Lower Grand Gulch Pour-off

fiber

fiber

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May 18, 2013
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I found a relatively recent picture of the dreaded lower Grand Gulch pour-off. They made a note there might be a safer way around the pour-off via a steep boulder field RUC. Has anyone tried that route? It sounds like the pour-off is 30 ft. What about rappelling it? There is probably enough rocks to make an anchor.

If that doesn't go, I'm wondering if I can bypass the obstacle by going up Shangri-La Canyon and dropping into lower Slickhorn.

2021.05-Grand-Gulch-Scenery-32.jpg
 
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That pouroff wasn't bad when I was there years ago with no trail... I'd expect a use trail now. You can get from ShangriLa to Slickhorn on top but it's rough.
 
It's gotten quite a bit worse in recent years. I spoke to some pack rafters who came up from the SJ & hiked up to KGRS. They went both up & down to check it out. You should contact KGRS or one of the rafting outfitters as they sometimes hike into Lower GG on their trips.
 
I called the Monticello Field Office last week because the KGRS isn't open yet. Monticello said that it was "basically" impassible. She said it was possible, but dangerous. Hence my thought of just rappelling it.
 
BLM or usfs quite often say things indicating stuff harder that it actually is. Not saying don't go without two options tho.
 
The image you found was taken on our trip. In my opinion, if going down Grand Gulch, bring rappel gear. Although I did not do a complete investigation, a cursory look indicated that it should be possible to do one. The drop from the rim is not more than 40 feet. There were a couple of potential anchors in the form of trees or boulders. We ascended the pour-off and and it is dangerous. We found no way to effectively protect the traverse with a rope. While the route itself is not technically difficult, it is steep, awkward, and quite loose. A fall would likely have extremely serious consequences. A trail crew could likely make significant improvements without too much difficulty, but it is unclear how long any improvements might last.

James
 
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Can someone describe on a map where this pour off is in relation to where GG meets the San Juan?
 
37.32098, -110.22051 or thereabouts. I'm also interested if anyone has made it past the pour off in the past couple of years. Some pictures look like it's do-able (just steep and rocky) on foot and with a pack. Other pictures seem to indicate it's a straight drop with no way down/through it.

Anyone on here go there recently?
 
maperson543 said:
37.32098, -110.22051 or thereabouts. I'm also interested if anyone has made it past the pour off in the past couple of years. Some pictures look like it's do-able (just steep and rocky) on foot and with a pack. Other pictures seem to indicate it's a straight drop with no way down/through it.

Anyone on here go there recently?
Click to expand...

Talked with ranger Heidi at the Kane Gulch station, 3/11/2024. She had just received feedback from an experienced solo backpacker who was planning on passing this pour off, but he turned around when he got there. She said since the flash flood 1-2 years ago, it's been extremely challenging to get through.
 
maperson543 said:
37.32098, -110.22051 or thereabouts. I'm also interested if anyone has made it past the pour off in the past couple of years. Some pictures look like it's do-able (just steep and rocky) on foot and with a pack. Other pictures seem to indicate it's a straight drop with no way down/through it.

Anyone on here go there recently?
Click to expand...
www.swdbackpacks.com

Packrafting Honaker to Grand Gulch

The trip started at the top of the Honaker trail near Goosenecks State Park, the part of the San Juan river that twists back and forth like a snake, or I suppose the neck of a cartoonish goose. The group consisted of myself, my girlfriend Hallie, my long-time friend and trip partner Porter, and...
www.swdbackpacks.com www.swdbackpacks.com
2 yrs old so it's probably worse.
 
Id say it all depends on the individual's experience and pucker factor. I have found Park Rangers tend to make things seem harder than they usually are....
Plan accordingly.... ALways carry at least 20 ft of webbing each, can come in really handy
 
LarryBoy said:
It's been many years since I've been down there. How much of the sketchy surface is is rock, versus dirt? I'm wondering if someone will end up doing a little guerilla trailwork to make it less dangerous.
Click to expand...
I don't know how practical that would be. That hillside is fractured rock in clay-laden soil with cliffs on top. The main issue is the erosion incut, which is hard to see from the photo. You can always rap the pour-off if you are descending GG as a plan B (or backtrack and exit Shangrila Canyon). I brought a tagline and FiddleStick, but didn't end up using them.
 
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