Sundance Canyon in Coconino National Forest, AZ

Canyoneer Sundance Canyon Coconino National Forest, AZ

Class 2 3B II (180 ft max) 1.7 miles 800 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Jul 3, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
Directions
Route Map
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This is a technical canyon. If you are unfamiliar with how to build anchors or the gear required for canyoneering do not attempt this route.

Sundance Canyon shares a trailhead with Bear Canyon, but I set the TH coordinates to the spot where we dropped off the forest road into the drainage leading to Sundance Canyon. A few obstacles and mossy narrows teased us before getting to the actual slot section. A couple of slides/handlines into full swimmers (wetsuit definitely recommended even in early July, when we went) led to a short rappel that's avoidable if you're cool with jumping into a murky pool without scouting first. All too quickly, the narrows ended and we got to the big 180-footer, a think-twice lip overlooking the floor below. The rappel is partially free-hanging, and incredible, definitely among my favorite rappels to date. The cathedral-like bottom had us gawking for a minute as we looked up at where we came from. We found someone's cut hair at the base – I suppose s/he got it caught in a rappel device. Ouch.

From the mouth of Sundance Canyon, we crossed West Clear Creek a few times and located the trail back up to the plateau above. It's steep, but easy to follow once you locate it.

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Dropping east from the forest road into the drainage leading to Sundance Canyon.
Dropping east from the forest road into the drainage leading to Sundance Canyon.
Some fun minor obstacles before getting to the narrower stuff.
Some fun minor obstacles before getting to the narrower stuff.
Image 2 from gallery
Image 3 from gallery
A log downclimb before the first rappel.
A log downclimb before the first rappel.
A big pool with some nice lighting.
A big pool with some nice lighting.
A slide.
A slide.
Another slide, or optional rappel.
Another slide, or optional rappel.
Another optional rappel, we slid.
Another optional rappel, we slid.
A very pretty open section shortly before the big rappel.
A very pretty open section shortly before the big rappel.
Image 10 from gallery
Another rappel or slide, we rapped this one.
Another rappel or slide, we rapped this one.
Just after the last slide, we got to the final rappel.
Just after the last slide, we got to the final rappel.
Looking down the final Sundance Canyon rappel.
Looking down the final Sundance Canyon rappel.
Looking back up the rappel. It was a favorite big rappel for me.
Looking back up the rappel. It was a favorite big rappel for me.
Close-up of Matt on the right.
Close-up of Matt on the right.
Another shot of the gorgeous room-like feature.
Another shot of the gorgeous room-like feature.
Image 17 from gallery
Looking out of the canyon from the base of the rappel.
Looking out of the canyon from the base of the rappel.
Shortly after the last rappel, we got to West Clear Creek, which required a few sections of wading.
Shortly after the last rappel, we got to West Clear Creek, which required a few sections of wading.
Image 20 from gallery
West Clear Creek.
West Clear Creek.
Approaching the escape out of West Clear Creek on the left.
Approaching the escape out of West Clear Creek on the left.
Class 2 stuff up the escape from West Clear Creek.
Class 2 stuff up the escape from West Clear Creek.
Image 24 from gallery
Looking down the way we came.
Looking down the way we came.
A short trail back to the trailhead.
A short trail back to the trailhead.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

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