Dinosaur Canyoneering

[adamsco]

Anyone have any beta on canyoneering possibilites in the "Labyrinths" area west of Jones Hole Creek in Dinosaur National Monument? Don, Josh, Mtn_trash and I are heading out this weekend for some backpacking, fishing and exploring. Doing a good canyon up in there would be a great addition to the trip.

http://mapshare.delorme.com/Consumer/V.aspx?p=nglp4sx4

I was in there a couple years ago with my wife, but I didn't have the canyon radar turned on. I didn't go far into the labyrinths but looked down into one of the arms from above on the Island Park trail. Any tips are appreciated.

[adamsco]

Here's another map view of the area zoomed in.

http://mapshare.delorme.com/Consumer/V.aspx?p=x262m8mr

[Scott P]

Anyone have any beta on canyoneering possibilites in the "Labyrinths" area west of Jones Hole Creek in Dinosaur National Monument?

Yes. My conclusion is that the exits are simply too brushy for the canyons to be enjoyable. Ely Creek from Big Draw to the Labryrinths is a very serious thrash. Big Draw is moderately interesting, but there is only one short narrowish section and there are much better canyons around so it's probably not worth it in my opinion.

My suggestion is that Jones Hole and lower Ely Creek to the rim at Big Draw is a wonderful and very scenic hike, but taking ropes for the technical side canyons is not worth it. On the other hand, Jones Hole and lower Ely Creek are some of the best non-technical hikes around, so go anyway!

If you do descend any of the Labyrinths, do so from the head and jub back out the same way. Do not descend Ely Creek or you will be sorry.

PS, if you are looking for technical canyons in Dinosaur, the below one is much nicer:

http://www.summitpost.org/canyon/231295/scoggin-draw-outlaw-arch-canyon.html

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/225754.jpg

This isn't the right time of year to go though.

[Don]

Yes. My conclusion is that the exits are simply too brushy for the canyons to be enjoyable. Ely Creek from Big Draw to the Labryrinths is a very serious thrash. Big Draw is moderately interesting, but there is only one short narrowish section and there are much better canyons around so it's probably not worth it in my opinion.

My suggestion is that Jones Hole and lower Ely Creek to the rim at Big Draw is a wonderful and very scenic hike, but taking ropes for the technical side canyons is not worth it. On the other hand, Jones Hole and lower Ely Creek are some of the best non-technical hikes around, so go anyway!

If you do descend any of the Labyrinths, do so from the head and ju[g] back out the same way. Do not descend Ely Creek or you will be sorry.

PS, if you are looking for technical canyons in Dinosaur, the below one is much nicer:

http://www.summitpost.org/canyon/231295/scoggin-draw-outlaw-arch-canyon.html

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/225754.jpg

This isn't the right time of year to go though.

I remember reading this when National Geographic mentioned it. Very cool. I really want to see the Outlaw arch. I doubt we're going to change plans away from Jones hole, but next time...
Thanks for the advice Scott.

[adamsco]

My suggestion is that Jones Hole and lower Ely Creek to the rim at Big Draw is a wonderful and very scenic hike, but taking ropes for the technical side canyons is not worth it. On the other hand, Jones Hole and lower Ely Creek are some of the best non-technical hikes around, so go anyway!

If you do descend any of the Labyrinths, do so from the head and jub back out the same way. Do not descend Ely Creek or you will be sorry.



So you saying that Ely Creek is a no-go for travel due to thick vegetation. I'm not sure if I understand what you're saying about Big Draw though. Is it at all possible (I guess I mean reasonably possible) to hike out the back of big draw from the Ely Creek/Jones Hole Junction? What I was thinking is to hike out of the main finger of Big Draw and then drop back down into one of the fingers to the north of the drainiage.

[shaggy125]

I've thought about trying some of the canyoneering routes out there but I'm too afraid of being attacked by a dinosaur.

[Scott P]

So you saying that Ely Creek is a no-go for travel due to thick vegetation.

You could do it, but its miserable.


I'm not sure if I understand what you're saying about Big Draw though. Is it at all possible (I guess I mean reasonably possible) to hike out the back of big draw from the Ely Creek/Jones Hole Junction?

There's a trail to the rim in the south arm of Big Draw. You can circle around to the head of Big Draw and descend it, but it really isn't worth it. Going to the rim in the south arm of Big Draw is a good hike.

Here are views from the rim:

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/411912.JPG

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/411913.JPG

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/411911.JPG

Here's the good part of Ely Creek (lower end) before it becomes an extreme bushwhack. This part is worth seeing:

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/411906.JPG

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/411908.JPG

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/411909.JPG

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/411904.JPG

The upper end of the canyon (Ely Creek) is an extreme thrash. After taking the photos above, my brother and I scouted it out in hopes of doing the same thing you propose (only my brother and I were going to do the technical part), descending the Labyrinths by ropes and out Ely Creek, but Ely Creek was such a thrash that we gave up on the idea even though we packed all our ropes along.