Canyon (Canyoneer) Montana

Trinity Falls Canyon

Introduction:

The Beartooth-Absorka range holds many gems, including the highest point in Montana, however located just north lies a crown jewel. Trinity falls canyon, named from the church camps that sit beneath its moody fall line, holds itself as one of the best canyons in the region. While not destined to be world class, this canyon packs a hard punch in a short distance. With its relatively easy approach and even easier exit, this objective is a perfect weekend excursion. However don’t let its size fool you, this is also one of the meanest canyons in the area. With its CFS rarely below swift water, expect a fast moving adventure. Those who do not have strong swift water skills should look elsewhere, for this canyon holds strong hydraulics that often look to catch you off guard.

Stats:

Technical rating: 4C3 II R (V3A4II**)

(Technical rating will drop from a 4 to a 3 when anchors are placed, this canyon has been GHOSTED)

Time needed: 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours.

Number of rappels: 6 - 8

Number of downclimbs 0 (lots of small boulder hopping)

Longest rappel: 70 feet (largest “drop” is only actually 40 feet)

Distance round trip: 2.9 Miles

Elevation gain/loss: 688 feet

Significant hydraulics: Boils and a recirculating hydraulic

Special recommendations: This canyon should be bolted. Once bolted, this canyon will be one of the best canyons in the region. Some of its charm is lost to finding and rigging complex retrievable systems off boulders.

Season: Late July - September

Getting there:

From Livingston: Get onto highway I-90 E, for 29 miles until you reach the town of Big Timber.

Take exit 367 off highway I-90 E and under the overpass, take a right to go into the town of Big Timber.

Once you take a right you are now on highway US-191. Follow this until you reach Big Timber’s McLeod Street.

Once at McLeod Street follow until the street turns to highway 298. Follow this highway for another 25.7 miles.

Enjoy the beautiful farm and ranch land.

Eventually you will reach natural bridge falls picnic area, here the road turns into a fairly well maintained dirt road.

Follow the dirt road 5.1 miles, here you will go past a ranger station on your right, wave as you go by.

Eventually there will be a bridge that the road uses to cross the boulder river. BEFORE this bridge is a road on the right side. Take this dirt road for 200 feet to Falls Creek trailhead. Park your car. Congrats, you are at the start!

The approach:

From the trailhead, follow the path, until you reach a split. There should be a wooden sign. Take the right path, the left path is the exit.

Follow the path for 1.31 miles, eventually you will begin to hear the creek bed roar below you. Follow the trail until it takes a hard switch back to your right. Do not follow the path anymore. To your left, you will see the trail go down into a badly eroded steep slope to the creek bed. Follow this down without falling.

Wow, that was easy, you’re at the start. Time to suit up!

The fun part:

Ah, here we go, the fun begins. Straight from your suit up spot you run into your first rappel, it can also be walked around to your right.

Rappel 1 (8 feet): You will see the water roll off into a small pool below. The drop does not seem that far down, its not, but its also only knee deep. Do not jump and anchor off a fallen tree behind you, or walk around it to your right.

Now its time to scramble down some boulders and slide around on your butt. Then about 40 feet down canyon you will run into a drop that almost looks downclimbable, its not. This is rappel 2.

Rappel 2 (50 feet): At the top of the drop there is a boulder that splits the water course, choose the right side. From there, rig off of one of the small trees, DCL. This is a small two stage, so rappel down the slabby slope into the small pool below. DO NOT PULL YOUR ROPE. Walk a couple feet and finish off the rappel with a 5 foot drop. Now pull.

Oh sweet more boulder hopping, followed by a large fallen tree over a small drop. Down climb this DCL.

Oh sweet more boulder hopping, until you reach a drop 40ish feet down canyon. This is rappel 3.

Rappel 3 (15 feet): Before the drop, DCR you will find a large healthy tree. Rappel off of this. Take the DCR side of the water course.

Walk a couple feet down canyon and there will appear to be another downclimb, go DCL so you can use the large boulder and smooth rock wall to your advantage. Be very careful at the start. There is a small boulder that the water goes above and below. Its not quite large enough to become a siphon problem, but it could mess up your knee.

Walk a couple more feet down canyon, you’ll run into a slabby slide that the water rushed through. A bolt is needed DCR to descend this. Do not attempt to slide this. The pool below is not deep.

Instead go DCL next to a small pine tree. Rig off of the pine tree as rappel 4.

Rappel 4 (10 feet): Choose the pine tree DCL, please be easy on the poor tree. Bolts need to be place on this rappel to prevent serious damage to the flora.

Walk a couple more feet until you see the water plunge down into a slot this is rappel 5.

Rappel 5 (35 feet): DCR there is a sturdy tree, rig onto this and rappel into the slot, enjoy watching the powerful water, crush the wall to the descenders left. The pool below is not quite a swim, but is close. In high flow this could become a boil.

After you pull the rope, you are now in what we like to call bowling ball alley. In really high flow, onlookers can here the river rocks bounce around in this semi-slot. About 40 feet down canyon you will run into rappel 6.

Rappel 6 (16 feet): DCR is a tree, rig off of this into the pool below, good luck keeping your feet under you. The water is a bit angery here. The pool below is not a swim.

NOTE: Right after rappel 6, there is an emergency exit. Getting out of the water is the hardest part, however this is the last chance to get out of the canyon before it becomes total commitment.

The trinity falls section:

Okay, now for the real fun

Rappel 7 comes in right after 6. The canyon bends left and turns into another falls. A boulder splits between the water and treed embankment. Putting bolts on this boulder is needed desperately. We will get around to it, however, if you beat us to it. Please place accordingly.

Rappel 7 (35-40 feet): Choose a good anchor (or bolt if its been placed) and rappel the water course. This rock is very slick and turns into a bit of a rooster tail.

Pull the rope immediately there is a second rappel that falls into a plunge pool, be careful the bottom of this drop often has a boil that can be tricky to get out of if you do not set the rope length to.

Rappel 8 (20 - 100 feet): This rappel’s length depends on how skilled you are with risk and stemming/swimming. If you are a good climber and are a strong swimmer. You can just rappel into the plunge pool and play through the crux of the canyon. In moderate too high flow’s the crux is unlikely survivable and partys should bail DCR up a small ramp after rappel 7. There is a sketchy but suitable anchor to catch a ledge above the crux, then a tree will provide an additional anchor for escape. However, if the flow appears passable, you can pull a large rope length to finish the last section of the canyon .

Final section (crux): The final section has a dangerous recirculating hydraulic. In moderate flows, this hydraulic will prove difficult and life threatening. Using the same anchor and rope from Rappel 8, set the length of your rope perfectly into the turbulent pool below. This recirculating hydraulic is likely undercut, so you must be confident in your ability to catch the out-current. Failing to catch the out- flow may prove to be life threatening in all but the lowest flows. BE CAREFUL. Once out of the hydraulic you will find ANOTHER small drop. This should probably be completed via rappelling, but may be done as a technical jump/slide into the pool below.

The exit:

Trinity Falls has a great exit. At the bottom of the last falls, hug the bottom of the ridge DCL until you hit a trail. Follow the trail that goes down next to the creek, NOT up the ridge.

You will eventually pass an old cabin, check it out and continue down trail!

Follow the trail for 1.19 miles back to the parking lot