Cottonwood Wash (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

On March 23, 2015September 8, 2016 By Andrew WojtanikIn Capitol Reef National Park, Strenuous Hikes, Utah1 Comment

Of Capitol Reef National Park’s three strenuous slot canyons off the Notom-Bullfrog Road (Sheets Gulch and Burro Wash being the others), Cottonwood Wash is, to many, the most frustrating. The culprit is a deep, chilly pool—frequently over head high—encountered just as the canyon begins to narrow significantly. Even if swimming is not in the cards, …

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Pleasant Creek slot canyon (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

On February 17, 2015September 8, 2016 By Andrew WojtanikIn Capitol Reef National Park, Strenuous Hikes, Utah2 Comments

Most desert rats in Utah’s canyon country will know of Capitol Reef National Park’s three most prominent slot canyons: Burro Wash, Cottonwood Wash, and Sheets Gulch. They will also be familiar with the short, family-friendly narrows in nearby Headquarters Canyon. Much less promoted is the unnamed slot just off Capitol Reef’s Pleasant Creek, which boasts …

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Sheets Gulch (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

On February 15, 2015September 8, 2016 By Andrew WojtanikIn Capitol Reef National Park, Strenuous Hikes, Utah6 Comments

Sheets Gulch constitutes one of Capitol Reef National Park’s three major slot canyon hikes on the east side of the Waterpocket Fold. Less strenuous and more diverse than its northern cousins up the road—Burro Wash and Cottonwood Wash—Sheets boasts three lengthy slot sections, an excellent stretch of deep narrows, an arch, and a wide variety …

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