Uncompahgre River (Upper)

Upper Uncompahgre is a fun water park with jumps, slides, chutes, and a few rappels. Minimum rope requirement: 1 X 100 feet. Recommended to take two and leapfrog. Typical time for this route is 3-6 hours. Canyoneers inexperienced in down-climbing in swift water will greatly prolong the time required.

Drive from the Ouray Hot Springs Park drive south on Highway 550 for 4.3 miles and turn left onto the dirt road at a blue sign on the right for "Alpine Loop". This is also the exit. Gauge the water level where the Uncompahgre River flows through a culvert underneath the highway. Hike 1.2 miles up the dirt road traversing three switchbacks. After a small scree field, when the river is close to the road, look for a social trail from the road to the river. A Car Shuttle is possible with high clearance vehicle. Shuttling this section of road will eliminate the approach hike but won’t save much time.

As with all Ouray canyons, the pool depths change every year after the spring runoff and after severe storms. Always check pool depths before jumping. First Technical Section The first rappel is 10 minutes downstream of the approach point on the map. R1: 20' from webbing around old mining debris in the watercourse. This has been jumped as the water is typically deep. R2: 25' from bolts DCL. The pool is typically too shallow to jump, but the rappel can be set short for a short slide. R3: 50' from bolts DCR. The rocks are slick leading to the anchor, so clip in with a safety tether. A traverse line from a tree DCL is recommended to get the group to the anchor safely. About 2/3 of the way down is a nice ledge that offers a seat behind the veil of the waterfall and is a unique opportunity to do so. There is also a redirect DCL near the lip which can be utilized in high water conditions. The canyon can be exited up a slope DCL after R3, back to an old mining road leading upstream above the first rappels to the 4x4 road. Second Technical Section Streamwalk a short distance of after R3, then a magnificent section of narrows starts with chutes and slides for about 500 feet. Beware of foot entrapment. R4: 30' from a tree higher DCR. The pool below can be jumped or slid if deep enough. R5: 25' from a rock chock DCL into a shallow pool. Some may downclimb this low-angle slab. A narrow chute follows R5, followed by two possible slides and a downclimb before the canyon turns to the right for a short distance of streamwalking. Third Technical Section R6: 35' from a tree DCL. Some have downclimbed this low angle slab. A 15 foot downclimb in a chimney immediately follows. Extend the rope if required. R7: 40’ from bolts DCL with a small free-hang. Downclimb DCR in lower water or duck under the huge boulders DCL into a big chamber and downclimb a chute DCL. The field of large boulders that follows can be downclimbed entirely without rope, though some optional rappels may be required if staying in watercourse.