Barney Springs Canyon (4BIV)

Location: Coconino National Forest
Rating: Advanced Canyoneering 4BIV
Length: 8-16 hours
Mileage: ~10.1 miles
Longest Rappel: 150ft (45m)
Start: Crater Tank
End: West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead
Permits: None (National Forest parking fee. Info: 928-282-4119)
Wet Suit: Yes
Shuttle: Yes

Warning. This canyon is technically rated because of a very large keeper-hole. This poses a serious danger to those who are unprepared.

Overview: Barney Springs Canyon offers technical fun, pools, scrambling, slots, etc. Bring a bolt kit just in case natural anchors are not found, but spare the landscape if you can. Bring extra webbing and rings to leave around natural anchors. The canyon is deep, with high walls and some narrow sections. The water is expected to be very cold - wet suites required! The adventure begins in a vegetative area and progresses through a beautiful canyon.

Approach: Spot a car at the West Fork of Oak Creek trailhead. From Flagstaff, head south on Hwy 89A. After approximately 16.5 miles from Flagstaff. Look for Shady Ln. on the right. Spot a car here in this parking spot. Then head back to Flagstaff.

From Route 66 (Hwy 40), just west of Flagstaff, exit Woody Mountain Rd (service rd #231) and head south. After 18 miles, you’ll cross West Fork of Oak Creek. Continue south. At the junction, after 2 miles, turn southeast on #231. Follow for a few miles more to Crater Tank and park here. A total of 23.5 miles from the exit of Flagstaff. Head north and follow the drainage as the wash begins to develop into a canyon. Head down the canyon to your spotted car.

Completing the Canyon: The canyon offers much vegetation in the beginning. After a short tour, rappelling begins with the first narrow section. There is an escape route if the weather changes or your party is having trouble on the left as another tributary enters the canyon. Moving past the escape route means dedication to the end of the canyon. Rappelling setup is not always easy to find in the canyon, but natural anchors and chockstones may have webbing in place.

Rappel #4 can be tricky; avoid rappeling into the narrow crack. At rappel #8, you'll find a large, very cold, and slick keeper-hole. Keeper-holes are very dangerous and need planning as you approach them. It's 30ft drop to the keeper-hole and another 50' drop at rappel #9 immediately after. Use the anchor at rappel #8 for both descents. Send one person to analyze the hole. Once they can get out, they may assist all others. If all else fails, ensure you have the equipment to climb back up the rope. Tyler Williams mentions you may avoid the keeper-hole by climbing up the right or left side of the canyon and tying off to a tree for a rappel of ~150ft.

Your final rappel is rappel #10 ~60ft before you enter West Fork of Oak Creek. Depending on where you spotted a second car, you'll turn up or down this immense canyon. If you go up the canyon, you will wade in many pools, scramble over boulders, and bushwack through considerable brush before finally reaching a road and your vehicle. If you head down the canyon after about half a mile of pushing through brush, it is a more leisurely hike, with the last 3 miles following a well-established trail. To print the map below select the "View Larger" icon and then select the 3 dots icon to "Print Map".