rcwild
06-25-2008, 11:18 PM
AKA Segers Hole. The most technically challenging canyon in the San Rafael Swell, also one of the most beautiful. A must do for experienced canyoneers
Rating: 4B IV
Time Required: ~7-9 Hours
Longest Rappel: ~100 Feet
Permit Information
No special permits required for canyoneering.
Camping/Lodging
There is excellent camping near the airstrip at Hidden Splendor.
Preferred Season
Spring to autumn, when rain isn't threatening. Summer is ok but can be hot.
Water Concerns
Wading, swimming, water levels effecting pothole difficulty, dry or full conditions are best. High potential for flash floods. Check the weather and do not enter when rain is possible.
Special Challenges
Keeper potholes, exposed downclimbing
Equipment Suggestions
Standard Technical Gear (harness, descending device, helmet, multiple locking carabineers, slings, etc), 2 50 M ropes or a 200’ rope, ~50 feet of webbing, rap rings/links, ascending gear, pothole escape kit, shorty wetsuit or more depending on weather
Topographic Maps
USGS 7.5’ Map ‘Hunt Draw’
Directions to Trailhead
On UT-24, turn west on the Temple Mountain Road heading directly into the Reef. Pass the turn off to Goblin Valley on your left and continue past the end of the paved road and on through the Reef. The Temple Mountain Road runs northwest passing Flat Top (pt. 6480) on your left to a fork in the road at Taylor Flat. Take the left fork. After about four miles you will meet another road coming in from the right at Tan Seep. Stay left again. After about another mile you will come to yet another fork. Family Butte (pt. 7393) dominates the skyline in front of you. Stay left here and follow this road about ten miles across McKay Flat. At the next intersection one option takes you right to Tomsich Butte and Reds Canyon. However, you want to go left one more time and follow this winding road another fifteen miles or so down to the air strip at the old Hidden Splendor Mine.
*
Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
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Approach
From Hidden Splendor, hike down Muddy Creek until you reach the point where the creek leaves the reef (the Squeeze reaches Muddy Creek in a side canyon 5 minutes up the creek from this point, on canyon right looking downstream). To the west - or canyon right (looking downstream), at the edge of the reef, look for several cottonwoods (100 feet or so from the creek). You can also reach this point via 4wd road on the Factory Butte road. Hike up onto the reef, following faint trails. You will want to keep the Squeeze on your right as you head up the reef.
There are lots of theories on where you should drop in to the canyon. The goal is to land just above the technical section of the Lower Squeeze. Here is one option: As you hike up the reef, cross two drainages, and notice a long serrated ridge on the skyline on the opposite side of the Squeeze. There is a large obvious notch in this ridge. When you reach a point where you can see the Hidden Splendor area through the notch, start to look for a spot to drop into the Squeeze. This spot is roughly one mile from the bottom of the reef, and is the exit from the end of the Middle Squeeze described by both Kelsey and Steve Allen. At this writing, there is a large cairn on the canyon rim at this point. Look for a big bend in the Squeeze. Up canyon from this point is a red ramp that reaches the canyon floor. Aim for this. In the cliffband near the large cairn is a V slot that you must downclimb (easy and not exposed). Head down, angling right across a second cliff band (it doesn't look probable, but it works). Then, double back left until you reach the top of two parallel gullies. Start in the left gully. At the first flat slickrock, exit the gully and head right. Cross the second gully and cross over slickrock. Again, it looks improbable, but it does go. Follow a bush-laden ledge system to the red ramp, and take it to the canyon floor. Others may want to enter the Middle Squeeze further upstream from this point. You will likely have to rappel in, but the reward is additional narrows to explore.
Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
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Description: Standard Route
Head down canyon. Enjoy many rappels, downclimbs and keeper potholes. Many of the drops are bolted. Most of the potholes can be exited using a pack toss, but as with any canyon with potholes, bring a hooking kit for emergency use. A stick clip (for clipping a tyrolean) may be useful, but is not required. Enjoy this very scenic slot canyon, through many rappels and downclimbs.
Variation
This can be done from above, adding in the upper and middle squeeze on the Moroni Slopes... making an extremely long day.
Exit
Eventually you will reach Muddy Creek. Follow it back to your vehicle (upstream for Hidden Splendor, or downstream if you parked at the bottom of the reef).
Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate
- -
Rating: 4B IV
Time Required: ~7-9 Hours
Longest Rappel: ~100 Feet
Permit Information
No special permits required for canyoneering.
Camping/Lodging
There is excellent camping near the airstrip at Hidden Splendor.
Preferred Season
Spring to autumn, when rain isn't threatening. Summer is ok but can be hot.
Water Concerns
Wading, swimming, water levels effecting pothole difficulty, dry or full conditions are best. High potential for flash floods. Check the weather and do not enter when rain is possible.
Special Challenges
Keeper potholes, exposed downclimbing
Equipment Suggestions
Standard Technical Gear (harness, descending device, helmet, multiple locking carabineers, slings, etc), 2 50 M ropes or a 200’ rope, ~50 feet of webbing, rap rings/links, ascending gear, pothole escape kit, shorty wetsuit or more depending on weather
Topographic Maps
USGS 7.5’ Map ‘Hunt Draw’
Directions to Trailhead
On UT-24, turn west on the Temple Mountain Road heading directly into the Reef. Pass the turn off to Goblin Valley on your left and continue past the end of the paved road and on through the Reef. The Temple Mountain Road runs northwest passing Flat Top (pt. 6480) on your left to a fork in the road at Taylor Flat. Take the left fork. After about four miles you will meet another road coming in from the right at Tan Seep. Stay left again. After about another mile you will come to yet another fork. Family Butte (pt. 7393) dominates the skyline in front of you. Stay left here and follow this road about ten miles across McKay Flat. At the next intersection one option takes you right to Tomsich Butte and Reds Canyon. However, you want to go left one more time and follow this winding road another fifteen miles or so down to the air strip at the old Hidden Splendor Mine.
*
Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
- -
Approach
From Hidden Splendor, hike down Muddy Creek until you reach the point where the creek leaves the reef (the Squeeze reaches Muddy Creek in a side canyon 5 minutes up the creek from this point, on canyon right looking downstream). To the west - or canyon right (looking downstream), at the edge of the reef, look for several cottonwoods (100 feet or so from the creek). You can also reach this point via 4wd road on the Factory Butte road. Hike up onto the reef, following faint trails. You will want to keep the Squeeze on your right as you head up the reef.
There are lots of theories on where you should drop in to the canyon. The goal is to land just above the technical section of the Lower Squeeze. Here is one option: As you hike up the reef, cross two drainages, and notice a long serrated ridge on the skyline on the opposite side of the Squeeze. There is a large obvious notch in this ridge. When you reach a point where you can see the Hidden Splendor area through the notch, start to look for a spot to drop into the Squeeze. This spot is roughly one mile from the bottom of the reef, and is the exit from the end of the Middle Squeeze described by both Kelsey and Steve Allen. At this writing, there is a large cairn on the canyon rim at this point. Look for a big bend in the Squeeze. Up canyon from this point is a red ramp that reaches the canyon floor. Aim for this. In the cliffband near the large cairn is a V slot that you must downclimb (easy and not exposed). Head down, angling right across a second cliff band (it doesn't look probable, but it works). Then, double back left until you reach the top of two parallel gullies. Start in the left gully. At the first flat slickrock, exit the gully and head right. Cross the second gully and cross over slickrock. Again, it looks improbable, but it does go. Follow a bush-laden ledge system to the red ramp, and take it to the canyon floor. Others may want to enter the Middle Squeeze further upstream from this point. You will likely have to rappel in, but the reward is additional narrows to explore.
Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
--
Description: Standard Route
Head down canyon. Enjoy many rappels, downclimbs and keeper potholes. Many of the drops are bolted. Most of the potholes can be exited using a pack toss, but as with any canyon with potholes, bring a hooking kit for emergency use. A stick clip (for clipping a tyrolean) may be useful, but is not required. Enjoy this very scenic slot canyon, through many rappels and downclimbs.
Variation
This can be done from above, adding in the upper and middle squeeze on the Moroni Slopes... making an extremely long day.
Exit
Eventually you will reach Muddy Creek. Follow it back to your vehicle (upstream for Hidden Splendor, or downstream if you parked at the bottom of the reef).
Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate
- -