Whitmore Gorge
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| | Raps:4, max ↨60ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:High Clearance Rock type:Volcanic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | August-September
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37.9855, -107.4836
37.9865, -107.4842
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Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction
The hidden, short gorge Hensen Creek carved above the roadside Whitmore Falls contains an amazing aquatic canyon, but timing it for the correct waterflow can be tricky.
Deep, dark and committing, Whitmore Gorge is a bit slippery, is full of swims, has a short approach and return, wonderfully carved walls and challenging obstacles.
Target a flow near 38cfs on the Hensen Creek at Lake City gauge far downstream.
In 2024, monsoon storms kept the cfs high after a storm on August 10 through late September. In 2025, a large storm on Sept 12 took another 12 days for the cfs to drop to a low level again. Watch the weather and track the gauge if attempting this canyon.
Be Prepared to manage a descent if anchors are absent. Natural anchors are not an option after R1.
This waterfall is a confirmed nesting site for the Black Swift, listed as a Species of Special Concern by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The swifts migrate from Brazil annually to occupy this site from late May until late September, raising a single chick. The swifts are susceptible to disturbance from human activities near their nests, including noise and movement, direct disturbance or destruction of their nests, and trampling of vegetation. Canyoneering/climbing at this waterfall during the Black Swift nesting season (late May - late September/first frost) is likely to cause direct damage to nests, eggs, and young, and disturb adult swifts enough to cause them to abandon their nest and offspring. Click here for more information on the Black Swift.
Approach
Drive 11 miles west of Lake City on CR20 on the high clearance, maybe 4WD HC, dirt road.
Park at a large flat area north of Whitmore Falls.
Scout the water level of Whitmore Falls by hiking down the main trail to the base of the falls, which is the trail used for the return.
Hike a tenth of a mile further up the road and down the embankment to Hensen Creek above the gorge. Whitmore Gorge is only 270 ft long.
Descent
R1: 15' from a slung rock in a notch down the rock face below the short falls into a deep channel. Swim downstream.
R2: 25' MC traverse line from a single bolt to 20' rappel from a single bolt DCR. Rappel next to the falls on Rappeller's Left. Hop off on a ledge 5' above the water line and downclimb into the water. Swim the next pool.
DC 5' swim DCR to avoid getting stuck in the water DCL.
R3: 35' from a single bolt DCR. R3 is the crux. All the flow consolidates into one chute, which is too strong to put a foot into on rappel when the downstream gauge reads 38cfs. Bridge the flow with hips RDC and feet DCL. Hold tight when the undercut steals the feet and swing under the falls for the final five feet. Crawl DCL under the falls to the alcove.
Whitmore Falls
R4: 60' from bolts DCL. Sidestep the main flow of the final falls on Rappeller's Right. Swim the final pool to the bottom of the trail.
Exit
Hike the short trail back up to CR20 and the parked car above.
Red tape
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
July 28, 2023 Drone flight through Whitmore Gorge (~100cfs)
23Sep2025 Explored by Ira Lewis, Rob Demis, Kyle Preiss @ 38cfs