Zenith Canyon

Like Chasm to the north and Salix to the South, Zenith contains a short couple of drops in a little slot in the thinner Entrada layer, more walking, then a huge rappel down the Wingate layer, followed by a long return. Considering the distances and the brush to push through, this is not a destination canyon, but it is an adventure and might be just right for teams building up to long rappels.

Drive Rimrock Dr or Monument Rd in the Colorado National Monument and Park a return vehicle at the Upper Monument Canyon Trailhead. Drive south on Rimrock Dr and Park the vehicle at the Upper Liberty Cap Trailhead. Hike the Liberty Cap Trail east for 1.55 miles. When the Liberty Cap Trail turns 90 degrees to the south, depart the trail to the northeast into the drainage aiming for the first rappel, R1, at (39.05722, -108.70958). Note that the Liberty Cap Trail is part of the American Discovery Trail (ADT).

R1: 60' fiddling a juniper in line with the drainage for a 40' drop. This could be bypassed on a slope DCR. R2: 115' fiddling a juniper DCL of the nicely carved slot in the Entrada layer into the narrowest part of the drainage with a giant cottonwood tree. Hike 1 mile downstream. Bashing through the brush eases after the first 0.15 miles and becomes nice sandstone flat hiking about 0.65 miles after R2. R3: 195' from a 10' sling on a juniper DCL. The lip is the typical CNM tough edge transition without too much in the way of feet, then it opens up to a free hang after the first shelf. Feet touch down at 130' of rope and could be downclimbed DCL or DCR. Downclimb a jumble of boulders for 0.2 miles as the drainage turns to the left until the valley flattens out.