Serpent's Tongue

A short canyon with really nice sandstone features and good views back to Grand Junction. This would be a good canyon for beginners with good trail access. This canyon is probably the best of the canyons starting from the Serpents Trail. The Poison Ivy below R3 can be avoided. A car shuttle parked at the top of the Serpent's Trail would eliminate any uphill hiking and take a mile off the approach distance. The stats provided are hiking up from the Devil's Kitchen Trailhead not utilizing a shuttle.

Park at the Devil's Kitchen Picnic Area or Devil's Kitchen Trailhead. Hike the Serpent's Trail 1.5 miles up to the top of the drainage (39.03201, -108.64145). Depart the trail to the north and begin hiking downstream.

Bypass an 8' drop DCR R1: 25' from a juniper DCL. This could potentially be downclimbed in the slight crack further DCL, but might be easier with a spotter to help guide foot placements. It is also possible to downclimb/handline down 6’ of steep slickrock on the right by traversing the ledge 50-100’ past a pinyon pine on DCR. DC: 5' DCL R2: 35' from a pinyon pine on far DCL. This rappel might be awkward for beginners. R3: 25' fiddled from a juniper DCR. Could also be downclimbed with a belay for all but the last person down the center. Poison Ivy grows below R3, but the several outcroppings can be avoided.

Continue down canyon to the picnic area below.