some of the route goes through private property. If they ask, just tell them you are hiking, and will not disturb their property.
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
https://www.lukaseddy.com/canyons-of-jamaica
Background[edit]
First descent unknown, but maybe around the year 2018 by local cavers.
