Sheepdog Creek

An interesting canyon with several narrows and lots of unexpected downclimbs, but starts miles down an established trail and requires a steep hillside approach. While not rated highly for how deeply this is buried in the wilderness (be safe, help is a long way away), this was a fun canyon. The descent, taken by itself, is recommended. It's the getting there part... On the initial early July descent, days were warm and water flow was already low; wetsuits were not required.

Hiking time from trailhead: approximately 3 hours, 6.5 miles, +1960 ft elevation gain. Sheepdog off‑trail approach from Avalanche Creek Trail: 1 hour 30 minutes, 0.8 miles, +1180 ft elevation gain. Park at the Avalanche Creek Trailhead at the end of Avalanche Creek Road near Redstone, Colorado. The Avalanche Creek Campground is first‑come, first‑serve and has nine campsites. Hike 6.5 miles with approximately 1960 ft of elevation gain along Avalanche Creek. The trail has a gentle incline and is well‑established but overgrown in sections. The bridge over Hell Roaring Creek is washed out, but it is easy to cross once lower summer flows arrive. Camping in one of the meadows beyond the Gift Creek trail junction, west of the Avalanche Creek Trail, is an option for those wanting to spend enough time in the area to also descend nearby canyons. Leave the Avalanche Creek Trail at coordinates 39.16640, -107.14363 and begin the 0.8‑mile, +1175 ft approach directly up the steep hillside. The suggested path uses several talus slopes to avoid thicker vegetation and unstable dirt sections in the forest, which contains many downed trees. The initial short section between the trail and the first talus slope has the highest concentration of deadfall. Ascend the ridge south of the creek, staying high enough to avoid gullies and erosion zones. Contour around 10,050 ft and follow game trails toward the creek intersection above R1. R0: 75 ft entrance rappel down an eroded, blow‑out slope upstream from R1.

Sheepdog Creek has little foliage or avalanche debris to negotiate making for easy stream walking. R1: 35' from a rock in Canyon Center The Grandiorite rock layer that follows forms low angle rappels that in many places were conducive to downclimbing in the lower flow. Grandiorite is akin to granite, but contains a higher percentage of feldspar, which gives it an off-white color. R2: 120' from a large boulder for a two stage drop The canyon turns to the right. An escape gully comes in on Canyon Left. While dropping steeply, these narrows were entirely down climbable. At the bottom, another narrow walkable hallway turns to Canyon Left. Another escape gully comes in on Canyon Left. R3: 115' from a deadman anchor Several downclimbs lead to the tree anchor for R4. Delicately climb into a gully and across a dirt slope to the tree anchor. R4: 160' from a tree on Canyon Left out of steam course An escape gully comes in on Canyon Left R5: 35' from a deadman anchor R6: 55' from a large log in Canyon Center