Tuff Tributary (San Juans)

Tuff Tributary has a better sequence of more closely-spaced rappels into the final WFSJ River waterfall, but requires departing the trail, crossing the river and hiking the hillside on the East. Descending waterfalls in the West Fork of the San Juan is always a big day due to trail distance from the trailhead, but this lines up a alternate path to the standard, more open main canyon: https://ropewiki.com/West_Fork_of_the_San_Juan_(Colorado), which as of 2023 was loaded with avalanche debris. Geology: Technically, this tributary is in the Huerto Formation, an Oligocene layer of aphanitic to sparsely porphyritic dark andesite to rhyodacite flows and breccias. Some rocks have prominent thin tabular plagioclase phenocrysts. However, Tuff's simpler and broader definition of "being an igneous rock that forms from the products of an explosive volcanic eruptions," should be an easier placename. The San Juans have a volcanic origin and many of these canyons are carved into compressed Volcanic Ash, which sits above the lower harder rock layers.

Drive East from Pagosa Springs on Highway 160. Turn left/north on the dirt road turning left toward West Fork Campground and proceed a total of 3 miles to the end. Park at this trailhead. Hike 5.5 miles from the West Fork Trailhead past camping by Rainbow Hot Springs to where the trail crosses the West Fork of the San Juan River. The hiking trail is well-marked in the first mile to avoid private land. After crossing the West Fork, the trail steeply climbs up a series of switchbacks to a viewpoint and then parallels the West Fork of the San Juan with an easier contour. Follow this trail another half mile, depart the trail aiming for the West Fork of the San Juan River below, cross the river and begin to gain elevation on the hillside to the east, being sure to stay above the cliff bands. The 2013 West Fork Complex Fire (https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/image/west-fork-complex-fire-map) opened up the hillside to easy traversing.

R1: 15' from a log in Canyon Center R2: 30' or bypass on Canyon Right R3: 175' from a stout short tree on Canyon Right for a large two stage rappel R4: 80' from a tree on Canyon Left Snow Bridge R5: 30' waterfall. Bypass on Canyon Right if anchor material is unavailable. R6: 15' from a small tree on Canyon Right. R7: 60' from trees in Canyon Center for two small stages. R8: 165' from a large boulder in Canyon Center for three final corkscrewing tiers into the main WFSJ drainage Main Drainage for the West Fork of the San Juan River Main-R12: 15' off a log Downclimb Canyon Left under a large boulder Main-R13: 100' from a large boulder on Canyon Right Main-R14: 40' is a downclimb in 2023.