rcwild
10-15-2009, 11:16 AM
McCoy Creek is a fun technical adventure, and one of the highest canyons in the state. Many 14-er climbers have been suckered into this drainage thinking it an easy shortcut, only to find waterfalls and cliffs blocking their way. But with canyoneering equipment, McCoy is a joy to descend.
Rating: 3C III
Time Required:
Longest Rappel:
Permit Information
Camping/Lodging
There is a camping in the Angel of Shavano Campground. There are a number of pullouts beyond the campground that offer excellent car camping.
Preferred Season
Water Concerns
Special Challenges
Equipment Suggestions
One 150 feet of rope, plus 75 feet of webbing and a half dozen quicklinks. You can check the water flow before and decide if you need a wetsuit. In low flow you won't need one.
Topographic Maps
Directions to Trailhead
Start at the small town of Poncha Springs, where US 285 meets US 50. Head west on US 50 for just over 6 miles to the even smaller town of Maysville. At the west end of town, turn right onto Chaffee County 240. Reset your odometer here. At odometer reading 3.1 the pavement ends. At odometer reading 3.7, you will reach the Angel of Shavano Campground. After this point, the road is rough and narrow. Two wheel drive vehicles can continue if they have decent clearance (mine has 7.5 inch clearance and I had no problems). It is not recommended to take trailers beyond this point. There are a number of pullouts beyond the campground that offer excellent car camping. At odometer reading 6.1, you will reach the Primitive car camping area, complete with picnic tables. This is where you exit the canyon, so memorize it well!
At odometer reading 7.6, you will have reached the Jennings Creek Trailhead. There is only room for 3 or 4 vehicles here. It is marked by a faded wood warning sign for Tabeguache hikers to avoid McCoy Creek.
At the primitive car camping area, hike north, angling east until you find vegetation-choked McCoy Creek. Follow the creek for 10 minutes until you reach the last drop. From this vantage point decide if the water flow is within your capabilities. Usually by August the canyon is little more than a trickle.
You can set up a car shuttle at the primitive car camping area. There is limited parking at the trailhead, so if you do not have a car shuttle, leave a car at the primitive car camp area and hike up the road to the trailhead.
Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
Approach
From the trailhead, follow the Jennings Creek trail as it rises through aspen groves. It soon turns northeast and heads straight up, past treeline, and eventually to the crest of Tabeguache's southwest ridge at just below 13,000 feet. It may tempt you to traverse along treeline, across the southwest ridge and into McCoy's upper basin, but don't. Though it is steep and much higher than you need to go, it will keep everyone on the same trail and limit the already extensive hiker-caused erosion. As a side trip, you can follow the ridge for approximately 1.5 miles and reach Tabeguache's 14,155 foot summit, then return.
From the ridge, hike east, steeply downward towards McCoy Creek. The tundra is fragile here, so step on rocks as opposed to plants as much as possible. Keep erosion to a minimum. The way down is steep and will do a number on your knees. When you reach the stream, simply follow it down. You may pass an ancient sign warning against the waterfalls in lower McCoy Creek. Keep heading down, bypassing or downclimbing several nuicance drops. Enjoy the wildflowers.
Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
Description: Standard Route
Eventually you'll reach the first waterfall. The drop, which has a small pool of water at its top, drops only 15 feet or so into an ankle-deep pool. Anchor off of a tree and rappel. Twenty feet past the first waterfall is a second one, 25 feet high, which drops into a narrow slot. Anchor off of another tree. Again, the water at the base is only ankle deep.
You can climb around both falls on canyon right (looking down canyon), but it would require traversing exposed slabs (5th class). The rock here is very polished, so this way is not recommended.
Hike for a minute or two and you'll reach the 12 foot third falls, which is easily bypassed on canyon left (class 3). Hike another 2 or 3 minutes to reach the fourth falls. This drop is another 15 feet into a small narrow gorge. Anchor off of a bush and rappel. The fifth falls, which is probably the highest in the canyon at 50-60 feet, is just beyond. You have several anchor options - rock pinches near the base of the 4th falls, or rock pinches/slung rocks/slung logs near the top of the 5th falls. I recommend against using any anchors near the top of the falls. It is hard to see from above, but the boulders are part of a massive overhang that is held in place by a jammed log - and the log isn't jammed very well. Should the log shift even a little, the boulders above will also shift, and it could open up the obvious rock pinches you are anchored to - causing an anchor failure. Though it takes 40 to 50 feet of webbing, it is safer to anchor off of the pinches near the base of the 4th falls. Additionally, in high water the anchors at the lip of the 5th falls will be inaccessible. The pool at the base of the 5th falls is knee deep.
Hike and scramble down this lush area for another minute and you'll reach the 6th drop. It is only 7 or 8 feet, but it is off of an overhanging boulder and would be a difficult downclimb. Anchor off of a nearby tree and rappel. A macrame knot works well here. Just below is the 7th drop, which is another boulder downclimb. This one is easier to downclimb if the water levels are low, or you can extend the rappel from the 6th drop. Downclimb another minute through a narrow section and you will reach the finale, the 8th drop.
At this point you can escape on canyon right, and hike down the rim to the base of the 8th falls. If you are a larger canyoneer or are uncomfortable in tight chutes, escape the canyon now. It is easy to get wedged in the narrow chute below while on rappel, and the water flow would make that possibility even more dangerous. If you want to rappel, anchor off of a stone placed in the gap between a boulder and the canyon wall - expert natural anchor skills are required here to rig it safely. Rappel down the chute, being careful not to wedge in. Additionally, your feet may wedge behind the waterfall, so be careful! The landing is in waist deep (if not deeper) water and a logjam.
Description:
Exit
After the final drop, the narrows end and the watercourse is choked with vegetation. Hike out to the right (looking down canyon, or west) into the forest. Hike south until you reach the road in the vicinity of the primitive campground. If your car is at the Jennings Creek Trailhead, you have to hike up the road for 1.5 miles back to your vehicle.
Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate
Rating: 3C III
Time Required:
Longest Rappel:
Permit Information
Camping/Lodging
There is a camping in the Angel of Shavano Campground. There are a number of pullouts beyond the campground that offer excellent car camping.
Preferred Season
Water Concerns
Special Challenges
Equipment Suggestions
One 150 feet of rope, plus 75 feet of webbing and a half dozen quicklinks. You can check the water flow before and decide if you need a wetsuit. In low flow you won't need one.
Topographic Maps
Directions to Trailhead
Start at the small town of Poncha Springs, where US 285 meets US 50. Head west on US 50 for just over 6 miles to the even smaller town of Maysville. At the west end of town, turn right onto Chaffee County 240. Reset your odometer here. At odometer reading 3.1 the pavement ends. At odometer reading 3.7, you will reach the Angel of Shavano Campground. After this point, the road is rough and narrow. Two wheel drive vehicles can continue if they have decent clearance (mine has 7.5 inch clearance and I had no problems). It is not recommended to take trailers beyond this point. There are a number of pullouts beyond the campground that offer excellent car camping. At odometer reading 6.1, you will reach the Primitive car camping area, complete with picnic tables. This is where you exit the canyon, so memorize it well!
At odometer reading 7.6, you will have reached the Jennings Creek Trailhead. There is only room for 3 or 4 vehicles here. It is marked by a faded wood warning sign for Tabeguache hikers to avoid McCoy Creek.
At the primitive car camping area, hike north, angling east until you find vegetation-choked McCoy Creek. Follow the creek for 10 minutes until you reach the last drop. From this vantage point decide if the water flow is within your capabilities. Usually by August the canyon is little more than a trickle.
You can set up a car shuttle at the primitive car camping area. There is limited parking at the trailhead, so if you do not have a car shuttle, leave a car at the primitive car camp area and hike up the road to the trailhead.
Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
Approach
From the trailhead, follow the Jennings Creek trail as it rises through aspen groves. It soon turns northeast and heads straight up, past treeline, and eventually to the crest of Tabeguache's southwest ridge at just below 13,000 feet. It may tempt you to traverse along treeline, across the southwest ridge and into McCoy's upper basin, but don't. Though it is steep and much higher than you need to go, it will keep everyone on the same trail and limit the already extensive hiker-caused erosion. As a side trip, you can follow the ridge for approximately 1.5 miles and reach Tabeguache's 14,155 foot summit, then return.
From the ridge, hike east, steeply downward towards McCoy Creek. The tundra is fragile here, so step on rocks as opposed to plants as much as possible. Keep erosion to a minimum. The way down is steep and will do a number on your knees. When you reach the stream, simply follow it down. You may pass an ancient sign warning against the waterfalls in lower McCoy Creek. Keep heading down, bypassing or downclimbing several nuicance drops. Enjoy the wildflowers.
Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
Description: Standard Route
Eventually you'll reach the first waterfall. The drop, which has a small pool of water at its top, drops only 15 feet or so into an ankle-deep pool. Anchor off of a tree and rappel. Twenty feet past the first waterfall is a second one, 25 feet high, which drops into a narrow slot. Anchor off of another tree. Again, the water at the base is only ankle deep.
You can climb around both falls on canyon right (looking down canyon), but it would require traversing exposed slabs (5th class). The rock here is very polished, so this way is not recommended.
Hike for a minute or two and you'll reach the 12 foot third falls, which is easily bypassed on canyon left (class 3). Hike another 2 or 3 minutes to reach the fourth falls. This drop is another 15 feet into a small narrow gorge. Anchor off of a bush and rappel. The fifth falls, which is probably the highest in the canyon at 50-60 feet, is just beyond. You have several anchor options - rock pinches near the base of the 4th falls, or rock pinches/slung rocks/slung logs near the top of the 5th falls. I recommend against using any anchors near the top of the falls. It is hard to see from above, but the boulders are part of a massive overhang that is held in place by a jammed log - and the log isn't jammed very well. Should the log shift even a little, the boulders above will also shift, and it could open up the obvious rock pinches you are anchored to - causing an anchor failure. Though it takes 40 to 50 feet of webbing, it is safer to anchor off of the pinches near the base of the 4th falls. Additionally, in high water the anchors at the lip of the 5th falls will be inaccessible. The pool at the base of the 5th falls is knee deep.
Hike and scramble down this lush area for another minute and you'll reach the 6th drop. It is only 7 or 8 feet, but it is off of an overhanging boulder and would be a difficult downclimb. Anchor off of a nearby tree and rappel. A macrame knot works well here. Just below is the 7th drop, which is another boulder downclimb. This one is easier to downclimb if the water levels are low, or you can extend the rappel from the 6th drop. Downclimb another minute through a narrow section and you will reach the finale, the 8th drop.
At this point you can escape on canyon right, and hike down the rim to the base of the 8th falls. If you are a larger canyoneer or are uncomfortable in tight chutes, escape the canyon now. It is easy to get wedged in the narrow chute below while on rappel, and the water flow would make that possibility even more dangerous. If you want to rappel, anchor off of a stone placed in the gap between a boulder and the canyon wall - expert natural anchor skills are required here to rig it safely. Rappel down the chute, being careful not to wedge in. Additionally, your feet may wedge behind the waterfall, so be careful! The landing is in waist deep (if not deeper) water and a logjam.
Description:
Exit
After the final drop, the narrows end and the watercourse is choked with vegetation. Hike out to the right (looking down canyon, or west) into the forest. Hike south until you reach the road in the vicinity of the primitive campground. If your car is at the Jennings Creek Trailhead, you have to hike up the road for 1.5 miles back to your vehicle.
Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate