Eureka Gulch

A good short canyon with a few nice waterfalls. Avalanche debris seems to collect in this canyon, but other sections are easy to streamwalk. Can be done with or without a car shuttle. This waterfall is a confirmed nesting site for the Black Swift, listed as a Species of Special Concern by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The swifts migrate from Brazil annually to occupy this site from late May until late September, raising a single chick. The swifts are susceptible to disturbance from human activities near their nests, including noise and movement, direct disturbance or destruction of their nests, and trampling of vegetation. Canyoneering/climbing at this waterfall during the Black Swift nesting season (late May - late September/first frost) is likely to cause direct damage to nests, eggs, and young, and disturb adult swifts enough to cause them to abandon their nest and offspring. Click here for more information on the Black Swift.

Head east from Silverton on CR2 toward Animas Forks. Park just to the west of CR2 after the small RV town of Eureka near the mouth of Eureka Gulch by a large old mining structure. Either hike or drive CR25, a well-maintained dirt road to the top of the canyon. Park before a large sign for Moonbeam Lodge.

From CR25, descend a low angle slope to the creek and proceed downstream. R1: ~50', bypassable on CL R2: 100' from a large tree on CL, this is out of the flow R3: 100' from a rock pinch midstream R4: ~80', bypassable by downclimbing on CR. Non-climbers may wish to rappel.

The canyon exits near the parking at the bottom.