rcwild
10-15-2009, 11:19 AM
The Quartzite Corridor of Bear Creek is perhaps the most beautiful canyon in the Ouray area, but it is also very technical. The narrows are unrelenting, and escape back to the trail is not possible in much of the canyon. It is very committing, once you drop in there's no way out except down requiring advanced ropework, as well as some exposed downclimbs that are not protectable. At least one drop ends in a deep swimming pool with a dangerous hydraulic. The bottom of this drop can't be seen from the anchor.
Rating: 4C III
Time Required: 8-10 hours round trip.
Longest Rappel: < 100 ft.
[B]Permit Information
No permits are required.
Camping/Lodging
Ouray offers numerous hotel and motel options as well as restaurants and bars. The Amphitheater Campground at the south end of town offers a great central location. There are US Forest Service campgrounds in the area that offer primitive camping. Free camping in the area is hard to find.
Preferred Season
Mid-July through October depending on spring runnoff and arrival of the first snows of winter.
Water Concerns Moving water, rappelling through waterfalls, swimming.
Special Challenges
This canyon sits above 8000 ft. in a high alpine environment. Climate and weather conditions require consideration.
Equipment Suggestions
Standard wet canyon kit incuding wetsuit, helmet, enough rope for a 100' rappel. Extra rope recommended. 6 quicklinks. 50'+ webbing.
Topographic Maps
Hiking Trails of Ouray County & the Uncompahgre Wilderness, USGS 1:100,000 Montrose, USGS 7.5 Series Ouray Colorado, Ironton Quadrangle.
Directions to Trailhead
Take Highway 550 south out of Ouray for 2 miles. Watch for a small sign on the right for the Bear Creek Trailhead. Just after the sign, you will drive through a short tunnel. The parking is on the left (east) side of the road, just past the tunnel.
Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
Approach
From the parking lot, cross the highway and find the trail as it climbs up and over the tunnel. Climb 7 (or more!) steep switchbacks up slate talus slopes. The trail then follows Bear Creek proper on narrow ledges reminiscent of Eagle Creek Oregon. It is very scenic, and you can preview most of the drops from the trail. Hike for 2.4 miles to the Grizzly Bear Mine. This spot is marked with a sign, an old shack and a lot of mining equipment. Continue up the trail for 1 minute until you reach a rock gully. Downclimb this gully to reach Bear Creek.
Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
Description: Standard Route
Hike and downclimb down stream. After 30-45 minutes you will reach a waterfall at the start of a narrow section. Anchor is on CL, either some small slung chockstones, or a rock pinch. This 40' rappel is into a small, dark alcove, not in the main flow of the falls. Immediately is another waterfall; rappel 75' off of a log slung on CR. Many downclimbs and possible swims and slides follow (scout slides first). The rock is slippery. The canyon eventually opens briefly and then takes a sharp right turn at another waterfall. Rappel 50' off of slung boulder. The rappel start is overhanging and extremely awkward. Immediately after is another waterfall. Downclimb on slabs CL (sequence weaker climbers first). This 30' downclimb is slick, tricky and hard to protect, a slabby 5.6-ish. You may locate anchors to rappel this drop instead. You are now in the "Quartzite Corridor" a super cool white quartzite narrows. After the Corridor, the canyon turns left and opens. Scramble and downclimb on large boulders for a half hour or more. Another waterfall marks the start of more technical work. The waterfall is only 40' or so, but the anchor is far back, making the rappel 100'. We used a tree on CL, but it is exposed to get to, and canyoners are causing erosion reaching the tree. Try to find an alternate anchor, if possible. We are not sure what the best solution here will be but that loose exposed climb up to the tree won't hold up very well over time.
Immediately is another waterfall, which is only 15' or so, followed by a short swim and another waterfall through a narrow opening. You can't see the bottom of this latter waterfall from where you are. You must rappel these two waterfalls together, making a 90' total rappel. The latter waterfall has a dangerous hydraulic and deep swim at its base, so be sure to set the rope length and use a single line rappel (requires training, hence the 4C rating). This drop is the most dangerous part of a dangerous canyon. Sling a boulder and extend the anchor to the drop, otherwise the rope will not pull. The top of the second waterfall is extremely slippery. It empties into a small bowl called "La Cappella". Below that, downclimb (some exposed) boulders and cascades to the tallest waterfall in the canyon. Climb up CR to reach a tree for an anchor. The rocks here ņ a slate talus - are very loose and a slip would mean death. Rappel 90' to a possibly deep pool, try not to dislodge rocks.
Description:
Variations: History
Dianne and I scouted it in 2003 and found anchors at the lower drops. We descended the canyon in 2004, finding anchors at each drop. Later inquiry established that some members of Ouray Mountain Rescue (?) descended the canyon sometime in the early 2000's, possibly 2002?
Exit
Continue down Bear Creek, over and around boulders and down cascades. Some of the downclimbs can be tricky or exposed. You may have one or two swimming stretches. Eventually you will reach Highway 550. DO NOT DESCEND BEAR CREEK FALLS (after the bridge). Instead, leave the watercourse via ledges on CL and make your way to the road. Walk along the road north back to the Bear Creek trailhead and your vehicle.
Note: CDOT has been working on the highway and bridge and has recently placed a chain link fence at the bottom. Once construction is completed access should not be a problem. However during construction, it may be best to simply avoid doing this canyon.
Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate
Rating: 4C III
Time Required: 8-10 hours round trip.
Longest Rappel: < 100 ft.
[B]Permit Information
No permits are required.
Camping/Lodging
Ouray offers numerous hotel and motel options as well as restaurants and bars. The Amphitheater Campground at the south end of town offers a great central location. There are US Forest Service campgrounds in the area that offer primitive camping. Free camping in the area is hard to find.
Preferred Season
Mid-July through October depending on spring runnoff and arrival of the first snows of winter.
Water Concerns Moving water, rappelling through waterfalls, swimming.
Special Challenges
This canyon sits above 8000 ft. in a high alpine environment. Climate and weather conditions require consideration.
Equipment Suggestions
Standard wet canyon kit incuding wetsuit, helmet, enough rope for a 100' rappel. Extra rope recommended. 6 quicklinks. 50'+ webbing.
Topographic Maps
Hiking Trails of Ouray County & the Uncompahgre Wilderness, USGS 1:100,000 Montrose, USGS 7.5 Series Ouray Colorado, Ironton Quadrangle.
Directions to Trailhead
Take Highway 550 south out of Ouray for 2 miles. Watch for a small sign on the right for the Bear Creek Trailhead. Just after the sign, you will drive through a short tunnel. The parking is on the left (east) side of the road, just past the tunnel.
Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
Approach
From the parking lot, cross the highway and find the trail as it climbs up and over the tunnel. Climb 7 (or more!) steep switchbacks up slate talus slopes. The trail then follows Bear Creek proper on narrow ledges reminiscent of Eagle Creek Oregon. It is very scenic, and you can preview most of the drops from the trail. Hike for 2.4 miles to the Grizzly Bear Mine. This spot is marked with a sign, an old shack and a lot of mining equipment. Continue up the trail for 1 minute until you reach a rock gully. Downclimb this gully to reach Bear Creek.
Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
Description: Standard Route
Hike and downclimb down stream. After 30-45 minutes you will reach a waterfall at the start of a narrow section. Anchor is on CL, either some small slung chockstones, or a rock pinch. This 40' rappel is into a small, dark alcove, not in the main flow of the falls. Immediately is another waterfall; rappel 75' off of a log slung on CR. Many downclimbs and possible swims and slides follow (scout slides first). The rock is slippery. The canyon eventually opens briefly and then takes a sharp right turn at another waterfall. Rappel 50' off of slung boulder. The rappel start is overhanging and extremely awkward. Immediately after is another waterfall. Downclimb on slabs CL (sequence weaker climbers first). This 30' downclimb is slick, tricky and hard to protect, a slabby 5.6-ish. You may locate anchors to rappel this drop instead. You are now in the "Quartzite Corridor" a super cool white quartzite narrows. After the Corridor, the canyon turns left and opens. Scramble and downclimb on large boulders for a half hour or more. Another waterfall marks the start of more technical work. The waterfall is only 40' or so, but the anchor is far back, making the rappel 100'. We used a tree on CL, but it is exposed to get to, and canyoners are causing erosion reaching the tree. Try to find an alternate anchor, if possible. We are not sure what the best solution here will be but that loose exposed climb up to the tree won't hold up very well over time.
Immediately is another waterfall, which is only 15' or so, followed by a short swim and another waterfall through a narrow opening. You can't see the bottom of this latter waterfall from where you are. You must rappel these two waterfalls together, making a 90' total rappel. The latter waterfall has a dangerous hydraulic and deep swim at its base, so be sure to set the rope length and use a single line rappel (requires training, hence the 4C rating). This drop is the most dangerous part of a dangerous canyon. Sling a boulder and extend the anchor to the drop, otherwise the rope will not pull. The top of the second waterfall is extremely slippery. It empties into a small bowl called "La Cappella". Below that, downclimb (some exposed) boulders and cascades to the tallest waterfall in the canyon. Climb up CR to reach a tree for an anchor. The rocks here ņ a slate talus - are very loose and a slip would mean death. Rappel 90' to a possibly deep pool, try not to dislodge rocks.
Description:
Variations: History
Dianne and I scouted it in 2003 and found anchors at the lower drops. We descended the canyon in 2004, finding anchors at each drop. Later inquiry established that some members of Ouray Mountain Rescue (?) descended the canyon sometime in the early 2000's, possibly 2002?
Exit
Continue down Bear Creek, over and around boulders and down cascades. Some of the downclimbs can be tricky or exposed. You may have one or two swimming stretches. Eventually you will reach Highway 550. DO NOT DESCEND BEAR CREEK FALLS (after the bridge). Instead, leave the watercourse via ledges on CL and make your way to the road. Walk along the road north back to the Bear Creek trailhead and your vehicle.
Note: CDOT has been working on the highway and bridge and has recently placed a chain link fence at the bottom. Once construction is completed access should not be a problem. However during construction, it may be best to simply avoid doing this canyon.
Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate