Cougar Canyon (New Mexico)

Cougar Canyon is a really fun easy descent through a nicely carved sandstone layer, but it's uphill both ways. This could be considered a technical canyon for beginners who are strong hikers. Beware heavy rains impacting dirt road conditions.

From the town of Gallina, NM, drive north on French Mesa Rd. Pass an open gate after the roads open in mid-April. Otherwise this gate can be locked spanning the road and preventing access. Go left at the fork after 6.5 miles to continue on Forest Road 8, which is a better road than Forest Road 11 to the right. Turn left after 4.85 miles onto a dirt road spur heading west. Turn south at a lake/dry lake for a total of 1.25 miles from FR 8. A lower clearance all wheel drive or higher clearance 2WD would probably do fine under dry conditions from Gallina to the parking noted on the kml map. From the parking location, hike due west 0.3 miles +300' elevation to gain the ridge. (gain the same ridge if parking at the alternate parking spot) Hike south on the ridge another 0.65 miles to the head of Cougar Canyon and begin the descent.

Navigate and downclimb to the first of the quick series of three rappels. R1: 10' nuisance drop 20' rope required from the slung rock in Canyon Center R2: 35' from a tree on Canyon Left R3: 20' from a tree on Canyon Left Downclimbs are followed by a squeeze into a rabbit hole under big boulders. A few elevators and some narrow sections (but never narrower than shoulder width) wrap up the canyon before it opens up at the bottom. All in all a really fun descent!