Capitol Reef Canyons Conditions

[qedcook]

Does anyone have any info on the Capitol Reef Canyons conditions? (burro, cottonwood, and fivemile washes) Are they usually accessible this time of year?

[Iceaxe]

I don't have any current Capitol Reef information... but yes, those canyons are currently in season.

FWIW: I think Burro Wash is one of the most overlooked canyons around. If that route were in Zion it would be as popular as Mystery and Behiunin.... of course I also think Capitol Reef is the most over looked NP in the state.

Capitol Reef Canyoneering
http://climb-utah.com/Capitol/index.htm


http://climb-utah.com/Capitol/Files/burro3.jpg

[qedcook]

Kelsey's book says you can hike around from the bottom and enter, eliminating the need for a shuttle. Anyone done this before? Anyone thinking of going down there this weekend, help each other out on the shuttle?

[Iceaxe]

You really want to do Burro with a shuttle... using MK's route skips some good stuff and takes all day....

With shuttle
5 hours
4 out of 5 stars on the cool canyon scale

MK route with no shuttle
10 hours
2 out of 5 stars on the cool canyon scale

I know a lot of people bitch about the Burro Wash shuttle and I'm not exactly sure why. It's as easy as the Mystery/Orderville/Narrows shuttle, both take about 2 hours to clean up at the end of the day.

http://climb-utah.com/Capitol/Files/burro1.jpg

[nat]

You really want to do Burro with a shuttle... using MK's route skips some good stuff and takes all day....

With shuttle
5 hours
4 out of 5 stars on the cool canyon scale

MK route with no shuttle
10 hours
2 out of 5 stars on the cool canyon scale

I know a lot of people bitch about the Burro Wash shuttle and I'm not exactly sure why. It's as easy as the Mystery/Orderville/Narrows shuttle, both take about 2 hours to clean up at the end of the day.



I have to disagree with Shane about this one. 2 hours to clean up at the end plus one hour to get from the bottom to the top at the beginning of the day equals 3 hours, which is what it takes to hike up the face of the reef from the bottom. It's a beautiful hike up the face of the reef, especially in the morning, with great views. I've done all three hikes this way in about 8 hours each and found them enjoyable. On the other hand, I also prefer to do Mystery/Orderville and Englestead/Orderville this way also.

Nat

[Iceaxe]

On the other hand, I also prefer to do Mystery/Orderville and Englestead/Orderville this way also.

Nat has a good point.... if you are the type of person that enjoy's the long and pretty approach hike you will like Up the front....

But even a better route if you are this type of person.... Park at the Upper Pleasent Creek Trailhead, canyoneer down Burro Wash and than hike back up pleasent Creek. It makes a nice loop.

Note if doing this route... at the bottom of Burro not long after you cross onto BLM land (signed last time I was there). You can hike cross-crounrty along the face of the reef to Pleasent Creek. Do not hike all the way down to the Notom road.

:rockon: