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 […]
Another unpublished canyon in the Matkat system is one we named Dump Truck.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 […]
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. […]
Over the past 5 years, the Toroweap park ranger had noticed a dozen tires plus a variety of other debris at the base of Toroweap Overlook (www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/tuweep.htm). It is quite difficult to get from the overlook to where the trash has come to rest. Hence it was not safe to try to carry the trash up […]
The illegal entry bolts at Garden Creek in Grand Canyon are no more. In response to an NPS request, eleven members from the Coalition of American Canyoneers hiked 3,000′ down into Grand Canyon on Saturday to remove the bolts from the top of Garden Creek.
The bolts were expansion bolts, and […]
Grand Canyon National Park is replete with small tributaries and deep, narrow slot canyons that funnel into the main gorge. Canyoneering into these canyons is a challenging adventure through some of the most rugged and remote terrain Grand Canyon has to offer. Rescues are difficult and sometimes even impossible. While dazzling surprises abound for those with advanced technical skills and a […]
John Wesley Powell coined the term “canyoneer” on his explorations of the Colorado Plateau in 1869. Today, many Grand Canyon hikers, boaters, and technical Canyoneers use the term “canyoneer” to refer to their activities. Unlike most other canyoneering locations, technical canyoneering in Grand Canyon often requires an expedition mentality. The scale of the place is vast. Access to slot canyons […]
Superintendent Uberuaga
Dear Mr. Rudow:
Thank you for your interest in the restrictions we have recently enacted within the water course of Deer Creek. As you know, the Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent’s 2012 Compendium of Designations, Closures, Use and Activity Restrictions, Permit Requirements and Other Regulations, includes a restriction at Deer Creek, River Mile 136.9. This restriction prohibits ascending or […]
