Range Canyon Scree-Hill Scout
Short steep scree scramble behind Range Canyon Camp to a perch above Mile Long — the day-before scouting hike for high-water Cataract.
A short, steep scramble up the scree hill behind Range Canyon Camp to a perch with a direct overhead view of Mile Long Rapids and the Button Hole feature. This is a functional pre-whitewater scout route, not a destination hike: at high water (28,000+ cfs) the features in Mile Long and the approach to the Big Drops are difficult to read from water level, and the perch gives altitude on the line the day before rowing it. The hike is measured in minutes, not hours. Sunset light on the perch is notable.
Quick stats
- Time
- 1–2 hrs
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best months
- Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Know before you go
Stay on durable surfaces. No trail maintained.
The route
Short but steep on loose scree.
- 0 mi · Range Canyon Camp — start
- — · Scree-hill perch — Mile Long overlook — Direct sightline on Mile Long and the Button Hole.
When to go
Best done in the late afternoon the day before a high-water Big Drops run.
Safety & hazards
Scree slope with loose rock. Descend carefully.
History
Named here as a working title for a scouting route used from Range Canyon Camp. Not a formally named trail.