Ribbon Canyon

Ribbon Canyon is one of the best canyons in the Grand Junction area. It is in the Kayenta Sandstone, which is a relatively shallow formation. The canyon has some nice narrows and some avoidable potholes. The East Fork adds a nice little "bonus canyon" to the route as well. There are lots of options here. Below are some recommended options. The first option might be the most attractive, but requires a car shuttle. Option 1: (Shuttle) Recommended To line up three good rappels, start at the Old Kiln Trailhead, descend the East Fork of Ribbon, rappel into Main Ribbon Canyon just before the rappel in Main and then descend Echo Canyon ending at the Devil's Kitchen Trailhead in the Monument. Option 2: (Shuttle) Start at the top of the Ribbon Trail or Old Kiln Trail, drop into Ribbon Canyon Main or East fork and descend Ribbon Canyon to Andy's Trail. Ascend Andy's Trail to Andy's Loop Trailhead on Little Park Road. Note: The approach, descent and return distances are for this path. Option 3: (Out-and-back) Start at the Little Park Trailhead. Descend to the Ribbon Trail via the First Flats Trail and Andy's Trail. Ascend the Ribbon Trail to the head of the technical section before descending Ribbon Canyon. Ascend Andy's Loop back to the trailhead. Option 4: (Out-and-back) Complete Options 1 or 2 and follow the Old Gordon Trail all the way back to the vicinity of the Upper Ribbon Trailhead.

There are three different trailhead options. Top of Ribbon Trail To get to the top of the Ribbon Trail, Drive the Little Park Road towards Glade Park. The trailhead is marked with a vault toilet and sign. This is about 1.4 miles past the turnoff for the Bangs Canyon Trailhead. Google maps has good directions to the top of the Ribbon Trail. Old Kiln Trail This is located along Litte Park Road not far east of the Upper Ribbon Trailhead. Andys Loop Trailhead Park at a small pullout along Little Park Road (west side) just downhill to the north from the Little Park Trailhead. Devils Kitchen This trailhead is just inside Colorado National Monument and just beyond the entrance fee station for the East Entrance of the Monument.

This canyon is approached via the Ribbon Trail, either from the top of the Ribbon Trail or from the Andys Loop Trailhead. From the Andys Loop Trailhead Use the map to descend the Andys Loop Trail to the Ribbon Trail (0.5 miles) to the Ribbon Trail to the left. There is an interesting cave/tunnel you can explore along the way. From the Ribbon Trail, ascend the trail about 1.8 miles to the area west of the first rappel (see map). There is a minor unmarked trail junction here, but not many landmarks. You can drop in the canyon higher than this, but there is some bushwhacking (not that bad, but annoying). From the top of the Ribbon Trail From the top of the Ribbon Trail, descend about 1.1 miles to the area west of the rappel. Route find into the canyon just short of the rappel. As mentioned, you can drop into the canyon earlier, but there is some bushwhacking so you might want to avoid that part. From Old Kiln Trail and East Fork of Ribbon Canyon This is the best option of all and the second variation that we did. Follow the Old Kiln Trail into the drainage (East Fork of Ribbon Canyon) and follow it down. There will be a 10’ rappel (or downclimb on canyon left), then a narrow and interesting, but shallow canyon down to an 85' rappel. Doing this rappel will land you just up canyon from the rappel described in the paragraph below. The Main Ribbon Canyon Once you are at the top of the rappel, the fun begins. We rappelled into the canyon by walking the bench to the left and to a tree before rapping about 70' into the canyon. This rappel landed in a cottonwood tree. The rappel was overhanging in places too. You can also rappel 100' right at the head of the canyon , but it is overhung. This is the more aesthetic way to do it and makes for better photos. Once you are at the bottom of the rappel, head down canyon. The walking is on smooth slickrock and quite enjoyable. Though the canyon isn't that deep, it is narrow. There is a short and scenic side canyon that comes in from the left that is worth seeing. There are some interesting potholes, some of them quite deep to see as well. They are easy to get around, so no wading or swimming is required. Ribbon Canyon opens up in this area and crosses the Ribbon Trail. You can either follow the Ribbon Trail here, or continue down canyon, which is the best option. You will pass through a short shallow narrows and then a colorful canyon before reaching the signed Andys Loop and Ribbon Trail junction at the mouth of the canyon.

From the mouth of the canyon at the junction of the Ribbon and Andys Loop trail, there are two options. Option 1 This is the most scenic option, but requires a car shuttle and entering Colorado National Monument. Turn left (west here) and head down the drainage. Perhaps a good name for the drainage is Upper Echo Canyon. You will reach a beautiful up to 120 foot rappel (depending on where you set your anchor) into a possible (but usually dry) pool. Echo Canyon is a scenic canyon below the rappel and there is a trail. The canyon has a small creek in it and usually lots of birds in the canyon walls. At the junction with the Old Gordon Trail, head right. There is another junction 0.5 miles farther along the trail. Head right here and to the trailhead. The trailhead is 1.5 miles beyond the rappel. Option 2 From the mouth of the canyon at the junction of the Ribbon and Andy's Loop trail, turn right and head up the trail to the Andy's Loop Trailhead (0.5 miles with 300 feet elevation gain). Option 3 Once completing Ribbon Canyon and Lower Echo Canyon, follow the Old Gordon Trail back to Little Park Road and the Ribbon Trailhead or roadwalk east to the Old Kiln Trailhead. This allows you to see the entire Ribbon Canyon and Lower Echo Canyon, but the hike back after completing Lower Echo will be tiring.