North Fork Coal Canyon and Slipper Arch

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...SC00429_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...SC00430_12.jpg
Easy trail in the wash

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA...SC00433_12.jpg
Large alcoves

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA...SC00434_12.jpg
An even larger alcove?

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA...SC00435_12.jpg
Not at all, this is Slipper or Swazeys Arch

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA...SC00436_12.jpg
Details

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA...SC00442_12.jpg

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA...SC00443_12.jpg

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA...SC00444_12.jpg
Southern end of Fix It Pass

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA...SC00448_12.jpg
Fix It Pass is a mess

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA...SC00445_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.