Hog Canyon in Dinosaur NM

Hog Canyon contains a few rappels including a large headwall entrance rappel. The drainage contains a lot of vegetation and many large jumbled boulder down climbs.

DRIVE 9.75 miles East from the Dinosaur National Monument Quarry Visitor Center to the Josie Morris Cabin Trailhead Parking Lot on a paved and maintained dirt road. HIKE toward the Hog Spring Trail departing the parking lot to the East. At the fence line, depart the trail and continue off trail east for another half mile, which should be far enough to avoid cliffing out on the approach. Reference the GPS track and waypoints to navigate a known path up the slickrock. Crest the top of the ridge and descend just above the large headwall entrance rappel. A CAR SHUTTLE option exists but is unverified as of this beta update. Skip the uphill hike and park on top of the Yampa Plateau by driving 20 miles up Blue Mountain Road / CO 1550.

R1: 270' from a tree in Canyon Center. Another group broke up this headwall rappel by using a ledge ~200' down, however the ledge is set back out of reach from the plumb line in this free-hanging rappel. On a 2023 descent, it was felt a single long rope would be preferable for this large pretty rappel. Downclimb Canyon Left R2: 110' from a tree or optionally downclimb further Canyon Left A few downclimbs before R3 optional R3: 50' nuisance rappel from a tree or downclimb in a choked drainage on Canyon Left A downclimb before R4 R4: 60' fiddle from a tree R5: 85' from a tree set 20' back from the drop

The technical section ends shortly after R5. Hog Spring starts to produce clear water in the streambed and a trail is soon picked up that leads right back to the fence line. Beware of avoidable poison ivy on the trail. After the fence, follow the trail back to the right (West) and the Josie Morris Cabin Parking Lot.