Tabeguache Falls

This beautiful waterfall surges over a big drop into a pool way down in the North Fork Tabeguache Creek canyon. When formed, it is reminiscent of Cornet Falls in Telluride--a huge cauliflower cone leads to a steep, hollow tube.

Continue up easy ice at the top to a small tree where the creek levels off. Rappel from here or ramble up the scenic streambed to a 10 foot WI2 step with epic deadwood sticks. A single 70m rope should get you down from the tree--a 60 does not reach.

This has southern exposure, so catching it and the access roads in reasonable shape can be extremely tricky. In typical form it may be a bit sun-baked.

From Delta, head west on 25 Mesa Road (accessed from Confluence Dr/CO 348 from the north or B Road from the south). After around 8 miles, the road turns to dirt. After 27 miles a gate is reached just before the junction of 25 Mesa and Cottonwood Rd/FS 504. There is a seasonal closure from this point; however, the road is maintained for logging operations until April 1st. Once, I couldn't even reach the gate after a storm dumped a couple feet of snow on the road, then in March of that year we found the gate locked, and it was open the following January--best to call GMUG for status. From the gate continue on 25 Mesa another 5.3 miles, then bear left to stay on 25 Mesa/Nucla-Delta/FS 503 just under a mile to Columbine Pass and the junction of Divide Road and Nucla-Delta. This can be easy to miss, as the logging operations continue left on Divide. Bear right into the snow to stay on Nucla-Delta as it begins to descend south off the plateau. This road is not maintained from here but is often tracked by snow machines. After 1.6 miles bear right (west) on Copper King Rd/FS 602. This road descends 6.2 miles to the trailhead for Indian Trail #500, 14 miles from the seasonal gate and 8 miles from the plowed road.

Hike down the Indian Trail just under 1.5 miles, then bushwhack 1/4 mile southwest off the trail down a scrub oak infested, 40 degree dirt and scree gully to the creek. Multiple gullies go, but some don't. Once in the creek bottom, turn right and walk briefly upstream to the falls.

Ouch.

Or maybe, from Nucla, head north on the Nucla-Delta road east of town. The turnoff for Copper King Rd is reached after 20 miles. Much of that distance is likely not driveable most winters.

A 70 or 80m rope and ice screws.