Cardenas Route
Vital Statistics
Mileage
Lipan Point to Colorado River at Cardenas Creek:
App. 5.5 miles
Maps
7.5’ Desert View Quad
15’ Vishnu Temple Quad
Elevation Change
7288’ to 2640’
Trailhead Access
Lipan Point (Tanner Trail), Escalante Route and Colorado River near Cardenas Creek.
Trail Description
Follow the Tanner Trail about 2-3 miles from Lipan Point until midway between Cardenas Butte and Escalante Butte. This part of the trail traverses along the top of the Redwall formation. Leave the trail here and climb the slope to the saddle between the buttes nearest to Cardenas Butte. The west side of the saddle drops off sharply into the Redwall. The object now is to reach a level promontory down and to the north and west of Cardenas Butte. Begin contouring at the level of the saddle along ledges into the Supai formation. There are a number of levels at which you can do this traverse. Several small ravines will be crossed as you traverse and descend to the promontory.
This promontory sits atop the Redwall formation. Directly to the north a gully offers an easy descent through the Redwall. Near the bottom of this in the Muav formation a small dropoff blocks progress. This can be avoided without much trouble to the right. To continue down this gully would end In large cliffs. Contour further to the right (north) to a large promontory of the Toronto Plateau.
There are two routes from this point to the river. The first descends into the large bay to the west and into the Cardenas drainage This is the most difficult part of the route. From the promontory’s saddle contour along the edge of the plateau until it bends to the west. A gully leads down through the Tapeats here. Start down this break staying on the left side of the gully and climbing from ledge to ledge. At the bottom of the gully contour along the base of the cliff to the right (north). Continue along the base several hundred yards till it reaches a shoulder. Go down this to a short basalt cliff which can be downclimbed directly at the point are unstable and kind of a pain. The remainder of the route is just walking down the drainage. Watch for cairns where the Escalante Route crosses the drainage.
The other route descends through the gently descending grassy drainage on the northeast side of the promontory. This soon spills off the Tapeats in a drop-off of 40-50 feet. Contour right (east) until you can climb into the drainage on the right. Then you must contour along the base of the Tapeats around the small bowl below the previous drop-off. Continue along the base of the Tapeats, crossing the small northern saddle and back along the northeast-facing side of the promontory, until you reach the second drainage which is rocky and difficult. This drainage is crossed by two small basalt ridges that can both be downclimbed. The second must be negotiated by going 20 yards to the left. It would be helpful to have parachute cord to lower packs and make the down climbing easier. Once you reach the bottom of the drainage you can go in any direction to the river.
Notes
This interesting route was probably used by Indians in earlier times. There is no trail and some routefinding skills are needed. Though not especially exposed, some rockclimbing experience is useful through the Tapeats and Basalt. This route is located within the Zuni Point corridor for tour aircraft. You may see and hear a significant amount of air traffic during your trip.
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