Knee Canyon (South)

The Knee Canyons are two short canyons featuring big rappels, awkward starts, and free‑hanging drops on the western side of Pinon Mesa, within the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area managed by the BLM and overlapping the Black Canyons Wilderness Area. The return route up the Mee Canyon Trail is part of the adventure, including a ledge, a rabbit‑hole scramble, and a ladder. The names North and South Knee Canyon likely originate from what appears to be a typo on a 1984 USGS topographic map, which labeled the drainage below both routes as “Knee Canyon.” Other maps refer to the area as Mee Canyon, consistent with the established details around the Mee Canyon Trail. Although described separately, both Knee Canyons can be completed in a single day, along with a visit to the large alcove upstream, even with the more distant trailhead parking in effect from August 15 to February 15. The statistics listed below apply to each canyon individually.

Drive 4.5 miles North on S 16 1/2 Rd from Glade Park. Turn left on Black Ridge Rd for 1.3 miles to a T-intersection with the Upper Access Road (open Apr15-Aug15) and Lower Access Road (open Aug15-Feb15). Either drive the Upper Access Road directly to the Mee Canyon Trailhead (39.09662, -108.84291) or drive the Lower Access Road to the Lower Rattlesnake Arches TH (39.10731, -108.83927), which has less space for vehicles. Another parking location is available on the left just north of this gate. Hike to the Mee Canyon Trailhead from the Lower Access Road, if required. From the Mee Canyon Trailhead, hike the Mee Canyon Trail 0.9 miles and depart it to the left (south) at a section of trail that turns to the north. Hike downstream to the first obstacle.

R1: 45' from a tree DCR bypass DC DCR R2: 120' from a tree DCL. A nice slot that can be downclimbed starts the drop, but the tree made the easier anchor despite it adding an awkward start for the big free hang rappel. R3: 155' from a tree for a bigger free hang rappel into a large belled out alcove.

After R3, proceed downstream and battle through some brushy sections keeping an eye out for avoidable poison ivy. At the main drainage, either take the side trip upstream to see the alcove or proceed up the Mee Canyon Trail to North Knee Canyon or the Mee Canyon Trailhead. The Mee Canyon Trail has abundant cairns to guide the way. Walk the ledge (wide enough), gain a flat section and crawl through a rabbit hole to wrap the corner, then hike around and up to gain the top ridge by climbing a short ladder and crawling through an arch. The trail is easy to follow back to the trailhead.