Serpent's Tail

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Serpent's Tail Canyoneering Canyoning Caving
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Serpent's Tail Banner.jpg

Difficulty:3A I (v2a1 II)
Raps:‌2-4, max ↨70ft
Metric
Overall:1h ⟷1.2mi
Approach:20min ⟷0.9mi ↑350ft
Descent:40min ⟷0.3mi ↓370ft
Exit:5min ⟷422ft ↑20ft
Red Tape:No permit required
Shuttle:None
Vehicle:Passenger
Rock type:sandstone
Start:
Parking:
Condition Reports:

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Weather:
Best season:
Any, Hot in Summer
winterspringsummerfall
DecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov
Regions:

Introduction[edit]

The shortest in the Devil's Kitchen and snake-themed canyons was a nice add-on to the day. This short loop has great pay to play and enough action to keep it interesting with pretty views.

Approach[edit]

Park at the Devil's Kitchen Picnic Area or Devil's Kitchen Trailhead.

Hike the Serpent's Trail 0.85 miles up to the top of the drainage (39.03130, -108.63623). Depart the trail on slickrock to the north and scramble down to the wash and begin hiking downstream.

Descent[edit]

R0: 20' Can bypass the first 20' drop with a DC DCL

R1: 60' from a large pinyon tree in canyon center for two stages (both are about 20’). The first lip is slightly undercut. Be careful to avoid disturbing the soil at the base of the pinyon when rigging the rappel.

R2: 70' fiddle off an arch DCL or DCR for two stages (both are about 15-20’)

R3: 45' from a sling under a large boulder pinch DCL , or, stem and downclimb 15-20’ down a low angled gap in canyon center/right.

Exit[edit]

Intersect the trail between the Devil's Kitchen Picnic Area and the Devil's Kitchen Trailhead and follow it either direction back to the car.

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]

Oct 2025 beta added to ropewiki. Ira Lewis, Carl Bern, Derya Sonel, Stella Zhou, Richard, Johnathan Mitchem, Robin Warne

Background[edit]

Incidents

Credits

Information provided by automated processes. KML map by (unknown). Main photo by (unknown). Authors are listed in chronological order.

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