Lean Creek

Lean Creek might have the best pay-to-play ratio in the Pagosa area. The creek had a surprising number of small fun rappels before the final Lean Creek Falls rappel lands in a swimming plunge pool. With dispersed camping at the trailhead, this could be a good opportunity to get a feel for hiking at Colorado altitude and bashing through just a bit of the usual off-trail growth without biting off a huge day. 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.

Drive 23 miles on Piedra Road to the North from Highway 160 on the West side of Pagosa Springs. Piedra Road turns into FS 600 then 631. Follow the subtle right turn onto FS 636 to the Middle Fork Piedra River. Park at the end of the road. Hike the Middle Fork Piedra River Trail from the pit toilet toward the East and cross the Middle Fork Piedra River. Follow the trail up the ridge via several switchbacks and drop in at a gully close to Lean Creek as noted on the map.

Downclimb followed by a small low angle slide bypassable on Canyon Right R1: 100' from a tree uphill on Canyon Right for a shorter low angle waterfall (R2: 30') two short tiers bypassable on Canyon Right 10' drop bypassable on Canyon Right DC: 20' R3: 45' from a log in Canyon Center into waist deep pothole DC: 20' R4: 35' from a log in Canyon Center to a 10ft overhang into a shallow pothole R5: 40' from a tree on Canyon Left R6: 30' from a tree on Canyon Left R7: 20' fiddled from a large tree lower on Canyon Right, possible Downclimb CR R8: 105' from a tree on Canyon Left to rappel next to the flow of Lean Creek Falls into the pool below. A slightly longer rope for the pull will be useful. Beware catching the rope in a narrow pinch at the lip.