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| Backpack | 28.30 Miles |
3,500 AEG |
| | Backpack | 28.30 Miles | 3 Days | | |
| 3,500 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | I never heard of Parunuweap Canyon until @volcanoCLMBR posted a triplog earlier this summer. I thought the place looked amazing and did some research. It seemed too good to be true so Chumley and I put it on the list. Then Rachel contacted me saying her and Jared will be visiting and we thought this would be a great option. Our original group was going to be seven people but things came up and we settled on a group of four of us.
Chumley and I drove up on Friday night and car camped east of Kanab. We met Rachel and Jared on Saturday morning in Mt Carmel. We then shuttled Chumley’s truck to the trailhead at Checkerboard Mesa in Zion National Park. We left a note in the car for Zion NPS and then headed back east to our starting point near Mt Carmel. We geared up and started our three day trip into paradise!
Day 1 – Saturday, October 21
After setting up the shuttle the four of us started the hike in following an active forest road. The going was somewhat monotonous but we made good time as we were passed by Quads, ATVs & trucks. Hunting season started this day so there were a lot of people out. We had at least a dozen wet crossings over the East Fork of the Virgin River over the first five miles. The water was chilly but the sun was out so we were comfortable. We left the road after five miles and the canyon starts to tighten up. Our pace slowed down as we waded through the Virgin. There would be a mix of wading and hiking along the banks. Fall colors were nice but we were at least a week or two late for prime.
We kept at it and eventually reached Mineral Gulch where we set up camp. The Virgin was a bit muddy so we were glad to see cold and clear water flowing out of Mineral Gulch. We never had to filter water from the muddy Virgin River. After camp was set up the four of us started a day hike up Mineral. We knew right away we were in for a treat! The canyon has water flowing for the first quarter mile as you meander through narrows and several slots. Our expectations were blown away as we progressed! This side canyon is spectacular! After a mile the canyon opens up and we continued heading north. We wanted to make it all the way to 7 Arch Alcove but it was farther than expected so we turned around. We wanted to get back to camp and settle into a campfire before darkness set in. The return flew by and we enjoyed a wonderful campfire. All of us were sleeping by 10pm. Overnight lows got very chilly but could have been worse.
Day 2 – Sunday, October 22
Our day two started very slowly. It was very cold overnight so we waited for the sun to rise. Once up we started the campfire again and had a slow and relaxing morning. I had coffee & oatmeal and enjoyed the morning. We eventually packed up and started hiking around 11:30am which is very late for us. Our plan was to hike 5-6 mile to our next campsite situated by Poverty Wash.
The hiking went well on day two. We found ourselves in the creek more so our pace was slow. The water was cold but several of us were wearing Neoprene Socks and this helped a lot. Most of the water was ankle to knee deep today. The biggest issue was mud and watching out for deep spots. We didn’t have any issues. We continued on as the canyon tightened up which made for dramatic views. After a couple of miles we detoured over to a petroglyph panel that was very impressive. It was early afternoon and the sun made picture taking difficult. From there we continued the final few miles and set up camp at the mouth of Poverty Wash. This wash had clear water flowing which made for easy filtering.
After camp was set up, Chumley and I set out for a day hike up Poverty Wash. This turned out to be another spectacular canyon! The water was flowing the whole way and more narrows greeted up. This canyon was very lush and scenic too! As we neared the end the canyon tightens and it appears to end. We were delighted to see a cave like slot canyon that led further. There was a simple scramble and we arrived at the end of the road in the Poverty Grotto. We absolutely loved this area! From there we made our return and took a variety of pics. This side trip took about an hour. Afterward, I filtered watered and settled in at camp while Chumley hiked back up canyon to check out another side canyon. All of us settled in for the evening around the campfire. It was a bit warmer tonight but temps got chilly again overnight.
Day 3 – Monday, October 23
We woke on day three around sunrise at 7:30am. It was really cold again so we built a fire and tore down camp. Our plan was to hike the rest of the way down canyon with stops at the Boulder Jam & Misery Canyon. After that we’ll exit the canyon and return to the truck parked at Checkerboard Mesa inside Zion National Park. We expected today to be easy but it turned out to a lot of work!
We hit the trail around 8:30am and were back in the water. The going was mostly easy as we snaked our way down canyon. This stretch of The Barracks is fantastic! The walls were high and there were fewer benches to avoid water. A couple spots were thigh deep but nothing too bad. You had to be careful to avoid mud and deep spots. The hiking pole helped a lot.
We continued on and hit the Boulder Jam within an hour of starting. I knew what to expect and climbed up to scope out the bypass while the others took pics. We then regrouped and made the climb up. We hit the rabbit hole and Rachel went first followed by myself, Chumley and Jared. The rabbit hole has a series of ledges to climb down and a fixed rope that helped but was not critical. We lowered the packs in stages and took our time scrambling and crawling through. I would guess the rabbit hole has a 25 ft drop. It was damn fun!
Once at the bottom we continued another half mile to Misery Canyon. We planned on exploring this canyon but you had a swimmer to get it. None of us were motivated to fully submerge so we kept going and found ourselves at the exit route ten minutes later. Once there we found the Powell Plaque (It’s hard to see behind some scrub) and washed the sand out of our shoes. From there we made the aggressive scramble up the exit route. It took some work but wasn’t too bad. Once above the canyon we started the long and slow trek into Zion. There is a good use trail to follow but you’re walking in sand for long stretches. It was sunny and warm and this section took more effort than expected. We took several breaks and enjoyed the amazing views! The final push along Checkerboard Mesa was exhausting but we got it done and were back to the truck by early afternoon. Once there we headed back to the starting point to grab the other car and then on to Kanab for lunch. Chumley and I said goodbye to Rachel and Jared and then headed back to Phoenix. Another trip in the books!
Final Thoughts
This is a spectacular canyon similar to the Zion Narrows but without the crowds. We only saw six people after leaving the forest road in the beginning.
Neoprene Socks and hiking poles helped a lot! The water was cold and muddy and slippery. The poles also helped measure depth so we could avoid deep spots.
I don't recommend hiking here during the winter unless you're seasoned for those conditions. The overnight temps got into the upper 30's for us. Borderline uncomfortable. My thought for best time is April/May or Sept/early Oct. Summer is okay but hike out early. With that...
Don't underestimate the hike out. It's roughly 4.5 miles and 1,600 ft of gain. It's slow and hard going. It's a mix of rugged scrambling, long stretches through sand, more climbing and generally slow going all the way to the road. It has little shade and never lets up. Go prepared with lots of water & snacks.
Give yourself at least 3-5 hours for Mineral Gulch. There are several arms that look interesting. We had about two hours. An hour+ is good for Poverty Wash. We didn't go into Misery. The entrance is tricky. Pretty much a swimmer.
You don’t need a permit for this and fires are permitted. Keep in mind you’ll need to leave a vehicle in Zion so you have to pay the entrance fee. Leave a note in your vehicle with your plan and exit date and name of the vehicle owner.
This canyon has lots of entry and exit points. You may be able to piece together a loop using forest roads. Check conditions before doing this. Some of the roads may be in bad shape.
This canyon is spectacular and highly recommended! I’m already thinking about a return trip in 2018! |
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