El Capitan Canyon | Canyoneering in Arizona

El Capitan Canyon

El Capitan canyon offers a 1/2 day technical canyon exploration in a beautiful setting without getting too wet. Great for a Winter fix!

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Author:	6237345375
Date:	16 Dec 2008 6:28:41 PM
Source:	on my AT&T BlackBerry phone
Activity:	Canyoneering ActivitySearchCanyoneering
State:	Arizona (AZ)
Distance:	2.92 mi (Change units)
Survey Elevation:	Total Gain: 1600 ft Total Loss: 1600 ft Net Change: 0 ft
Difficulty:	6 / 10
Tags:	Arizona, Canyoneering, Canyoneering Arizona, El Capitan, El Capitan Canyon, Rappel, Slot Canyon, Winkelman
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

El Capitan canyon is a nice 1/2 day excursion in the Winter when you want to stay relatively dry. The technical slot canyon requires three rappels to descend and is fairly easy by technical canyoneering standards. Hit it in the morning when the light is right and the slot glows a beautiful gold color.

Albert Putzig and I (Rich Rudow) descended this canyon on a cold Winter day and really enjoyed it.

We used "Arizona Technical Canyoneering," by Todd Martin for the full beta to safely descend this canyon. You can get it here:
www.toddshikingguide.com/index.htm

TO TRAILHEAD: Take US-60 East out of Mesa to Globe. Continue on Hwy 70 out of Globe then turn right on Hwy 77 toward Winkleman. Continue on Hwy 77 for 15.4 miles and park on the left just before intersecting the run-away truck ramp.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

El Capitan Track

Distance: 2.92 mi	Points: 385	Calories: none
Total Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Points of Interest

Park Here

Location: 33.176449, -110.810867

Albert stems the slot

Location: 33.180556, -110.807161
© Rich Rudow

Pretty Canyon Walls in the early light

Location: 33.184542, -110.808277

The walls are getting higher and more colorful

Location: 33.183788, -110.808234

Starting to 'slot' up here

Location: 33.181615, -110.806603

Yikes - that looks wet!

Location: 33.181310, -110.806518
You can bypass the swim by climbing around on the left.

It's narrow here

Location: 33.181058, -110.806496

Albert looks on in amazement!

Location: 33.180717, -110.806797

Someone's Old knotted rope!

Location: 33.176156, -110.808535

Albert on the 50' rappel

Location: 33.175365, -110.808578
this is the longest rap in the canyon.

Tunnel entrance

Location: 33.175311, -110.808513
The canyon creates a tunnel through rock that provides continued downstream access.

Rich checks out the 3rd rappel

Location: 33.175078, -110.808384

Albert on the awkward 3rd rap start

Location: 33.175078, -110.808363

Very pretty narrows

Location: 33.174934, -110.808342

4th Rap!!!

Location: 33.174719, -110.808342
You can bypass this last rappel by climbing up on the left but we decided to do the rap anyway. Anchor from a rock stopper in a crack on canyon right.