West Fork of the San Juan (Colorado)

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West Fork of the San Juan (Colorado) Canyoneering Canyoning Caving
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West Fork of the San Juan (Colorado) Banner.jpg

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Difficulty:‌3C2 IV (v4a4 II)
Raps:‌14 + 4 slides, max ↨100ft
Metric
Overall:13h ⟷15.8mi
Approach:5h ↑3470ft
Descent:5.5h ⟷2.2mi ↓1500ft
Exit:2.5h ↓1915ft
Red Tape:‌No permit required
Shuttle:‌None
Vehicle:Passenger
Rock type:Andesite and Rhyodactic Flows
Location:
Condition Reports:

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Weather:
Best season:
Jul-Sep
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Introduction[edit]

The West Fork of the San Juan River features numerous waterfalls, downclimbing, slides and swims in the remote, high mountain setting of the Weminuche Wilderness.

As of the 2022/2023 higher snowpack year, the West Fork of the San Juan has several sections with avalanche debris.

  • Avalanche debris in the drainage (2023 photo)

    • Approach[edit]

    Drive East from Pagosa Springs on Highway 160. Turn left/north on the dirt road turning left toward West Fork Campground and proceed a total of 3 miles to the end. Park at this trailhead.

    Hike 5.5 miles from the West Fork Trailhead past camping by Rainbow Hot Springs to where the trail crosses the West Fork of the San Juan River. The hiking trail is well-marked in the first mile to avoid private land.

  • follow the well marked signs in the area with private land

    • After crossing the West Fork, the trail steeply climbs up a series of switchbacks to a viewpoint and then parallels the West Fork of the San Juan with an easier contour. Follow this trail another mile and a half before dropping into the entrance above the first waterfall at 10,240'.

    Descent[edit]

    Some prefer to do this trip as an overnight, camping at Rainbow Hot Springs after hiking in during the afternoon. An early start the following morning leaves plenty of time to complete the canyon and walk back out to the car.

    • R1: 50ft
    • R2: 30ft
    • R3: 15ft
    • R4: 60ft
    • R5: 75ft
    • R5: 75ft and confluence with a parallel tributary waterfall
    • R6: 75ft
    • R7: 75ft
  • Lots of stream walking between isolated rappels in the upper part of this canyon
    • R8: 50ft
    • R9: 40ft two stages
    • R10: 10ft nuisance rappel
    • R11: 20ft



    Final Rappel Sequence:

    • R12: 60ft off a log to rappel through a large rock pile into a pool below
    • R13: 100ft off a log through a two stage waterfall to a waist deep pool below
    • R13: 100ft
    • R14: 40ft off a rock in the final narrows

    Exit[edit]

    Walk through the final narrows a short distance downstream and pick up the trail where it crosses the West Fork.

    Optional: Stop by the Rainbow Hot Springs on the way - it's only a few minutes off the trail. From a backpacker campsite, descend to the West Fork of the San Juan and walk downstream to find this hot spring flowing out of the wall on the east side of the river.

    • Rainbow Hot Spring.jpg
    • Rainbow Hot Spring.jpg
    • Rainbow Hot Spring.jpg

    The Archuletta County Sheriff's office is located in Pagosa Springs West. (970) 731-4799. Nearby Camping And Lodging: San Juan National Forest Campgrounds: Wolf Creek Campground and West Fork Campground (USGS 7.5' topo Saddle Mountain Quadrangle).

    There are numerous motels and restaurants in nearby towns of Pagosa Springs and South Fork Colorado. (Submitted by charlybldr on 2004-02-26 at 12:08:52)

    Red tape[edit]

    Beta sites[edit]

    Trail crews clear the West Fork Trail annually in May or June. The number of standing dead trees typically fall during the winter or during microbursts in storms after the 2013 West Fork Complex Fire. The trail really needs to be a highway to make these canyons at the end a success and hopping over downed logs is a sure way to make the day trip harder.

    Check trail conditions before hiking the West Fork Trail:

    Trip reports and media[edit]

    2018-08-18 photos and kml track added by Lisa Purdy and Ira Lewis. 2018 was a drought year.

    Background[edit]

    Credits

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

    In all habitats live animals and plants that deserve respect, please minimize impact on the environment and observe the local ethics. Canyoneering, Canyoning, Caving and other activities described in this site are inherently dangerous. Reliance on the information contained on this site is solely at your own risk. There is no warranty as to accuracy, timeliness or completeness of the information provided on this site. The site administrators and all the contributing authors expressly disclaim any and all liability for any loss or injury caused, in whole or in part, by its actions, omissions, or negligence in procuring, compiling or providing information through this site, including without limitation, liability with respect to any use of the information contained herein. If you notice any omission or mistakes, please contribute your knowledge (more information).

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