Hype:

Crack Canyon, as it cuts a a deep path through the reef, is a great adventure and not to be missed if you are in the Southern Swell area. It's easy access, striking scenery, and ease make it a great choice for a family hike. The hike is best in the Fall, Winter, or Spring, and can be blistering hot in the summer. It is a dog friendly hike if you use the bypasses for the most difficult sections.

Trailhead:

South of I-70 about 25 miles on Highway 95 (about 25 miles north of Hanksville), a signed road goes off to the west signed Goblin Valley. Follow this paved road 5.1 miles to a junction. Continue straight at this junction through the reef. At 7.2 miles from the highway, a good road goes off on the left. This is the behind the reef road. Reset your odometer, and follow the behind the reef road 4.1 miles to a signed trailhead for Crack Canyon. An old road goes off on the left here, but it is heavily washed out. Parking at the trailhead is advised.

Route:

From the signed trailhead, follow an old road as it heads down the wash. It gets progressively worse as you follow it toward Crack Canyon. As you near the reef, where the canyon deepens, the road ceases to exist and a wooden fence marks the end of motor vehicle travel. Follow the canyon as it cuts deeply into the reef. This first section of canyon is impressively deep with fascinating solution pocket marred walls. 10-15 minutes past the fence a short narrows section is encountered. It has a couple of easy downclimbs, or can be bypassed on the right (looking down canyon).

5 minutes past this first small narrows is an impressively undercut section. This carved out section of narrows is very photogenic in the right light. The canyon opens briefly before another short narrow section is encountered. This section has a couple of minor downclimbs, but nothing difficult.

The pattern repeats itself, as the canyon opens, and then begins to narrow again. This narrow section, however, begins with a 2 m ( 7 ft ) downclimb that can be a little tricky for some. If this seems too difficult, go back up canyon about 3-5 minutes, watching on your right (looking up canyon) for a boulder filled crack. You can ascend this crack a level, then follow a cairned trail down canyon bypassing the difficulties. This is a good bypass to take if you have dogs with you.

Continue down canyon through more open and narrow sections. Near the end a very deep narrow section is encountered, and marks the spot where the canyon begins getting shallow as it exits the reef. 20 minutes or so after the deepest section, you exit the slickrock walled canyon and enter the dirt and rock lined wash on the other side of the reef. This is a good turn around spot, return the way you came.

Photos:

Maps:

Download map(s): Map 1

My History:

I have done the Crack Canyon hike several times, most recently in the winter of 2009.

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