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Rough Canyon

Colorado > Grand Junction Area

Description

Rough Canyon is located just south of Grand Junction and is in a BLM managed area. There are a variety of sandstone cliffs around that boast some route potential. The most notable of the features in this area is Tabeguache Tower (tab-uh-watch), named after the nearby and popular Tabeguache Trail.

Getting There

To reach from Grand Jct., turn off Broadway (CO highway 340) onto Rim Rock Drive (the way to the CNM) and go 1 block, then turn left on to D Road, which soon turns into Rosevale Rd. and leads to CS Road (aka Little Park Road). Follow CS Road for approximately 5 miles (8km) to the turnoff to Rough and Bangs canyons at the first left after the crest of the hill. This is also the trailhead to the Tabeguache Trail. Park at the gravel parking area and hike 1/4 mile (.4 km) south on a rough road to a small canyon. Go left or east, following this canyon about 1/2 mile (.8 km) to where the canyon joins the large valley of Rough Canyon; some scrambling down will be involved. Tabeguache Tower will be obvious at this point, 10 minutes up the hill to the south. The tower is also visible from the rim of the canyon, a short hike down the Tabeguache trail.

Camoflauging

Please camouflage your bolts and anchors.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a PG13
 1
● Cousin It
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 3
● Uncle Fester
Trad, Sport
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 1
● Bromance
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 2
● Dead President
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 2
● Eve of War
Trad
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 3
● Guantastic
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13
 3
● The Junk Ride
Trad 4 pitches
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 21
● Lemon Squeezer
Trad 4 pitches
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 3
● Maximum Impaction
Trad 2 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 2
● Rough Rider (thanks d-ron)
Trad
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b PG13
 1
● Solar Impact
Trad 3 pitches
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b C0 R
 2
● Tabeguache Tower
Trad, Aid 3 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 2
● Waxing Gibbous
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Cousin It
 1
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a PG13 Trad
● Uncle Fester
 3
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Sport
● Bromance
 1
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
● Dead President
 2
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
● Eve of War
 2
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Guantastic
 3
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad
● The Junk Ride
 3
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13 Trad 4 pitches
● Lemon Squeezer
 21
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad 4 pitches
● Maximum Impaction
 3
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad 2 pitches
● Rough Rider (thanks d-ron)
 2
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad
● Solar Impact
 1
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b PG13 Trad 3 pitches
● Tabeguache Tower
 2
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b C0 R Trad, Aid 3 pitches
● Waxing Gibbous
 2
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Tabeguache Tower.
[Hide Photo] Tabeguache Tower.
Nate W. at the Waterfall Bypass trail.
[Hide Photo] Nate W. at the Waterfall Bypass trail.
One of the Rough Canyon falls at an unusually big flow.
[Hide Photo] One of the Rough Canyon falls at an unusually big flow.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Jesse Zacher
Grand Junction, Co
[Hide Comment] Please camouflage your bolts and anchors. I spoke with a BLM officer today and he said that if more routes go up that are visible they will try and ban new routing in the area.
Thanks,
Jesse Zacher Oct 27, 2009