Canyoneering
Watson Canyon
Torrey
Overview
Elementary my dear Watson! Watson Canyon is short, straightforward, doesn't hold water, has short rappels (or challenging downclimbs), and a short approach and exit. What more could you want? Well, a more easily accessible trailhead would be helpful. Though a short approach, reaching the trailhead will require a true high clearance 4x4 and a bit of skill. Only a few miles from pavement, reaching the trailhead took us about 45 minutes. No real problem for a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but I doubt you would get a Subaru or the likes to the trailhead.
This is a canyon that I would recommend to 4wd and ATV enthusiasts. Others may find the rough approach road greatly detracts from the canyon. The canyon itself is similar to the East Fork of Sunglow. It has about 5 short drops, several of which yield well to partner assists and group spotting strategies. For those not inclined, all can be rappelled off natural anchors. A highly skilled group may get by with as little as one rappel.
Getting There
From the west side of the town of Torrey.
Route Description
From the trailhead, a wide path heads east. This is an old road that is very torn up. Follow it about 5-10 minutes (0.3 miles), then find any reasonable path to the canyon bottom that is north (left) of the road. It should be steep dirt, but easy if you look around. Once in the canyon bottom, head down canyon.
Canyon
Heading down the canyon, a nuisance drop in encountered. This 7 m drop can be rappelled or downclimbed by the highly skilled by climbing to the chockstone and then down, or you can backtrack 2 minutes and climb around it on the right looking down the canyon (south) side and re-enter the canyon just below It.
The canyon begins to cut into sandstone with a couple of easy downclimbs before dropping into a slot proper.
R1 - 19 m ( 63 ft. ) - The first drop is a series of 3 short drops. These can easily be downclimbed with a little teamwork, or rappelled if needed. If rappelling all 3 drops, it is about 19 m.
The canyon is deep and quite striking here. From here on out, the canyon rhythm is walk a short distance, encounter an obstacle, repeat!
First up is a 3 m ( 10 ft. ) rappel or awkward downclimb around a big boulder.
Next up is another 3 m ( 10 ft. ) awkward rappel or partner downclimb, followed by another 4 m ( 14 ft. ) awkward downclimb that most may want to rappel. A few more minor downclimbs present before the final rappel.
Final Rappel - 8 m ( 27 ft. ) - The final rappel is about 8 m ( 27 ft. ) down a low angle slab to the edge of a pool that was easily avoidable on our trip. Just below this, the canyon opens and a steep dirt slope comes in on the right.
Exit
Fun is over! Walk down canyon a few minutes until the steep dirt slope on the right looks palatable, then grunt up it. You are likely to pass a canyon coming in on the left before it seems palatable. If so, the up should be just after the side canyon comes in. This may require a bit of zig-zagging. Keeping a bit of a westerly heading will intersect the old road that is followed back to the trailhead.
Maps
12S 461497E 4245935N
38°21'39"N 111°26'27"W
12S 462029E 4245722N
38°21'32"N 111°26'05"W
12S 462141E 4245725N
38°21'32"N 111°25'60"W
12S 462466E 4245602N
38°21'28"N 111°25'47"W