Red Rock Canyon
We approached the Yampa River by an easy, scenic hike down Red Rock Canyon. The fall foliage was in full swing.
A short slot canyon with a long and interesting approach
We approached the Yampa River by an easy, scenic hike down Red Rock Canyon. The fall foliage was in full swing.
Yampa River and colorful vegetation near the exit of Red Rock Canyon.
To get to Outlaw Park we had to walk down river from Red Rock Canyon. This could be done all on dry land except for one very short section. Beth has a look of disgust on her face as the incredibly slimy mud squishes around her bare feet.
Bob bravely leads the way across the Yampa River at Outlaw Park. It was thigh deep and not unreasonably cold.
Finding your way to the "key saddle" from the Yampa River takes a considerable amount of micro-routefinding through rugged slickrock terrain.
There's plenty of fun slickrock scrambling en route to the "key saddle".
Finally the "key saddle" is in sight. It is the key to accessing Outlaw Canyon, Outlaw Peak and Outlaw Arch Canyon. The canyon below it is deep and intimidating and I doubt it can be ascended. The trick is to sneak over to the saddle on ledges above the side of the canyon.
Bob rappels from a tree to the wide ledge below. This allowed us to reach the "key saddle" without making any exposed, attention-getting moves.
Keith is standing under the cliff that we rappelled down to reach the wide ledge leading to the "key saddle".
Bob starts up the loose gully between the ledge and the "key saddle".
Sharon climbs out of the gully leading to the "key saddle" with a hip belay from above for added security. The climb wasn't terribly exposed but it was a bit tricky.
The crew scrambling toward the "key saddle".
Wayne and others on the wide bench that is the "key saddle".
View back toward the Yampa River from the "key saddle". The ledge we rappelled down can be seen near the center of the photo.
Sharon and Steve approaching a sign of what is to come further down Outlaw Canyon: water.
Bob inching his way across a downsloping ledge with few holds above a deep pool in Outlaw Canyon. A mistake here would mean getting soaking wet and very cold.
Bob, Dwight and Steve rigged a static line along the traverse for some of us but I'm fairly certain we would have still fallen into the water if we slipped. It was mostly psychological protection. Here Sharon is getting it done.
Not all of us chose to do the conventional traverse across the ledge. Wayne got creative and used a huge stick for balance as he walked across the ledge. Beth and Steve chose to swim it!
Bob and Wayne haul on the rope while Sharon rappels toward a large, deep pool. They direct her along a thin ledge along the edge of the pool.
Keith rappelling toward the big pool.
Dwight and Steve exiting the narrowest part of Outlaw Canyon. The Yampa River is very close.
Steve approaching the end of Outlaw Canyon at the Yampa River.
Wayne and Steve passing through one last intersting section of Outlaw Canyon. The exit to the river bank is straight ahead.
Once exiting Outlaw Canyon we walked a short distance down the river to Outlaw Park.
The fall colors around the Yampa River were beautiful.
Sharon traverses a ledge above the Yampa River on the way back to Outlaw Park.
When we crossed back over the Yampa River it was higher (up to our crotches) and we could feel that the current was strongerthan it had been in the morning - still very manageable though.
This signature from 1919 can be found on a sandstone wall near where Rock Rock Canyon meets the Yamps River. I have no idea who this guy was.
This petroglyph is located very close to the signature shown above.