Marijuana Canyon (Or Marihuana Canyon) is another of the lesser-known, lesser-done canyons that is accessed off the Bells Line of Road and eventually flows into the lower sections of South Bowens Creek. So named after an old Marijuana plantation that was established in the upper reaches many years ago, the rubbish from which still is littering the canyon today.
There are two possible ways to access this canyon, off Range Hill Trail or off Mount Charles Trail, we chose to enter from Range Hill Trail.
As far as we know, there are no access tracks, so, we picked a spot on the map and turned 90 degrees off Range Hill Trail and entered thick scrub. This did eventually thin out, and a steep slope followed. Our initial spot on the map had quite a drop and no suitable anchor points, so, we contoured upstream a distance, for an easy descent down beside a waterfall.
Once we hit the creek that flows through the canyon, it was easy walking really with the occasional flood debris from recent floods. Along the way, we picked up quite a bit of thick black plastic which we removed from the old plantation.
A lot of the early stages are pleasant creek walking, interspersed with sections of pretty cascades and crystal clear pools. It does take a while before you reach the first abseil into a very deep, clear, cold pool, the start of which was a little dodgy, but not too hard. Just make sure you check the whole anchor point rope, we checked it a few times before trusting it.
This pool was very deep and very clear, the abseil is done in two steps, the initial bit down to a landing, then the final into the pool. Just stunning!
A short section of "canyon" follows then it opens up again with glimmers of canyonesq sections, before you arrive at the second and final abseil, again, into another small, deep, jade-green pool. Flood debris needs to be manoeuvred past to start the abseil, but nothing too hard here.
At this point, you are only a few hundred metres or so from the end of the canyon and South Bowens Creek.
A few sections of canyon, nothing too narrow, but pretty and a massive chockstone which is cool.
Depending on which way you entered the canyon, may dictate how you intend to exit, as we came in off Range Hill Trail, we had decided to turn up South Bowens Creek and walk the approx 1.2kms to the traditional exit for that canyon.
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CHAPTER
00:00 Introduction and the walk in
00:51 Starting the bash into the creek system
01:30 Geared up and ready to explore
03:21 The First Abseil
04:51 The Boulder Scramble
05:48 The Second Abseil
06:49 The Chockstone
07:40 The Scramble Down To South Bowens Creek
08:02 Progress Slowed
08:31 The Easier Exit From South Bowens Creek - Not The Rope Scramble
09:43 The Summing Up (And Possible Blooper)