Dwayne27
11-19-2008, 09:43 AM
Draining the southeast side of Cedar Mesa into Comb Wash is Lime Canyon. Lime Canyon is remote hike/scramble in a beautiful sandstone canyon.
Rating: 1A III
Time Required: 8-10 hours
Longest Rappel: No Rappels
Permit Information
Permits for day trips and overnight use can be obtained at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station. Be aware that the Kane Gulch Ranger Station is only open 8:00 AM to Noon and permits (including those reserved in advance) must be picked up the day of your trip.
Camping/Lodging
There is primitive camping all over Cedar Mesa. Overnight permits are available (and required) at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station (see permit information). Fry Canyon Lodge (open only in the summer) is the nearest lodging. There are also hotel rooms in Mexican Hat for those willing to do some driving.
Preferred Season
Spring and fall are best. Summers can be hot and buggy and there is limited shade along the route. Winter is typically cold and quiet with shorter days.
Water Concerns
There may be stream crossings that require wading, but this canyon does not usually have any significant water. Be aware, however that it's a major drainage into Comb Wash. Exercise caution if it's raining in the area.
Special Challenges
Rough trails, stream crossings, slickrock hiking and scrambling. Lime Canyon is fairly remote and difficult to access. There is at least one pour off with a difficult 3rd/4th class bypass. Be careful traversing slickrock benches and ledges above drop offs. The lower part of the canyon has several brushy areas.
Equipment Suggestions
Bring plenty of water, clothing and camping gear to match the season.
Topographic Maps
Trails Illustrated #706 Grand Gulch Plateau, USGS 7.5' Topo's Cigarette Spring Cave Snow Flat Spring Cave.
Directions to Trailhead
From Blanding Utah go south on US 191. Turn right (south) on State Hwy 95 toward Cedar Mesa, Natural Bridges National Monument and Lake Powell. Cross Comb Ridge and continue to Hwy 261. Just before you get to Natural Bridges turn left (south) on Hwy 261. After passing the Kane Gulch Ranger Station, continue past San Juan County Road SJ 253 Owl Creek and SJ 237 Brushy Flat to SJ 239 Cigarette Springs. Go left on the Cigarette Springs road. There is a spur road about five or six miles from the Hwy 261/SJ239 junction on the left with multiple primitive camping options around. Continue past this spur road another half mile to a spur on the right. You can follow this spur about two miles to the north rim of Lime Canyon southwest of pt. 6071 or continue another mile and a half to the end of SJ 239 on the rim of a tributary of Road Canyon to the north.
There is also a small car park to the north and south of a wash crossing (0,596,995E; 4,137,108N). To get to this wash go 3.3 miles from the Hwy 261/SJ239 junction to the intersection with a high-clearance vehicle track on the right (south). Take this rough track another 1.8 miles to the wash crossing.
Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
See above.
Approach
From the end of the spur road southwest of pt. 6071 find a way down into Lime Canyon or from the wash crossing at 0,596,995E; 4,137,108N go east into the drainage over several easily-negotiated pour offs to a north-trending tributary junction (left LDC). From this junction continue southeast (right LDC).
Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
See above
Description: Standard Route
Explore Lime Canyon and return the way you came. There is an impassable pour-off at 0,606,905 E; 4,132,334 N.
Exit
Same as entrance.
Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate
Same as entrance.
Rating: 1A III
Time Required: 8-10 hours
Longest Rappel: No Rappels
Permit Information
Permits for day trips and overnight use can be obtained at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station. Be aware that the Kane Gulch Ranger Station is only open 8:00 AM to Noon and permits (including those reserved in advance) must be picked up the day of your trip.
Camping/Lodging
There is primitive camping all over Cedar Mesa. Overnight permits are available (and required) at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station (see permit information). Fry Canyon Lodge (open only in the summer) is the nearest lodging. There are also hotel rooms in Mexican Hat for those willing to do some driving.
Preferred Season
Spring and fall are best. Summers can be hot and buggy and there is limited shade along the route. Winter is typically cold and quiet with shorter days.
Water Concerns
There may be stream crossings that require wading, but this canyon does not usually have any significant water. Be aware, however that it's a major drainage into Comb Wash. Exercise caution if it's raining in the area.
Special Challenges
Rough trails, stream crossings, slickrock hiking and scrambling. Lime Canyon is fairly remote and difficult to access. There is at least one pour off with a difficult 3rd/4th class bypass. Be careful traversing slickrock benches and ledges above drop offs. The lower part of the canyon has several brushy areas.
Equipment Suggestions
Bring plenty of water, clothing and camping gear to match the season.
Topographic Maps
Trails Illustrated #706 Grand Gulch Plateau, USGS 7.5' Topo's Cigarette Spring Cave Snow Flat Spring Cave.
Directions to Trailhead
From Blanding Utah go south on US 191. Turn right (south) on State Hwy 95 toward Cedar Mesa, Natural Bridges National Monument and Lake Powell. Cross Comb Ridge and continue to Hwy 261. Just before you get to Natural Bridges turn left (south) on Hwy 261. After passing the Kane Gulch Ranger Station, continue past San Juan County Road SJ 253 Owl Creek and SJ 237 Brushy Flat to SJ 239 Cigarette Springs. Go left on the Cigarette Springs road. There is a spur road about five or six miles from the Hwy 261/SJ239 junction on the left with multiple primitive camping options around. Continue past this spur road another half mile to a spur on the right. You can follow this spur about two miles to the north rim of Lime Canyon southwest of pt. 6071 or continue another mile and a half to the end of SJ 239 on the rim of a tributary of Road Canyon to the north.
There is also a small car park to the north and south of a wash crossing (0,596,995E; 4,137,108N). To get to this wash go 3.3 miles from the Hwy 261/SJ239 junction to the intersection with a high-clearance vehicle track on the right (south). Take this rough track another 1.8 miles to the wash crossing.
Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
See above.
Approach
From the end of the spur road southwest of pt. 6071 find a way down into Lime Canyon or from the wash crossing at 0,596,995E; 4,137,108N go east into the drainage over several easily-negotiated pour offs to a north-trending tributary junction (left LDC). From this junction continue southeast (right LDC).
Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
See above
Description: Standard Route
Explore Lime Canyon and return the way you came. There is an impassable pour-off at 0,606,905 E; 4,132,334 N.
Exit
Same as entrance.
Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate
Same as entrance.