Skunk Hollow Canyon

A short and sweet mini mission just south of Flagstaff. This short canyon features some beautiful backcountry hiking and two pretty rappels into small slotted grottos. The route is named for the skunks trapped inside the last shallow pothole.

From the parking, follow the road downhill as it heads towards the exit drainage. Cut west to cross the ridge and join the route drainage. Here, negotiate a few downclimbs, and scramble into some shallow narrows to the first rappel.

R1: 35 feet off cairn anchor. Webbing extended past the lip. Wade through small pool and walk past cougar den to next rap R2: 30 feet from slung log in watercourse Wade through skunk pothole and enter Walnut Canyon

Head up canyon, bushwhack to the exit drainage at 35.15321, -111.54864. Use blocks of rock in crack and ample trees to scramble ~30ft up a class 4 wall, then ~20 more up a dry chute. From here, gain the small ridge to the right before dropping back into the drainage once it mellows. One more upclimb up a small cliff band (I used the dead log) will get you past the worst of it. Follow this drainage to where it meets with the approach road and your car.