Serpent's Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A II (v3a1 II) Raps:4, max ↨85ft
Red Tape: Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 20 Aug 2025
"The name Ivy Canyon does it justice! We ended up doing 5 raps and continued out to the Bench trail. Webbing is replaced or in good condition on the bo |
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| Best season: | Best in Dec-Feb
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39.0342, -108.6486
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Introduction[edit]
A short but fun canyon in the Colorado National Monument with free-hang rappels. The Poison Ivy (supposedly) grows thick in summer so beware. Three of the rappels land in possible Poison Ivy patches. In winter and early spring it is easily avoidable.
- Parking: 39.0327, -108.6329
- Drop In: 39.03462, -108.6487
- Exit Right: 39.0375, -108.6403
Approach[edit]
Shortly after passing through the East Entrance to the Colorado National Monument, leave a Shuttle return vehicle at the Devil's Kitchen Picnic Area or at the Trailhead parking along the road.
Continue driving 3 miles up Rimrock Dr and park on top of the mesa near the start of the canyon.
The approach to Serpent's does not require a car shuttle. From the Picnic Area, this is 2.4 miles +930'.
Walk from the Devils Kitchen Picnic Area to the main road and the trailhead to Serpents Trail. Hike up Serpents Trail up until it meets the paved road. Continue up the paved road another 1/4 mile making one right turn and one left turn, taking care not to walk in the drivers' blind spots. Shortly after the bend head right off the road and follow the bench around the head of the canyon and to the first rappel.
Descent[edit]
Watch the landing zones as it may contain Poison Ivy. By late Spring and throughout Summer the P.I. can be thick and completely choke off the canyon in places. There are several beginner-friendly down climbs.
R1: 40' from a tree DCL into a section with some neat narrows.
DC DCL
R2: 15' with a releasable off a tree for a short drop. This might also be partner-assisted.
DC in a gully DCR when the watercourse runs off a high ledge
R3: 55' from a tree DCR (this is the cover photo), followed by R4
R4: 70' from a chockstone under a large boulder to protect a short vertical section that some may downclimb. From the ledge at the bottom of R4, downclimb the slope DCR, or extend the rappel past the ledge.
Dodge some Poison Ivy in the drainage below R4.
Adder Connector It is possible to gain the ridge DCL and connect to Adder Canyon. Depart the drainage and aim up the left side of the canyon to (39.03719, -108.64277), which connects with a horizontal game trail leading to the top of R4 in Adder Canyon to the north.
R5: 80' with a swing into the free hang it may be possible to swing outside of the Poison Ivy patch under the alcove.
R6: 35' from a tree DCR, which avoids Poison Ivy growing at a nice anchor tree midstream. It may be possible to swing outside of the Poison Ivy patch under the alcove.
Avoid Poison Ivy along the makeshift trail after R6.
The 'Exit Right' waypoint is just before an old concrete low dam with remnants of pipes.
(R7) The final brushy ~15' drop can be bypassed on ledges DCR.
End the drainage at a concrete pour over and a historic cabin.
Exit[edit]
'Exit Right' Shortly after R6, head right up a use trail and angle southeasterly around and back up to the parking lot.
If continuing to the end of the drainage, pick up the exit footpath next to the historic building, walking next to the fence line back to the Devil's Kitchen Picnic Area or Trailhead.
Alternate Exit (especially to reach Adder Canyon): Exit on the left up a somewhat spicy 5.6 climb around 39.036945, -108.641385, upstream of the use trail mentioned above. Work your way up the ridge between Adder and this canyon. We did a couple more 5.6 climbs, but the part of the ridge that is extremely narrow can be avoided on the south side via a rocky gulley. Once you reach a red cliff band, cross north through Adder canyon until you reach a line of trees breaking through the red cliff band. Above that (near the powerline), look carefully for a thin handline made of bailing wire (held fine as of 03/2018), which allows you to break through the rest of the cliff band and end up just north of Adder, with easy access to that canyon or back to the head of this canyon. There is crypto in a few spots, but watch for game trails to easily avoid it.
Red tape[edit]
A National Park's pass or a Colorado National Monument entrance fee is required for parking.
