Big Wash + Real Hairy (WF Big Wash)

Big Wash is a seldom descended canyon that drains the extreme northwest slopes of Grand Mesa, east of Grand Junction. The canyon cuts through what is essentially the last vestiges of the Colorado Plateau, and while it lacks any glamour slots, the canyon is an enjoyable canyoneering adventure. This route visits Big Wash, and it's largest tributary to the west, which has a short and fun section of it's own, in a fun loop hike.

Many people ask if there are any slot canyons around Grand Junction, because of it's location on the fringes of the Colorado Plateau. While the amount of slots or narrow canyons in the area is limited, there are a handful, and this little overlooked gem should be added to any GJ to-do list.

To get to the trailhead, exit I-70 at the Plateau Creek/CO Hwy 65 exit, mile marker 48, east of Grand Junction, CO. After a half a mile, you will see a bridge with a large dirt parking lot on the left. Pull off and park here. I don't know how safe this parking lot is; we didn't have a problem with it, but I certainly wouldn't leave a vehicle here overnight.

From the trailhead, look southwest. There is a ridge that extends from the mesa tops above to literally right next to the parking lot. Gain the toe of this ridge, and begin hiking up, angling lazily to the right. Note a large, prominent cliff band and battleship about halfway up. Work your way to the right of this, where you can scamper up some sketchy ledges. Amble up some more, until you reach the final cliff bands. Work your way left at these bands until you find a two-stage move involving a short upclimb, and then a hole to crawl through. This grants you access to the top, and by way of a two minute jog, the mesa tops. This should take approximately one hour.

From here, make your way vaguely southwest, or until you can see some high-tension powerlines to the south roughly one mile. Orient yourself to those powerlines, and start hiking across the mesas. Traverse in and out of several small canyons, all with exposed sandstone but no features. Try to stay at a level elevation, do not go up into the trees any. When you get underneath the powerlines, traverse around the small hill and into the head of the obvious drainage on your left.

Real Hairy starts off with several innocent downclimbs, and then you run right into the brush. A thick, 100 yard section of oakbrush is a living nightmare of an obstacle that must be crossed. If it's not your thing, consider rapping into the canyon just below here. Below this the canyon goes through a couple of nice sections of slots, nothing tight or deep, but sandstone slot canyons for sure. A couple of fun downclimbs give way to an awkward downclimb (~12') that some might rappel. Below here the slot ends, and after a couple more downclimbs a cliff band appears. Intrepid adventurers MAY be able to downclimb this; we ain't go time for that, so we rapped from a tree on the left, a total drop (never vertical) of about 60'. Below this is one more section of thick brush, another downclimb sequence, and then you climb through another hole and exit up the slope to a bench on your right [east].

Regroup on this bench. Turn right (south) and walk kinda uphill along the bench for about 100 yards, then start dropping left into the larger drainage [Big Wash] there. Traverse down and across a large dirt bowl, eyeballing your traverse route so it drops you into Big Wash just above the visible 60' drop.

Once in Big Wash proper, make your way upcanyon to the obvious narrows about 100 yards upstream. The narrows are short but beautiful, especially if you have flowing water. The canyon opens briefly above some small boulder jams, then narrows again for one more time. Turn around, above here is uninteresting.

You can either rap the big drop (it's about 60', the rap may be closer to 65', and it might be overhung), or traverse back left and scamper down into the drainage. Over the next mile there are approximately a dozen or so downclimbs, and at least one rappel. Creative teamwork will see you down most of the obstacles. Cautious canyoneers will likely rap twice in this section. One drop cannot be bypassed, as it is a spout waterfall into an overhung pool. A nice sturdy boulder, just downstream on the right (LDC), offers a great anchor. Below here the canyons becomes much easier with social trails from upstream traffic.

The exit is easy: walk down canyon. Eventually start following the social trails on the stream sides and you will be led back to your vehicle.

None at this time! I believe the land is BLM so it is very accessible.