Tabeguache Creek (North Fork)

Tabeguache Creek (North Fork) Canyoneering Canyoning Caving

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‌	Difficulty:‌3C II (v4a3 II) Swift water Raps:‌3, max ↨140ft Metric Overall: 3.5h  ⟷3.5mi Approach: 45min  ⟷1.6mi  ↓535ft Descent: 2h  ⟷0.4mi  ↓250ft Exit: 45min  ⟷1.6mi  ↑780ft No Red Tape:‌No permit required Shuttle:‌ Vehicle:4WD Rock type:Granite
Start:	38.4087, -108.4596
Parking:	38.3943, -108.4493
Condition Reports:
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Best season:	Jun-Sep winter spring summer fall Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
Regions:	North America United States Colorado Western Slope  West End

38.4087, -108.459638.3943, -108.4493https://ropewiki.com/images/e/ed/Tabeguache_Creek_%28North_Fork%29.kmltopo

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Introduction

The 140ft Tabeguache Falls (pronounced TAB-a-watch) and the few waterfalls above it carve through a short section of Precambrian Granite on the West side of the Uncompahgre Plateau.

Approach

Drive West on Copper King / S38 Road from the Nucla-Delta Road for 6.2 miles. Park at the end of the road, which is the Copper King Trailhead.

Hike North for 1.55 miles on the Copper King Trail until the trail crosses North Fork Tabeguache Creek. Begin the descent down the streamcourse.

Descent

DC: 10'

R1: 140' from webbing anchor around a rock. A 175' pull rope is required to pull from the far, dry side of the pool at the bottom of the drop.

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  R1
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  R1

R2: 20' from a slung rock in the streamcourse over an overhung ledge into a pool below.

DC: 20' on Canyon Left to skirt a low angle waterfall.

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  R2
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  DC

R3: 140' Tabeguache Falls from a tree on Canyon Left. Rappel a 25' initial drop onto a ledge with a pothole on Rappeller's Right. The rope angle from the anchor may stick a rope when pulling it down. Consider the last person descending on Rappeller's Left of the pothole, which is out of the flow but should aid rope retrieval.

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  R3 Tabeguache Falls
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  R3 Tabeguache Falls
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  R3 Tabeguache Falls

Further downstream from R3 is another short waterfall, but exits below this point are unknown.

(R4), skip take the exit below R3

Exit

Shortly after R3, take off wetsuits at a large flat rocky area before following game trails up the initially steep dirt slope on Canyon Left to intersect the hiking trail used on the approach. Return to the cars.

Trip reports and media

2024-06-08 First known descent. Ira Lewis, Andrew Tanasescu, Cassie Taylor, Jim Rickard. Photo credit: Ira, Andrew, Cassie.

Credits

Tabeguache Creek (North Fork)

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

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