Cañon Vertedero

Cañon Vertedero translates from Spanish to Garbage Dump Canyon and this beautiful slot canyon has indeed become a dump for all kinds of local's trash ranging from computers, to washing machine, and even a Silverado pickup. Maybe other people will appreciate this place as much as I did and eventually clean it up. Until then, it serves as a sad example of what can happen if we don't take care of nature around us.

Drive up Forest Road 77 just east of Gallina, NM for about 2 miles. As the dirt road climbs uphill, you will see a sandstone canyon on your right and come to cattle guard. Park at the cattle guard.

The slot canyon gets deeper until you reach a couple of chokestones that are just a bit too high of the ground to safely drop. There is a log on canyon left that makes a good anchor for this 20' drop. After this is some downclimbing until a pothole is reached. A good climber can climb around on canyon right using the tree roots and some rocks, but most will want to go through the pothole which will require a 25' rap and potentially some pothole escape experience. The trash continues to get more diverse and is directly in the canyon. A final 20' drop is required. It could be done as a fast slide with a 5' drop, but is probably best to do as a rappel.

Walk down canyon until you ind a social trail leading up to the right back to the road, then go back up the road to your car.