Canyon (Canyoneer) Montana

In and Out Canyon

Introduction:

Unlike the name suggests, this canyon does not serve fast food, but it does serve some opportunities to test your skills. In and Out canyon contains 4 technical sections. The first three are pretty suitable for most parties. The last section could prove dangerous for the underprepared. This canyon feels indecisive about what it wants to be, the first section has low-angle slides/rappels to 70 ish feet. Then some nasty bushwhacking, followed by a short but ominous slot which does require basic sequencing. Some more bushwhacking, an obstacle or two, and some unexpected undercuts. Followed by a deeper but short slot and a swim. Some more creek walking and sliding, only to be finished with a shallow slot that has a dangerous hydraulic at the end. Fun for the whole group! Well, that is if you all like hard approaches for non-extravagant canyons. We will note, that this is a fun canyon, but will you need to be in the right headspace. The canyon is pretty, but it does not excel in any major category. It is something to do, and boy did we enjoy its “to do” part.

Stats:

4C1 IV ** (V2A2II**)

Time needed: 9 - 12 hours

Number of rappels: 7 - 10

Number of down climbs: 0 - 3

Longest rappel: 70 feet

Distance round trip: 7.39 miles

Elevation gain/loss: 2,198 feet

Significant hydraulics: Recirculating Undercuts

Special recommendations: Bear spray

Season: July - October

Getting there:

From the fine establishment known as West Glacier:

Immediately jump onto Going to the Sun Road (Glacier route 1 road) and follow it over Logans Pass and next to the great Saint Mary’s Lake. Enjoy the views, you follow this road for about 35 miles to your destination. Expect delays, going to the sun road isn’t exactly a fast road.

Follow the lake until you reach the Rose Creek Trailhead indicator on the left side of your road.

Take a left into the maze of buildings and parking lots. You want to park in front of the building labeled general store. Park on the left side of it. Your trailhead is here.

The approach:

Well, from your car. Walk up the Rose Creek trail for 2.74 miles. You will gain 1,000 feet, so take your time.

Eventually you will reach a bridge and a creek crossing. This is In and Out canyon’s stream. Gauge the water here. If there is white water. Go do something else.

Continue on trail passed the bridge until you reach the next switchback (not bend). This is a good place to jump off trail and walk across the old burn towards the canyon. You’ll reach the creek shortly. You will also need to cross the creek yet again and get on the lookers right bank.

Once crossed, keep following the creek. It will begin to turn into some shallow narrows, this is the end of the last section of narrows (the 4th slot). It also indicates when you need to leave the creek and take a sharp right turn and begin to hit up hill.

This part is a bit unenjoyable. So enjoy it. Fight up the steep burned slope to the 6200’ elevation line. There is no physical indication of this, so use your map. Then begin to sidehill until you reach steep drainage. This is a “find your own way” event. Pass the stream and climb up to the top of the opposing ridge. This part is the most unpleasant part. You’ll do great.

Once on top of the ridge, you’ll find an island of healthy green trees! Neat. You’ll also find a lot of really good huckleberry bushes. Score. Walk across the flat bench towards the start of the canyon. This is somewhat of a sidehill.

The green trees will turn into a burn again, which will open up into a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. Cross the plateau and look for indication falls. This falls indicates the start of the first section of narrows.

Work your way down to the bottom of it. Suit up and wait for the sun to hit. It’s time to have fun.

You may also climb to the top of the falls to get an additional rappel in, but you will have a pretty nasty wall of marsh brush between you and it. Your call.

The fun part:

From the bottom of indication falls, work your way into the shallow slot. The fun has begun!

In and Out starts right off with some fun problem solving. Shortly after entering the slot the first obstacle appears, a very smooth drop into a chest deep pool. Do you slide it or rappel it? We suggest rappelling, because the flow does slam right into a rock wall before it jets into the pool. But if you are looking for a canyon accident, go for it champ.

Rappel 1 (30 feet off of whatever you can find): This rappel is more of a hand-line, but with no friction, parties will gain substantial speed before hitting a rock wall. So finding a good anchor may be in order. We used some Alder bushes DCL. But you do you.

Wade out of the pool and you’ll find the next challenge. A long low angle slab. Can it be walked around DCR? Absolutely! Is it as fun? Not at all. This long “drop” can be down climbed, but you may also like to anchor from burnt deadfall DCR. The bottom lands in a waist deep pool. Soon after, the next rappel rears its head.

Rappel 2 (50 feet from what ever vegetation you can sling or ghost): This is a surprisingly pretty drop that twists and turns down into another waist deep pool. Enjoy it. Retrieving your rope will be the real challenge here. Don’t stick it.

Soon the creek will flatten and become a thick riparian section. This indicates the end of the first slot. Grab the right bank of the creek as soon as possible to avoid the impenetrable wall of vegetation. Follow this brushless bank until a small ridge comes in from your right and pushes the creek left. Unfortunately, you will need to fight some thick brush before the next slot. You CAN drop into the creek and enjoy an additional rappel, however the brush will likely prove unrelenting. Instead fight the brush, while paralleling the ridge until you hit the steep embankment into the watercourse. You may rappel this or down climb it. Neither will enjoyable.

Once in the creek bed, the brush will disappear and an ominous slot will appear. You’re in for a treat. Walk down into the dark straight hallway. Soon you will encounter the first of many short but intense drops.

Rappel 3 (85 foot two stage rappel off a slung Alder bush DCL): Rig onto some brush and rappel down the first drop. Then disconnect and pull your rope to the second drop. There are NO anchors between the first and second drop. DO NOT pull your rope after the first 10 foot drop. Then set your rope length for the second drop. It is about 25 feet but far more intense than the first drop. Rappel down the second drop. Placing your back on the right wall and your feet on the left wall. Foot entrapment is a large concern here. Enjoy the awkward V slotted rappel. Then pull your rope.

Walk, 30 feet out of the cool hallway and rappel 4 will appear.

Rappel 4 (35 feet from brush found DCR): This rappel starts slippery but once you’re on vertical terrain its pretty straight forward. Rappel into a pocket grotto. Very pretty. Then pull your rope.

Fight a little bit of brush until it opens up and flat bedrock is encountered. This section is very pretty, but also very slippery. Be careful!

Follow the creek for a while until a drop is encountered. It is short, about 10 - 15 feet and slams into a wall with a large boulder to its right. Anchors here are scarce despite the vegetation. Find something to rappel off of. Or meat anchor everyone until the last person. Then have them carefully down climb the low angle falls. This can be walked around, but it is more fun to fight directly! The creek will shoot 90 degrees left and down into a small undercut embankment with dripping hanging gardens. Neat.

Walk down the creek and another drop will be encountered. This drop indicates the start of undercutting! Assume all drops now have undercut embankments. This small drop as of 2024 had a log wedge in it, so we avoided it. You may be able to find a way through, but be careful of strainers! Instead, this can be combated by rappelling or down climbing the right embankment.

Once down, be careful,. Even small 2-foot down climbs can have undercuts on the apposing banks. In high flow this could be scary!

Eventually the canyon opens up and a second creek drops in from the left. This is the conflux and a great place to snag a snack. Enjoy a rest and continue down canyon. This will likely involve some boulder hoping.

Not long after, the canyon will slot up!

This is the third slot. Continue down stream until the slot tightens and becomes impressive and loud. In high flow a rappel may be needed here. In low flow you may down climb the boulders within the slot. The end terminates into a dark deep pool. Always check the depth before jumping into the pool.

Swim out and walk to a down climb. Down climb right.

The slot will open up and creek walking will become somewhat familiar. Low angle slides will begin to appear. Enjoy them with some but scooting. Not too long after you will recognize the area. It is the approach and the last slot!

Note on the last slot: If the flow is more than just an accent flow, please exit the canyon and hike back to your car. This final section is short but involves a very dangerous hydraulic.

The last slot:

As seen from your hike in. This little section may look like the best part of the whole canyon! It is pretty fun, but also contains an undercut recirculating hydraulic. The first drop should be depth checked via rappel from a tree DCR. You will need about 140 feet of rope. After a depth check, everyone may jump into the first pool. Then swim to the ledge on the right side of the canyon. This ledge will hold no more than 3 people.

The next drop is the crux. Extend your rope to the end of the slabby drop. Make sure to NOT extend the rope into the pool. Then send your tallest person down first. 5’ 10” is about the shortest you would want. Tall people can rappel down into the edge of the pool and stem the rim of the recirculating hydraulic and cross without going into the pool. Once one person is across. Everyone else can make a leap of faith to them.

Note: Going directly into this hydraulic will likely lead to injury or death. In high flow this obstacle is impassible.

Once past the hydraulic, pull the rope and walk out of the slot. Super cool!

The rest of the canyon is open with some small drops to 35' feet. They are fun to rappel, but not mandatory. Here is a good place to take off suits and hike on back down!