Black Magic Canyon
verified
ACA 2A
High flood risk
Shoshone, ID
Surreal basalt slot carved by the Big Wood River, dry most of summer when the irrigation diversion is running. Looks like nothing else in Idaho.
The water hazard is artificial: an upstream irrigation district can release flow into the channel with no warning. Verify the canal is diverting before entry. Rattlesnakes are common along the rim. Park at the unmarked pullout just past the canal bridge.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Shoshone Field Office |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. Access is via Kinzie Butte Road just after the bridge over the Big Wood River irrigation canal. |
| Distance | 1.8 RT |
| Elevation | ~40 ft loss on descent, ~70 ft gain on exit |
| Time | 1-3 hr |
| Technical | Grade 2A I (v2a1 II). 0 to 1 rappel max 15 ft. One easy chimney scramble. Basalt walls sculpted by the Big Wood River into smooth flutes and bowls. No swims required when the canyon is dry. |
| Season | Jul-Sep when the irrigation canal is open and the canyon is dry. Accessible through winter. |
| Flood risk | High and unusual. The canyon can fill from periodic releases of the Milner-Gooding Canal upstream, not from weather. Local guidance: if there is any water in the canyon, do not go. |
| Vehicle access | 2WD |
| Crowd | Light, occasional rattlesnake hikers and photographers |
| Coordinates | 43.0775, -114.3047 |
Sources
- ropewiki: https://ropewiki.com/Black_Magic_Canyon