North Fork Coal Canyon and Slipper Arch

[Hatchcanyon]

North Fork Coal Canyon in the western San Rafael Swell is one of our favorites. In 2013 we visited the canyon again. Years before we traveled the area with a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a second time with a Chevrolet Trailblazer. This time we are with a Jeep Wrangler.

Start point is where Coal Canyon divides into South and North Fork (12S 0509545 4314826). Some pictures:

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00429_12.jpg
Along North Fork Coal Canyon

Traveling the sandy wash is easy until the Spur to Devils Racetrack. Farther up it becomes narrower and deep sandy in some places.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00430_12.jpg
Easy trail in the wash

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00433_12.jpg
Large alcoves

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00434_12.jpg
An even larger alcove?

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00435_12.jpg
Not at all, this is Slipper or Swazeys Arch

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00436_12.jpg
Details

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00442_12.jpg

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00443_12.jpg

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00444_12.jpg
Southern end of Fix It Pass

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00448_12.jpg
Fix It Pass is a mess

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_N/North_Coal_Canyon/DSC00445_12.jpg
near Fix It Pass

We decided not to try the pass and turned around, leaving the Swell through Horn Silver Gulch and Dutch Flat Road to Ferron.