Rappelling - Red Ledges, Spanish Fk Cyn 4/25/26

Itinerary -

9-930 instruction

930-11:30 am rappel beginner area

11:30-1230 - lunch/set up 

1230-330 - Arch rappel

Directions - Red Ledges Picnic Area, Diamond Fk Cyn, Spanish Fk Cyn

Rappelling - There are several great rappel spots here.

Sun Rock (Beginner section) -  3 - 40 ft rappells - 2 bolted and one off a tree. Straight ahead of the parking lot past the bathrooms about 100 ft and then take a right up a small gully to a boulder about 10 feet high and 30 feet long. There were hand lines hanging off of this. Scramble up boulder to base of 40 ft rappel area with 2 bolted routes and one bolt/tree anchor on the right. Access from the left and then scramble up right to the top.

Arch (Advanced section) - 80 ft rappel from bolts. This is accessed to the right of the parking lot and around the right side of the arch and up to the left. There is a 20 ft scramble and then 15 ft traverse that is nice to set up with a hand line for those not great at rock climbing. There are 2 sets of bolts at the top of the arch with multiple single bolts for safety lines. This is about 80 ft with mostly a hanging rappel. Can also be accessed from above by hiking up past Sun rock and then scramble down. https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106466736/red-ledges

Tips:

Hiking to arch rappel from the top is possible, steep, but limited skill needed. Partner assist is helpful to lower to staging area with bolts. If climbing up the same route as the handline, it was helpful to have partner assist to the tree, then from there to the top. We set a static line from the top bolts (use bolts on the vertical wall face - the bolts nearer the edge spin). We redirected the static handline to the tree at the midpoint of the climb. Assistant trip leader positioned at the tree. Participants used a prussik attached to their harness to climb this section with partner assist. Then a quick draw with 2 locking carabiners was attached to them for the second section (it was tighter so limited ability to fall)

Gear - Harness (can rent), climbing helmet (can rent - can use ski helmets but not bike helmets), leather gloves, thin T-shirt, thin long-sleeve shirt, fleece, rain jacket, shorts or hiking pants, running shoes or boots, 1 L water , 2-4 snacks, small backpack, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, first aid kit.

Rentals -

Harness: ($6/day BYU Outdoors)

Helmet: ($4/day BYU Outdoors; $6/day UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)

Sun Rock

Arch