Artist Canyon

Artist Canyon holds a quick series of downclimbs and decent rappels. The longer return hike is the only downside. Artist does not have any of the typical awkward starts found in many of the other Colorado National Monument canyons.

Leave a shuttle vehicle at the Upper Monument Canyon Trailhead. Drive to Artist's Point or park along the road just beyond Artist Canyon, then hike along Monumnent Rd at least a third of a mile before entering the canyon on DCL.

bypass a 15' dryfall at the end of a carved drainage flume DC: 10' or R: 30' R1: 75' from a tree DCR DC: 5' DC: 20' on a lower angle ramp R2: 160' from a tree near the edge DCR into the bowl below this headwall

After the last rappel, boulder hop for a thousand feet, then push through the overgrowth in the drainage for another third of a mile until the drainage opens up. Follow the wash a half mile to intersect the Monument Canyon Trail heading West. The elevation gain on the Monument Canyon Trail back to the Upper Monument Canyon Trailhead occurs at a comfortable grade on a nicely maintained trail and seemed to go by quickly.