Destination Ideas

[ahansen60]

May 24th-28th I'm planning to head down to Southern Utah to try backpacking a new canyon. Does anybody have any suggestions? Nothing too technical, as I will not be bringing rope. I would really like to try a new area, and i would really like to hear some of your favorite spots. Here are some of the canyons I've already backpacked: Coyote Gulch, Death Hollow, Dark Canyon, Escalante River. Also if anyone wants to join let me know. At this point it is looking like it will be a solo venture thanks to my friends canceling on me suddenly. :( I have heard great things about Grand Gulch and Buckskin, but I don't think i will be able to get a permit at this point.

[Scott P]

Escalante area would be a good bet since there is wateraround. Also, some of the upper Paria canyons as well.

Some possibilities:

40 Mile/Willow
Lower Death Hollow Loop
The Gulch/Horse Canyon
Little Death Hollow/Silver Falls
Round Valley Draw/Hackberry Canyon

Gypsum Canyon is also great, but a bit rugged.

Unless you hit it during a cool period, Grand Gulch can be hot this time of year. Still OK, but water may be sparse. It's still not that hard to get a permit most of the time.

[peakbaggers]

Halls Creek Narrow. Search on trip reports. There was a nice report on this last spring I think.

[oldno7]

I'd second the 40mile/Willow area

[Scott P]

There was a nice report on this last spring I think.

Maybe mine?

Anyway, Halls Creek Narrows is a good one, but if you go in late May/June bring a lightweight pair long pants or the horseflies will eat your legs alive. They don't bother you much with long pants. That would go for places like the Gulch/Horse Canyon, Hackberry and along the Escalante River as well.

[SRG]

The Chute of Muddy Creek in The San Rafael Swell. An A+ hike. Similar to The Virgin Narrows.

[Iceaxe]

Parunuweap (The Barricks) is a good one. Normally you can't do it this early in the year but I drove past this weekend and the East Fork of the Virgin looke mild.

Parunuweap Route Description

[ahansen60]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. The 40 Mile/Willow looks pretty sweet! Can you guys give me a little more information on it? What is the best route to take? Is it possible to make it a loop? Is it a very technical hike? Are permits required? Are dogs allowed? Thanks for your help.

[Scott P]

The 40 Mile/Willow looks pretty sweet!

It's one of the best non-technical routes anywhere.

Can you guys give me a little more information on it?

Steve Allen has a good description in Canyoneering 3 as does Kelsey in the non-technical Guide to the Colorado Plateau.

What is the best route to take?

Down 40 Mile and up Willow.

Is it possible to make it a loop?

Yes.

Is it a very technical hike?

No, but it has some fun stuff.

Are permits required?

No.

You can see my trip report with many photos of the hike in the link below:

http://www.summitpost.org/adventures...-report/637939

It is certainly one of the best hikes out there.

[ahansen60]

Thanks for the info Scott. Looking at the length of that loop, it looks like it will only take a couple days to complete it. I was thinking of using the rest of my time this weekend to head over to Buckskin Gulch and dayhike from Wirepass to Whitehouse. My only problem is that I don't have a shuttle. Does anybody know of some good affordable shuttle services in that area? It would most likely be on Sunday, so I'm not sure if any shuttle services operate on Sunday?

[ratagonia]

The Chute of Muddy Creek in The San Rafael Swell. An A+ hike. Similar to The Virgin Narrows.

The Chute of Muddy Creek is a fine hike, but a poor substitute for the Zion Narrows. This year, might be dry by now, or close. I can tell you from experience, DRY, it is an exceptional trip, but not in a good way.

Outside of Zion, Cedar gnats and Green Flies are becoming a problem. Likely to get worse over the next couple of weeks.

Tom

[SRG]

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/uv...95,00300,63680

It's flowin. Less than usual obviously, but flowin.

We floated it last year around this time and it was freakin awesome, not a single boat drag. I'm sure it's a drastically different beast this year.