Extended Lisa Falls | Little Cottonwood Canyon

Canyoneering Extended Lisa Falls - Little Cottonwood Canyon Canyoneering Extended Lisa Falls

Little Cottonwood Canyon

Overview

Sun Rain and snow showers before noon, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy. High near 45, with temperatures falling to around 43 in the afternoon. South southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
45° | 35°
Mon Snow showers before 9am, then snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then a chance of thunderstorms and rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 45. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
45° | 32°
Tue Snow showers likely before noon, then snow showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms between noon and 3pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
49° | 29°
Wed A chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then a slight chance of thunderstorms and a chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56.
56° | 31°
Thu A chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then a slight chance of thunderstorms and a chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 58.
58° | 35°
RATING: 3C
SEASON: Late Summer, Early Fall
RAPPELS: 4+ to 60 m ( 197 ft. )
WATER: Flowing once in the canyon. No wetsuit needed in hot conditions.
FLASHFLOOD: Moderate
Sun Rain and snow showers before noon, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy. High near 45, with temperatures falling to around 43 in the afternoon. South southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
45° | 35°
Mon Snow showers before 9am, then snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then a chance of thunderstorms and rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 45. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
45° | 32°
Tue Snow showers likely before noon, then snow showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms between noon and 3pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
49° | 29°
Wed A chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then a slight chance of thunderstorms and a chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56.
56° | 31°
Thu A chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then a slight chance of thunderstorms and a chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 58.
58° | 35°
Diane on a very fun downclimb
Diane on a very fun downclimb
View down canyon from where you enter.
View down canyon from where you enter.

If you are a hiker or are looking for the short version of Lisa Falls, see that trip here. If you are a canyoneer with excellent route-finding skills and a hunger for bushwhacking, read on!

This adventure extends the Lower Lisa Falls route by circling around to a higher section of the canyon and adds 4 rappels. Though the rappels and upper canyon are quite stunning, the route-finding, loose dirt, and seemingly endless scrub oak battles take away from the charm of the route. En route, we did several sections of easy 5th class climbing WITH exposure. Beginners, or really most people, are likely to find the approach frustrating and miserable. On the plus side, you will likely have the beautiful canyon to yourself until you get closer to the top of Lower Lisa Falls.

The reward for this effort is 5 lovely rappels down granite falls with big views of the south ridge of Little Cottonwood Canyon. However, I would recommend the lower section over the extended route. Motivated and skilled climbers can ascend up the canyon along the canyon floor for quite some way, and will likely enjoy that route more than the bushwack.

Lovely granite water falls.
Lovely granite water falls.
Waterfall!
Waterfall!

Full Details

To help keep the riff-raff out, and encourage participation, you must login to see the details.

Login For Full Details

Registration is free and easy.

Photos

Videos

Comments