Bull Valley Gorge - Bryce Area 
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RATING: 2B
LENGTH: 2-4 hours
GEAR: A short rope may be handy. < 10 m ( 33 ft )
WATER: Can be dry, or can have some wading. If wading, be mindful that
reversing the downclimbs with muddy feet will be harder.
High flashflood danger, but you can see the drainage from
the trailhead.
MAPS: Bull Valley Gorge, UT
Hype:
Bull Valley Gorge is an interesting place. The road goes over the gorge proper where a car accident occurred back in the 50's. The occupants of the car were killed, and their bodies recovered, but the car was left wedged into the gorge, and the road re-built on top of it.As you go under the bridge, the car is clearly, and somewhat eerily visible high above.Trailhead:
Head south out of Cannonville toward Kodachrome basin on the Kodachrome Basin road for 4.7 miles to the Skutumpah Road. This road is signed to Bull Valley gorge. Follow this road 8.1 miles to the trailhead on the rim of Bull Valley Gorge. There is a junction mid-way to Bull Valley Gorge where the road splits (about 5 miles). Stay left on road #500. (The other road is signed road #503.)Route:
The trailhead is right on the edge of Bull Valley gorge, and gives
impressive views of the canyon. From the car park, walk on the well
defined trail up canyon on the north side. There is a trail register
within 100M of the trailhead. Follow the trail for 10 or 15 minutes until
the canyon becomes shallow and easy to get into.
Head down canyon. The best park of Bull Valley Gorge is right above
and under the bridge. Before getting there, however, you will be faced
with several downclimbing challenges. These likely change with
every flood, but in 2007, all were fairly reasonable to downclimb
and reverse. The most difficult, a 3 m ( 10 ft ). chimney downclimb had
a fixed rope when I visited. Be careful not to downclimb anything
you cannot reverse
unless you plan on taking the optional exit mentioned below.
Just after going under the bridge, the canyon begins to open. From here
down, the canyon is a beautiful deep canyon, but you have passed the
narrowest section. You can turn around here and reverse the canyon back
to your car whenever you feel inclined.
Optional Exit: If you
continue down canyon, about 35-45 minutes below the bridge a
dirt gully comes in on the right (looking down canyon).The gully is the
first obvious, easy hike out of the canyon. It has large trees, and an
indistinct trail going up it. Hike up this to the rim, and follow an intermittent
trail back up canyon along the rim to the road. This is a great loop that
allows you to see Bull Valley Gorge from many angles. In 2007, this gully
and the trail along the rim were easy to find, and cairned.
Photos:
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