Canyon Falls Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
-
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache will take you through a small secluded canyon with high
walls and a couple good-sized waterfalls. It is a relatively short
hike--about 2 1/4 miles round trip--without much elevation gain.
(This cache was placed in August and the water was flowing strong
through the canyon at that time.) Most of the terrain along the
hike would be rated about a 3 but the cache is rated a 4.5 due to
one ~30' section of climbing that would probably be considered
Class 3 climbing. However, it shouldn't require technical
equipment. I climbed it with my 3-year-old daughter on my back so
it can't be too bad.
The hike starts from the Achenback Canyon trailhead N 32° 17.258
W 106° 36.081. This can be reached by taking Soledad Canyon Rd.
to Ladera Canyon Rd. and turning left after .6 miles (just past the
3 dumpsters). You can park pretty close to the trailhead.
Follow the trail for about .2 miles then leave the trail heading
southeast at about N 32° 17.278 W 106° 35.890. Hike in that
direction for about .6 miles heading up and over the small saddle
and down through quite a bit of pokey vegetation until somewhere
around N 32° 16.752 W 106° 35.734 where you'll turn and head
east. In about .2 miles you'll reach the beginning of the canyon at
the bottom of the large waterfall at about N 32° 16.736 W 106°
35.500. (This is where climbing is required.) You'll notice an
obvious spot to climb up about 20' left (north) of where the water
actually comes down the fall. There are good hand and foot holds
all the way up. When you get to the top, continue through the
canyon until you reach the cache at the other end--just about 400'
away. You'll have to do some minor scrambling to get around a
couple smaller falls in the canyon. You'll see another large
waterfall as you approach nearer to the cache site.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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