Canyon (Canyoneer) Montana

Little Rock Canyon

Introduction:

The Bitterroots are not known for their technical drainages, their shear walls and pointed peaks often give the annotation that there’s gold in these mountains. And frankly, there is, if you know where to look. A small but impactful canyon can be found above the gorgeous lake of como, and below the picturesque como peaks. Charlie Russel would have certainly been impressed by this range's unmatched moody behavior. Little Rock Canyon is a great choice for a small full day outing. With a small amount of rappels overlooking the lake, the canyoneers ability to stay on their feet will be tested. Not just because of the water, but the smooth granite that has been washed away for eons.

Stats:

Technical rating: 3C1 III (V3A2II**)

This canyon has suitable anchors for intermediate canyoneers.

Time needed: 5 - 6 1/2 hours.

Number of rappels: Low entrance 3, High entrance 4.

Number of downclimbs: Low entrance 3, High entrance 4-6

Longest rappel: 70 feet

Distance round trip: Low route 5.6 Miles, High entrance (without shuttle) 6.95 Miles, High entrance (with shuttle) 3.88 Miles.

Elevation gain/loss: 603 feet

Significant hydraulics: High flow in certain areas

Special recommendations: Expect slick rock.

Season: Late July - September

Getting there:

From Missoula: Take Highway 93 South through Missoula (also known as the dreaded reserve street. Follow until Highway 93 terminates into Brooks Street.

Take a right onto Brooks Street, follow through traffic until Brooks Street turns back into highway 93 South (by technicality they are all the same street/highway).

Continue down highway 93 South for 29.1 miles. Expect heavy law enforcement presence, the Bitterroot drivers are notoriously reckless.

Highway 93 then technically terminates into US-95, however, for you there will be no change. Continue on the highway for 26.5 more miles.

Soon you will go through the towns of Ward and Como. Your exit will be a dirt road on the RIGHT side of the highway (welcome to Montana)

Take a right onto Lake Como Road.

Follow Lake Como Road for 2.9 Miles

Lake Como Road will split, take the left branch. You should be heading to the South side of the reservoir.

After the left, follow the road to the Rock Creek Trailhead (in other words do not take any more lefts or rights. Just stay on the road until you hit the trailhead at 46.06028, -114.23457

The approach:

The lower parking lot located at 46.06028, -114.23457 will be fairly developed and you will want to begin on the Rock Creek trail. This trail leaves the parking lot towards the lake, and you will need to follow it 2.45 Miles. Th trail will follow the southern banks of lake Como, enjoy the views!

Eventually, you will run into Little Rock Creek, and it’s time to participate in everyone’s favorite part. Brush.

Cross Little Rock Creek and take a left off the trail. This is marked at 46.04440, -114.27819. Also keep in mind there is a small but feisty ride that passes on the lookers right of the creek. Thats what you need to climb up. We recommend just following up the drainage from its right edge until you hit the drop in point. This is .26 Miles as a crow flies, however it won’t be easy.

The start of the technical portion of the canyon is at 46.04037, -114.27740. Fight your way up the creek until you find the creek bed become nothing but smooth bed rock. Congrats, you’re at the start of the fun.

Note: The upper approach and section of the canyon is no longer worth travel. Recent storms have created large piles of dead fall. Please use the lower parking lot approach.

The fun part:

LOWER ENTRANCE (Now the preferred section of the canyon).

Descend the slick rock within the water course. There are about two small down climbs within this section. I will not talk about their beta, because I believe in your abilities, they are also under 10 feet but are directly in the flow.

The slick rock will eventually begin to flatten out and you will see the canyon drop away with Lake Como in the background, you are seeing the top of rappel 2.

Notice: After completing rappel 1, you are committed in a very open gorge for at least two more rappels. There are no emergency exits without significant climbing exposure.

Rappel 1 (65 feet): Carefully walk through the water flow and go DCL to gauge if it’s possible to cross the stream at the falls and use the traverse bolt in the middle of the watercourse below the first ledge. Due to the shortness of the traverse line, use the rappel bolts on the other side to rig the MMO on the traverse. While not very exposed this traverse is pretty slick. It is best done with a self belay to the bolts. In high flow this traverse line may be very difficult to access and a different anchor may need to be built.

Pack up rope and walk a short distance into a slabby downclimb. Be careful. You are above rappel 2, however one may convince themselves that it’s a downclimb. It’s not.

Rappel 2 (35 feet): On the far side of the water course DCR there is a crack with a single bolt. With some searching you should find it. It does require you to cross moving water.

Wade out of the pool for rappel 3.

Rappel 3 (15 feet): Look DCL, there is a wedged dead tree, its strong enough to simu-rappel off of, if it somehow moved, get creative. Rappel 15 feet into a difficult pool to escape. It’s not a swimmer, just a sloped bottom. Climb out.

Now the canyon opens up and you have two options, go DCL and scramble down boulders back down to the trailhead, or go DCR and find yourself a spicy down climb (or rappel).

Downclimb 2 (10 feet): You will find a obvious drop with a large boulder on the left. You can slide under the boulder down to the ground but it’s quite tricky for anyone under 6 foot (like me). You can also get your head stuck between the drop and the boulder so use caution.

Hey, you did it. Follow the slabby water and creek until you hit the trail approximately 400 yards away.

The exit:

Follow the water path until a bridge goes over the creek, get onto this trail and take a right. Follow the path 2.44 miles along the lake back to your vehicle.