Hidden Slot Canyons Utah

Utah’s slot canyons are stunningsheer red-rock cliffs towering above you, while just a slice of blue sky creates a heavenly ceiling. Hiking through a slot canyon is like being in another world, where you’re cut off from civilization and completely immersed in nature. The canyon starts near the historic Hidden Splendor Mine at the southern end of the San Rafael Swell. To get there, stop at the small town of Green River, Utah and make sure your gas tank is full. From there drive west on I-70 about 29 miles and take exit number 131. Exploring Slot Canyons- Exploring Slot Canyons - Utah has the densest population of slot canyons in the world due to the eroding soft sandstone and arid conditions found in the state. Although most people have heard of two or three slot canyons, there are actually over one-thousand slot canyons south of I-70. One of Utah’s finest hidden gems, Paria Canyon is part of the Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness Area. It offers a plethora of wilderness wonder, like red-rock amphitheaters and giant canyon walls that tower over you as you slither through one of its many slot canyons.

×Undisturbed, peaceful and geologically varied, Eardley is one of the best canyons in the San Rafael Swell. It begins a few miles inside the eastern San Rafael Reef, just south of I-70, where several shallower tributaries meet, has a number of impressive narrows sections of increasing depth then becomes more open and V-shaped but deeper still, with much colorful crumbling rock and some interesting water-carved passages, before exiting the reef after 10 miles via a series of huge sheer-sided potholes that require rappelling equipment to negotiate although they may be bypassed by climbing the cliffs and walking at rim level. Two days are needed for the complete trip and a week could be spent exploring this and other canyons in the area.

Map

Topographic map of Eardley Canyon.

Location

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Eardley Canyon may be explored from the north end by various dirt tracks starting from three I-70 exits, entering via either one of four tributary canyons named Crawford Draw, Middle Fork, Red Draw and Hyde Draw, or from the south end via UT 24 - a rough side road follows the streamway, here known as Straight Wash, to the point where it emerges from the Reef (the same route used to reach Iron Wash). The northern tracks are best as they offer the quickest access to the upper narrows, and the easiest is along a small side ravine between Red and Hyde Draws, for which the start is exit 131 of I-70. From here the paved Buckhorn Draw Road parallels the north side of the interstate for 3.6 miles east then splits, as the pavement ends. The right branch turns south, crosses underneath the highway, and divides again. The left fork proceeds southeast for 1.8 miles to a Y-junction, then finally the right branch at this intersection passes the site of a former airstrip at Cliff Dweller Flat and ends at the edge of a rocky scrub-covered plateau - an isolated location, and an excellent place to camp.
The land falls away steeply to the south and several canyons are visible in the distance - Eardley is the deepest, running northwest-southeast. The suggested route is down the slope and across the flat land below, veering west slightly to the edge of a short ravine. A little way beyond where this joins the main canyon the otherwise sheer walls are interrupted by a steep, boulder-covered slope, and the canyon floor may be reached by scrambling down.

Photographs

15 views of Eardley Canyon.

Route Description

Rocks around the canyon edge have a mixture of colors, eroded formations and plentiful exposed thin-bedded limestone - a hint of the attractions to come. Once on the canyon floor, the way ahead is sandy with occasional downward steps of a couple of feet and is generally quite open. The streamway turns due east and narrows after a while, through one particularly pretty stretch of crisp angled strata carved into different forms, soon after which the Hyde Draw tributary joins from the left; this can be used as an alternative entrance but ropes are needed to overcome a sheer drop at the junction.

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Overview

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The San Rafael Swell is a large remote area in central/eastern Utah, that is split in half by Interstate 70. It extends from near Hanksville to the south all the way north to near Price, and from Green River on its eastern side for about 70 miles west, encompassing over 2000 square miles. Access is usually made via I-70, or Price for the northern Swell, while I-70 and highway 24 provide access to the southern portion of the swell.
The Swell is very diverse. The eastern and southern reef sections contain many great narrow slot canyons, while the interior of the Swell boasts expansive flat areas, broad canyons, cliffs, and towers. There are many remnants of old uranium mines, homesteads, and signs of Indian occupation. It goes without saying, but always stay out of, and away from any old mines you may come across. They are unstable, and may contain deadly gases.
Due to the remoteness, always have extra food, water, and fuel when venturing off pavement. Most areas of the swell require a significant drive from pavement to access them.

Native Americans clearly visited and inhabited parts of the Swell. Buckhorn Wash, Cottonwood Wash, Rochester Art Panel, and other areas show the pictograph and petroglyph evidence they left behind. Even the drier eastern reef of the Swell has a few panels indicating Indians at the very least past through that dry and desolate area.
Early pioneers and settlers carved out small ranches in the area during the late 1800's, and there is still a fair amount of cattle that call the Swell home during various seasons. Several cabins from the original settlers are still standing and interesting to visit.
By the late 1800's and early 1900's, Uranium was discovered in the Swell, and mining began. Temple Mountain was one of the first areas mined and a small settlement setup nearby to support the miners. This was on a small scale until the Uranium boom of the 1950's, when miners flocked to the Swell. Between 1950 and 1960, thousands of claims were made and most of the roads that are used today were created in attempts to find Uranium. Most of the claims never struck it rich, though Hidden Splendor was a success story, selling for $9 million in 1954. It must have been an exciting time to be a prospector in the Swell. By 1960, most of the mines were abandoned and shut down. There are many remnants from this era visible throughout the Swell.
It wasn't until 1970 that the interstate (I-70) was opened across the Swell. The engineering that went into designing the road is impressive, and the stretch from Green River to Salina is the longest stretch of interstate in the US that does not have any services. (110 miles) With the interstate, access to the interior sections became substantially easier, and recreation in the Swell ramped up.
In more recent times, off road enthusiasts, hikers, climbers and canyoneers have discovered the Swell and its charms. Many of the more remote areas have become Wilderness Study Areas, with some talk of the area being designed a national monument.

There are none! In all seriousness, take all the fuel, food, water, and supplies you will need. Green River, Price, and Hanksville provide the nearest services. Hanksville is quite small, with a few gas stations, a small grocery store, and a couple of restaurants and hotels. Many of these close during the winter. Green River, being on the interstate, has a fair number of services, while Price is a full service small town.
The BLM maintains a campground at the San Rafael Bridge in Buckhorn wash, but it has no services other than picnic tables and a pit toilet. No water.
Aside from the BLM Campground, camping is pretty much a free-for-all. Lots of amazing spots. Don't create new fire rings or trample vegetation, there are plenty of washes or existing sites to camp in. With all camping: Practice low impact techniques, and pack out all garbage.

Due to the large elevation difference between the reef, and the interior of the Swell, something can be found to do most anytime of the year. For technical canyons, spring and fall can be pleasant times, but may require wetsuits. Summer can be hot, and may be better suited to hiking and exploring the higher elevations. In winter, hiking and exploring the eastern and southern reefs can be perfect.
Bugs can be brutal in the spring and summer months, go prepared.

There are many great hikes, climbs, and canyons in the swell.
Hiking Little Wild Horse, spending the day at Goblin Valley, or visiting petroglyphs in Buckhorn Wash are great recommendations for family fun. For the more technically inclined, canyoneering the Upper Black Box, Quandary, Knotted Rope and many others offer great beauty and fun. Some of the technical canyons contain keeper potholes. Go prepared!

Trips

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Hiking

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