Ute canyon (Salix Fork)
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:2+, max ↨240ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Required 1 hour Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 4 Mar 2025
"The mini slot section was fun, but short. A negative is the brushy walk between the mini slot and the headwall rappel, which is impressive, but the on |
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| Best season: | Any, Summers could be hot
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39.0506, -108.7087
39.0555, -108.7369
39.0681, -108.6603
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Introduction
A side fork of Ute Canyon in The Colorado National Monument this canyon is a great addition to lower Ute if you have a shuttle and half a day. Named Salix (scientific name for willow) for a willow growing out of an alcove in the canyon. Note that the big rappel is all of 240 feet. A 200 foot rope will NOT make it.
Approach
Leave a shuttle vehicle at The Lower Liberty Cap parking lot, start of the canyon is at the upper Liberty Cap parking lot. Start down the Liberty Cap trail for about 30 minutes then depart the trail to the south quickly reaching a drainage. Follow this wash down until a short downclimb is reached.
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Descent
A few minutes down canyon going through some short drops a larger multi stepped mini slot is reached. Downclimb and stem through this mini slot, so fun! Continue down the wash until the wash drops away into Ute Canyon. This drop is massive. Looking down canyon rim walk to the right of the water course looking for a juniper set back from the edge a few feet. From this drop it is straight down 240 feet to a ledge with a tree and the anchor for rap 2. This rappel is all free hanging and not a good choice for those inexperienced in big rappels. We used a fiddle stick and therefore did not leave webbing at either of the drops so don’t expect an established webbing anchor here. Once at the ledge with the tree, set up rap 2 and rappel down the to the next tier. You can end here and walk off to your right or continue down canyon angling towards the water course dropping into the scenic chute. Pack up your ropes, you made it!
Rap 1 240ft
Rap 2 100ft
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Exit
Walk down the wash until reaching the Ute canyon trail. You can walk down the trail following it all the way back to the lower Liberty Cap trailhead or better yet, walk down the trail until you reach the start of the Lower Ute canyoneering route and go down that canyon system. Combining Lower Ute makes this an excellent day and one I would recommend.
Red tape
This canyon is in the Colorado National Monument and completing the shuttle requires a park pass or entrance fee.