Na-Gah Fork of Shinob Canyon Capitol Reef NP

[french_de]

Don’t get me wrong. I have never been the one that goes looking for the Disney experience - not that there is anything wrong with that. I usually don’t wus too much when it comes to bust-ass canyoneering. I really enjoy most of the physical aspects of the sport. As I have gotten older though, some canyoneering routes have become more appealing than others. I really like the ones that once you have finished the good stuff it is not too much of a hop and a skip to be at the exit vehicle where the cold drinks await. This is a short but very nice half day canyon.

It was an awesome Sunday in Capitol Reef NP. Temps were in the 70’s with a occasional cool gentle breeze and the Sun casting Fall shadows off the towering cliffs. The approach hike and climb to Na-gah is entertaining with some zigzag hiking, a little scramble-climbing and lot's of fine scenery all the way up. We expected water but found only a couple of shallow pools in the slots. There are 3 rappels in the canyon – all bolted. We replaced the brittle multicolored dabs of webbing at each rappel station. The last rappel exits into the main fork of Shinob and from here it was a short walk to the parking area.

Thanks to my canyoneering partners who made it a great day

Thanks to Dave Huth for pictures

Special thanks to Luke of BluuGnome for sharing and Beta
And thanks to the person he mentions in his beta for sharing the canyon with him.

Doug French

[ratagonia]

Nice. Looks fun.

T

[The Good Cop]

Looks great, thanks for sharing! Wish I had the time to share more than the approach hike back in May with the great folks who did it then...sometime soon, I hope.

Cheers,

Wayne

[Iceaxe]

I need to get back down to Capitol Reef.... those are really the closet canyons time wise to SLC.

Thanks for the TR.

[yetigonecrazy]

Nice! That looks like a lot of fun. Im going to be down that way in a couple weeks, looks like I might have to add a canyon to the list....

[Brian in SLC]

Sweet!

[davehuth]

We had a nice conversation with a Park Ranger, who was at our vehicle before we had a chance to get into those cold beverages, as soon as we returned to our vehicle. The first words out of the Ranger's mouth: "Which one of you is the guide?" Make sure to follow the rules in the National Park...

[Slot Machine]

... and thank you for posting a really cool TR!

Nice job!

[AJ]

We had a nice conversation with a Park Ranger, who was at our vehicle before we had a chance to get into those cold beverages, as soon as we returned to our vehicle. The first words out of the Ranger's mouth: "Which one of you is the guide?" Make sure to follow the rules in the National Park...

What are the "rules" you are referring to? I hope they aren't requiring a guide...

Nice TR and pics Doug! Thanks for sharing.

[nat]

Excellent! Looks like a nice canyon.

Nat

[davehuth]

What are the "rules" you are referring to? I hope they aren't requiring a guide...

No, they require guides (getting paid to lead people) to register, camping requires a permit, and some sections are closed to rappelling and climbing (as far as I could tell this really only affects climbers). Basically if you are going in as a private party following some published beta and not camping back country there is nothing to deal with.