Waterholes Canyon is located on the Navajo Reservation near Page, AZ. The slot is in Navajo sandstone and the lower canyon is popular for having many beautiful features including classic tight twisty narrows, potholes, and a beautiful 320′ rappel down a patinaed wall. As an added bonus, Waterholes Canyon ends at the Colorado River in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area 3-1/2 miles […]
The packrafting rules in Grand Canyon National Park have been overhauled in response to a Coalition of American Canyoneers request early last year. The prior rule required “walking the river bank when possible” and that led to a lot of confusion about which routes were possible and/or acceptable. The new rules eliminate the “walk when you can” rule and extend the packraft […]
On Saturday, July 29th, the Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) held a conservation project at Monkeyface Falls in Southern California. As part of this effort, 31 volunteers removed trash and graffiti from both the canyon and surrounding area. We were able to use the CAC’s portable pressure washer to remove nearly every trace of the canyon’s graffiti. […]
On Saturday, March 19th, the Coalition of American Canyoneers and the BLM joined forces on a clean up of the Sandthrax campground in the North Wash area of Utah. Twenty-five (25) CAC members and volunteers helped in the effort. Fire rings were placed in non-flood plane areas, a registry box added and a new kiosk sign was installed. After a […]
On Saturday May 21st, the Coalition of American Canyoneers arranged a massive cleanup project at Frye Canyon in Southern Arizona. Kailee Littrell with the Coronado Forest Service was very excited about our project and arranged for two other groups to join the CAC in this effort: Southeastern Arizona Clean and Beautiful (SEACAB) out of Graham County and Gila Watershed Partnership (GWP) working […]
Three separate service projects were run by the Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) this President’s Day weekend, two within Death Valley National Park and one nearby. Kirk led 14 folks into Golden Canyon for a trash and poop clean-up. CAC supplied the trash liners and gloves and folks went after it. When it was finished, the results were a surprise. The […]
In conjunction with Death Valley National Park (DVNP), the Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) is planning two public service projects: one on Saturday, February 14th and one on Sunday, February 15th. A third project, outside of the park, will occur throughout the entire President’s Day weekend.
On Saturday morning, February 14th, the plan is to hike this […]
The Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) continues to grow, with membership more than doubling this year. We now have over 850 members! Thanks to all of you for joining and welcome to our new members! When dealing with issues like the Eaton Canyon closure in Southern California, or the recent winter shutdown of Kelly Point access in Grand Canyon, the power of […]
On Saturday, April 5th, 2014 CAC volunteers assisted the BLM in service projects in Robbers Roost. The projects were planned by the BLM Henry Mountains Field Station with the CAC organizing the volunteer side of the project. The CAC volunteers were from Utah and Colorado.
One project involved cleaning up the Granary Springs campsite, including disassembling and removing two old wooden structures that […]
2013 was a great year for the Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) and we appreciate all the dedicated canyoneers who contributed to our efforts. A few of the highlights:
• In April a team of nine canyoneers, along with Forest Service land management representatives, worked to […]
Another unpublished canyon in the Matkat system is one we named Dump Truck. It’s the east Sinyella Fault arm of the big east tributary arm of Matkat. It was named Dump Truck because the exit was so huge spilling out into the east arm of Matkat in […]
If Olo Canyon is the crown jewel under Great Thumb Mesa, then Panameta Canyon might be considered the Hope Diamond. It has some of the prettiest and tightest Redwall narrows anywhere in Grand Canyon with fluting similar to that seen in some softer rock sandstone slots.
The Colorado Plateau is filled with slot canyons. The […]
Great Thumb Mesa carves a 20 mile arc north into Grand Canyon. It originates on the South Rim about 20 miles northwest of Grand Canyon village. Royal Arch Creek (AKA Elves Chasm) is on the far east side at river mile 118 and Havasu Creek is on the far west side at river mile 157. The Colorado River makes a huge sinuous detour […]
Matkat is a big canyon complex tucked deeply into the West side of Great Thumb Mesa. It is the only way to get from the river level to the Esplanade for 20 river miles in either direction. We passed the exit of this slot climbing up Matkat at least six times before I walked […]
Grand Canyon river runners know Matkatamiba Canyon well (AKA Matkat). More recently, technical canyoneers visit via 150 Mile Canyon. But to backpackers it’s a mystery. How would you get there? The way to Matkat isn’t easy, but the fastest route is off Great Thumb Mesa southeast of Towago Point. No matter how get there, the slot in the Muav […]
Who would have thought that this would be the hardest album to put together yet? In 2008 Todd Martin, Brian Alleyne, and Rich Rudow descended Olo Canyon from the top pioneering the beautiful but difficult North Rim approach down 150 Mile and up Matkat, crossing the river by packraft. It was the hardest slot […]
If the slot we call SOlo is any indication, Grand Canyon might contain a thousand slots. Certainly more than a person could explore in a lifetime. I had a hunch about the Sinyella Fault on the east side as it emptied into Olo Canyon. There is a really fast route to Olo off […]
140 Mile Canyon rests at the northern end of the Great Thumb Mesa. From the rim it casts a deep gash in the Esplanade North into the Colorado River. Any technical canyoneer hears a siren’s call when looking at that magnificent place from the rim. The photo set includes a map that shows the route of the Deer […]
Way on the other side of Great Thumb Mesa is a stunning place called Fossil Canyon. Good rock climbers can escape up Fossil canyon from the river, but not without swimming, stemming, and hard climbing. While not completely ‘technical’ in the classic sense, it’s real gem to behold and […]
Mr. David Uberuaga
Superintendent
Grand Canyon National Park
PO Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
With copy to:
Janet Cohen, Tribal Liaison
Linda Jalbert, Wilderness Coordinator & Recreation Planner
Dear Superintendent Uberuaga,
The Coalition of American Canyoneers represents the greater canyoneering community working with land managers to ensure access to slot canyons on public and private lands. […]
