| San Rafael Swell | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Canyon Name | Named by | Kelsey Alternative | Notes: |
| Grotto Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for ‘the grotto,’ a large pothole nestled below a dryfall. †¹ | |
| Pinnacle Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for a large pinnacle in the canyon. †¹ | |
| Archtower Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for the The Archtower, a 200–foot tower, containing an arch, that resides in the canyon †¹ | |
| Sheep Cave Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for a sheep cave within the canyon. Steve Allen wrote: “The Sheep Cave is high on the hillside to the right. As evidenced by the amount of scat in the cave, it is apparent that this is a favorite bighorn getaway.” †¹ | |
| Box Spring Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for its springs and lush riparian habitat. †¹ | |
| Petroglyph Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for two petroglyph panels found in the canyon. †¹ | |
| Double Arch Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for two sets of double arches that reside in the canyon. †¹ | |
| Forgotten Canyon | Steve Allen | Steve Allen wrote: “For some inexplicable reason this fantastic canyon has been left out of the literature. With its long, tight narrows and a great arch, it deserves notice.” †¹ | |
| Uneva Mine Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for the Uneva mine located within the canyon. †¹ | |
| Steep Canyon | Steve Allen | Named as it is a steep canyon which climbs to the top of the San Rafael Reef. †¹ | |
| Zero Gravity | Shane Burrows, Sam Gregory, & Devon Gregory | After Burrows’ chest got stuck in the bombay slot of the exit falls which had him suspended in the air. ω | |
| Little Gem Canyon | Steve Allen | The canyon is mentioned in several places in Steve Allen’s Canyoneering: The San Rafael Swell. †¹ Steve Allen wrote: “The lower part is in the Wingate, which can weather into fantastic shapes. It is a Little Gem compared to the nearby longer, bigger, and equally fantastic Chimney Canyon.” (also known as GEM CANYON) þ | |
| Gem Canyon | Kent Beverly, Penny Martens, & Scott Patterson | Scott Patterson wrote: “The forks of Gem Canyon (2003) were named simply because the bottom of the canyon complex was tagged Little Gem, but the upper forks aren’t little; so we dropped the name ‘Little’ for the upper forks.” (also known as LITTLE GEM CANYON) þ | |
| Enigma Canyon | Scott Patterson | Scott Patterson wrote: “I named Enigma Canyon in the Swell (sort of). Anyway, we did the canyon in 2003. Someone on the trip suggested the name Cubic Zirconium, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember the suggestion so I later referred to it as Enigma. The name has stuck. The alternate name was a clever one though. The next two canyons down were Little Gem and Poor Canyon and the gem of the poor is a cubic zirconium.” þ | |
| Music Canyon | Lloyd Bush, Henry Haurand, Kent Johnson & Laurie Ness. | Lloyd Bush wrote: “Henry Haurand and I discovered the canyon purely by accident about 11 or 12 years ago(1990-91). We were hiking down Muddy Creek and stopped for lunch directly opposite the opening (exit). We didn’t even see it until we were leaving after lunch. It is only visible from very close. We dropped our packs to see what it looked like and started up the canyon. After a few minutes it was obvious to us that this was a canyon worth doing. We continued up canyon until we got to a point we thought might be a bit tricky coming back down and reluctantly turned around. Two weeks later we came back with two other friends (Kent Johnson and Laurie Ness) to do the whole canyon. I had located what I thought was the canyon on the topo and we started from the top. It turned out to be every bit as good as we had hoped. When we got to the bottom, we turned around and went back up. At one point, there is a dark cavern with remarkable acoustics, and Laurie, who has a beautiful voice, began to sing. This led to a discussion as to what to name the canyon. We narrowed it down to ‘Music’ or ‘Melody,’ and ‘Music’ finally won out. It proved to be such a gem, that I began to bring my canyoneering classes from the University of Utah. Over the years, I have taken dozens of people down the canyon, but I never thought to ask any of them to keep the location secret. I don’t know if ours was the first descent, but I haven’t heard of any earlier ones. We definitely named the canyon.” ω þ | |
| Mud Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for the soaring mud walls, pinnacles, towers, and narrows that are cut through the Moenkopi formation. †¹ | |
| Ding & Dang Canyons | Steve Allen | 1st & 2nd Canyons ¹ | Steve Allen wrote: “I named them in the late 70’s. At their head is quite a dome\tower. I tried to climb it several times by myself without success, leading to the name in my own head of ‘G— Damn Dome!’ I finally made it to the top (5.9R). I do remember that the downclimb of the route was spookier than the upclimb. So in the interest of having a usable and not profane name, I renamed it Ding Dang Dome. I then started calling the two canyons that lead up the southern reef to the domes Ding and Dang. Apparently the names stuck.” þ |
| Ramp Canyon | Steve Allen | 4th Canyon | For the sandstone ramp that is ascended. †¹ |
| Knotted Rope Canyon | Steve Allen | Miners Hollow S | Named for a knotted rope which used to hang through Wayne’s Wiggle, the crux of the route. †¹ Steve Allen wrote: “After watching bits and pieces of the Knotted Rope disappear, and thinking of how much we’d like to have had someone save a piece of the original Dangling Rope in Glen Canyon, I took the remaining few feet of rope and it is now safely stored until it makes its way to a historical archive.”þ M.R. Kelsey’s name is in reference to remnants of uranium mining at the head of the canyon. ¹ |
| Quandary Canyon | Steve Allen | quandary — a state of uncertainty of what to do in a difficult situation. Named accordingly for the technical challenges the canyon presents. †¹ Steve Allen wrote: “Several have asked what I know of the mining history in Knotted Rope and Quandary. Jack Erwin of Green River didn’t work the Delta (Hidden Splendor) Mine, but he did work Temple Mountain and knew some of the history. Apparently the road into Quandary was used to drill test holes to see how extensive the Hidden Splendor Mine uranium seams were. The road, after cutting through the upper narrows, which were once filled with rip-rap, made its way around to Knotted Rope Canyon. At one time there was a plan to pump water up from the Muddy, hence the plethora of pipe lying around. Another interesting aside was that after Vernon Pick sold the Delta Mine to Floyd Odlum (who renamed it the Hidden Splendor) Odum’s wife had him build the airstrip we now camp on or near; she was the famed aviatrix Jackie Cochran who is credited with being the first woman to break the sound barrier and was instrumental in starting the WACS during WW 2.” þ | |
| The Squeeze | Steve Allen | Segers Hole Canyon ¹ AKA North Fork of Segers Hole Canyon S | Named as it is one of the narrowest canyons found in the San Rafael Swell †¹ |
| Segers Window Canyon | Tom Jones | Little Segers Hole Canyon ¹ AKA South Fork of Segers Hole Canyon S | Tom Jones wrote: “Mike and I did the Segers Window Canyon for his Technical Canyon book. He had originally done it from the top and escaped the canyon before the best section to hike back to the top — the Window. While he thought ‘Segers Window’ was a silly name, he agreed that a north fork and a south fork really should intersect at some point, so he went with ‘Segers Hole Canyon’ and ‘Little Segers Hole Canyon,’ which is somewhat better.” þ |
| Cable Canyon | Steve Allen | Steve Allen wrote: “An old miner’s cable wrapped around a chockstone was used as an anchor in the upper canyon on an early descent.” þ †¹ | |
| Corral Canyon | It was once used to hold cattle. †¹ | ||
| Horse Heaven Canyon | Steve Allen | Steve Allen wrote: “The canyon name is taken from the upland area of Horse Heaven, which is shown on the Caine Springs and The Frying Pan maps. Emery rancher Wayne Gremel noted that, ‘Wild horses used to like to stay out there. Used to be lots of grass. They’d water in Corral Canyon.’” þ | |
| Southern Green River | |||
| High Spur | Shane Burrows | Northeast Spur Fork ° | A side canyon of Spur Fork, which descends from the High Spur area of The Spur. Also a variation on the name Northeast Spur Fork, which appeared first in Kelsey’s 5th Edition Nontechnical Canyon Hiking Guide. (also known as NORTHEAST SPUR FORK) ω ‡³ |
| Blue John Canyon | Shane Burrows wrote: “Blue John Canyon appears to have been named after a minor Robbers Roost outlaw by the name of John Griffith. Griffith had one blue eye and one brown eye and thus was saddled with the nickname ‘Blue John.’ It is recognized that he kept stolen horses in the area, perhaps watering them at nearby springs. In the fall of 1899 Griffith is reported to have put in at Hite with a small boat with the intention of reaching Lee’s Ferry. He was never heard from again” ω | ||
| The Sneak AKA Sneak Canyon | Scott Patterson wrote: “In Three Canyon, there are two lower forks. I was told by a BLM ranger we met in there that the west one was named ‘Sneak Canyon’ or ‘The Sneak’ because the ranchers would use the hidden bolt route to sneak into the canyon.” þ | ||
| Dirty Devil River | |||
| Mindbender | Steve Allen & Ginger Harmon | Little Middle Fk of Robbers Roost ¹ | Link to story †² |
| Not Mindbender | Tom Jones | North Middle Fk of Robbers Roost ¹ | After a confusion about which canyon is Mindbender, which is obscured in Steve Allen’s Canyoneering 2. ω |
| Maybe Mindbender | Tom Jones | þ | |
| Almost Mindbender | Tom Jones | þ | |
| Ho–Hum Fork | Tom Jones | East Fk of North Fk of Robbers Roost ¹ | Tom Jones wrote: Though somewhat pretty, it is not too terribly exciting. Just when it starts to get going, the technical part ends. ‘Not much meat on this bone,’ was the consensus of our party. ω |
| Chambers | Dave Pimental | For the wonderful section of chambers in a section of the slot canyon. þ | |
| Big Bad Ben | Ram | Ram wrote: “There is a song by Stompin Tom Conners, a Canadian silly song singer, called ‘Ben in the Pen.’ I just happen to have a friend named Ben, who has come on several canyon trips and is now in the big house. Tom Jones made a working map of the area upon my request. He labeled the canyons AAA (Chambers), BBB, all the way to FFF. We descended BBB the day before Chambers. I named the canyon honoring my buddy, in keeping with the BBB on the map and the silly song.” þ | |
| Moonshine Wash | The canyon was named after the illegal whiskey still that was located in the canyon during prohibition. The cement vats that the whiskey was brewed in are still in the canyon. ω | ||
| Flashlight Canyon | Mike Bogart & Anne Winter | North Fk Twin Corral Box Canyon ¹ | Link to account. (also known as ALCATRAZ CANYON ) þ |
| Alcatraz Canyon | Scott Patterson | North Fk Twin Corral Box Canyon ¹ | Named after Scott Patterson and Michael R. Kelsey decided to escape out a steep wall of the slot canyon, when the canyon got too narrow, by chipping climbing holds into a near vertical wall with a G–pick. (also known as FLASHLIGHT CANYON ) ω |
| No Ma’am | Ram | A play on No Mans. A unnamed slot described in Steve Allen’s Canyoneering 2 in the North Fork of No Mans Canyon. ω þ | |
| Arscenic | Tom Jones Shane Burrows Barb & Jeff Meierhofer Alicia Scotter, Sharon & Tom Talboys | POISON THEME BLEND: arsenic + scenic. Tom Jones wrote: “Named for the scenic little arch on the rim.” The poison theme of the blends is in reference to these canyons’ being tributaries of Poison Spring Canyon. (also known as LYMRIC) ω | |
| Slideanide | Shane Burrows Tom Jones Barb & Jeff Meierhofer Alicia Scotter, Sharon & Tom Talboys | POISON THEME BLEND: slide + cyanide. Appropriate for the many downclimbing slides in the canyon. The poison theme of the blends is in reference to these canyons’ being tributaries of Poison Spring Canyon. ω | |
| Constrychnine | Stefan Folias | POISON THEME BLEND: constrict + strychnine. Stefan Folias wrote: “The name reflects the stunningly tight depths of the sheer narrows one stares into while descending the upper part of the canyon.” First published on Climb–Utah under Constrychnine. (also known as PITON CANYON, PROJECT X, EAST FK SLIDEANIDE ) ω þ | |
| Monoxide | Shane Burrows Tom Jones Barb & Jeff Meierhofer, Alicia Scotter, Sharon & Tom Talboys, & Gilles Wallace | POISON THEME: Tom Jones wrote: “As I remember, we called it Monoxide because it had exactly ONE good feature” (also known as DRAGON & FAIR MAIDEN) ω | |
| North Lake Powell | |||
| Sandthrax Canyon | Hank Moon | Mile 28.5 Canyon ¹ | BLEND: sand + anthrax Link to story by Hank Moon. Link to story by Shane Burrows |
| Leprechaun Canyon | Mile 28.1 Canyon ¹ | Shane Burrows wrote: “The canyon was named after a radio DJ in Silverton Colorado who had a program called the ‘Psychedelic Leprechaun.’ The story goes ... The DJ told the hiker who posted the original beta about the canyon. So when the hiker posted the beta he called it Leprechaun in honor of his friend who supplied the beta.” ω | |
| Upper Leprechaun AKA Right Fork Leprechaun Canyon | Shane Burrows | East Fk of Mile 28.1 Canyon ¹ | (also known as EAST FORK LEPRECHAUN CANYON) ω |
| Shimrock AKA Middle Fork Leprechaun Canyon | Hank Moon & Shane Burrows | West Fk of Mile 28.1 Canyon ¹ | IRISH THEME BLEND: shimmy + shamrock Named as this is the tightest canyon of the three. (also known as MAIN FORK LEPRECHAUN CANYON) ω |
| Shamrock AKA Left Fork Leprechaun Canyon | Hank Moon & Shane Burrows | IRISH THEME: (also known as WEST FORK LEPRECHAUN CANYON) ω | |
| East Fork Leprechaun Canyon | Tom Jones | East Fk of Mile 28.1 Canyon ¹ | (also known as RIGHT FORK LEPRECHAUN CANYON, UPPER LEPRECHAUN) ω |
| Main Fork Leprechaun Canyon | Tom Jones | West Fk of Mile 28.1 Canyon ¹ | Tom Jones wrote: “In Tom’s world, the name of the system is applied to the main fork of the canyon, and side canyons can get separate names. East & West are less ambiguous than Right & Left.” (also known as MIDDLE FORK LEPRECHAUN CANYON, SHIMROCK) ω þ |
| West Fork Leprechaun Canyon | Tom Jones | (also known as LEFT FORK LEPRECHAUN CANYON, SHAMROCK) ω | |
| Blarney | Tom Jones & Alicia Scotter | Mile 27.6 Canyon ¹ | IRISH THEME: blarney — talk that aims to charm Named after Shane Burrows spoke highly about the system to Tom Jones. ω |
| Shillelagh | Shane Burrows & Barb Pollyea | Mile 27.4 Canyon ¹ | IRISH THEME: shillelagh — thick stick of blackhorn or oak used typically as a weapon. ω |
| Lucky Charms | Hank Moon | Mile 27.1 Canyon ¹ | IRISH THEME: short canyon one can eat for breakfast. ω |
| Boss Hawg AKA Boss Hogg | Dave Black & Jim Wright | HOG THEME: based on Hog Canyon/Hog Springs. (also known as HOG 1, BOSS HOG) ω | |
| Razorback | Ram | Named for the iron concretion–studded walls which are frequently chimneyed. (also known as HOG 3) ω | |
| Miss Piggy | Ram | HOG THEME: Link to story (also known as HOG 4) | |
| Merry Piglet | Penny Martens & Dave Pimental | HOG THEME: Piglet — a baby pig who is the best friend of Winnie-the-Pooh in A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh books. Dave Pimental wrote: “Since the pretty little canyon was right near Hog Springs I began to call it Piglet, after the cute little character from Winnie the Pooh.” þ | |
| Shenanigans | Tom Jones | Middle Fk of West Fk Butler Cyn ¹ | IRISH\BUTLER THEME: shenanigans — tricky or questionable practices or conducts. Link to story by T. Jones. Link to story by Ram. |
| Monkey Business | Tom Jones | West Fk of West Fk Butler Cyn ¹ | BUTLER THEME: monkey business — mischievous or deceitful behavior. Butler theme continued from Shenanigans. Link to story. |
| Foolin’ Around | Tom Jones | East Fk of West Fk Butler Cyn ¹ | BUTLER THEME: fooling around — 1. To engage in idle or casual activity; putter. 2. To engage in frivolous activity; make fun. 3. To engage in casual, often promiscuous sexual acts. Link to story. |
| No Kidding | Jason Pease | BUTLER THEME: no kidding — phrase used to emphasize the truth of a statement. Link to story. ω | |
| Horse Play | Ryan Cornia | BUTLER THEME: horseplay — rowdy or boisterous fun. Ryan Cornia wrote: “Because it fit with the theme of the other Butler’s. (Shenanigans, No Kidding, etc...) I felt horse play fit because it was casual and fun, without being too serious.” ω | |
| Art’s Loop | Shane Burrows wrote: “Art, a part-time Hanksville resident, was a climber who explored slot canyons in the mid–80s. A widow told me that Art’s friends call the loop, up Middle Maidenwater and down South Maidenwater, Art’s Loop in his honor. The pitons in the area may have come from him.” ω | ||
| Inferno | Tom Jones, Penny Martens, Hank Moon, Dave Pimental, Ram, & Aaron Ramras | Link to story 1 & Link to story 2. | |
| Land of Oz | Ryan Cornia, Kent Beverly, & Penny Martens | OZ THEME: Land of Oz — One of the many ‘fairy countries’ in the Oz books by L. Frank Baum, first appearing in 1900 in the book, ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.’ Ryan Cornia wrote: “Kent Beverly was part of most all of those explorations and had suggested an Oz theme. The group liked it, so we used the theme to name all the canyons we did out there.” þ | |
| Yellow Brick Road | Ryan Cornia, Kent Beverly, & Penny Martens | OZ THEME: Yellow Brick Road — the road in the Land of Oz that leads to the Emerald City. Ryan Cornia wrote: “YBR was so named partially because of the spring section we thought was the ‘Emerald City.’” þ | |
| Munchkin | Ryan Cornia, Kent Beverly, & Penny Martens | OZ THEME: Munchkin — the natives of Munchkin Country in the Land of Oz who are somewhat short of stature. Ryan Cornia wrote: “Munchkin because of the short squeezy spot near the top.” þ | |
| Witch’s Cauldron | Ryan Cornia, Kent Beverly, Penny Martens & Mark McCray | OZ THEME: a reference to the Wicked Witch of the West who threatens to ‘get’ Dorthy after her house landed on and killed the witch’s sister, the Wicked Witch of the East. Ryan Cornia wrote: “Witch’s Cauldron was named because of the big keeper we had gotten turned back at twice.” (also known as TRACHYOTOMY) þ | |
| Trachyotomy | Eric Godfrey | BLEND: Trachyte + trachiotomy A play on Trachyte Creek, of which it is a tributary. (also known as WITCH’S CAULDRON) ω | |
| Blushing Bride | Dave Pimental | Based on the maiden theme of Maidenwater. ω | |
| The Jilted Fork | Ram | Jilted — suddenly rejected or abandoned (said of a lover) Based on the maiden theme of Maidenwater. þ | |
| Sinusitus AKA Snotnose | Ram | Link to story. | |
| Potty Mouth | Tom Jones & Ram | Link to story. (also known as CALIENTE) | |
| Caliente | Dave Pimental | Link to story. (also known as POTTY MOUTH) | |
| Glaucoma | Ram | ‘Pinkeye’ was one of the working name during the scouting process and discarded upon descent of the canyon. Link to story. | |
| Conundrum | Ryan Cornia | Ryan Cornia wrote: “I had seen pictures of a mythical canyon near North Wash, and had poked around for years looking for it. Conundrum fit because it was a puzzle. I did not find out for sometime after I published it that Matt [Moore] had already named it. Because of the amount of traffic it had received on my site, I left the name as it had become common.” (also known as LAVAR) ω | |
| Lavar | Matt Moore | Matt Moore wrote: “Lavar is named for Lavar Wells. He’s a very talented, well–known, and respected backcountry pilot from Hanksville. He’s racked up about 20,000 hours flying into the demanding dirt strips around southern Utah. He’s a really great guy. He pointed that canyon out to me while flying around the Henrys.” (also known as CONUNDRUM) þ | |
| Purgatory | Dave Black & Jim Wright | Dave Black wrote: “There were two rumors I had died—one that I’d been shot, and one that I’d been hit by a semi truck. People called home to offer sympathies to my family. Even my Army son in Hawaii got a message that I had died. So we originally called it ‘Dave’s Not Dead,’ but that’s an awkward name for a canyon, and it was eventually changed to Purgatory.” þ | |
| Woody Canyon | Dave Pimental | So named since it is a small side drainage of Woodruff Canyon. Woody is a diminution of Woodruff. Link to story þ | |
| Woodsy Canyon | Dave Pimental | So named since it is a small side drainage of Woodruff Canyon just upcanyon from Woody Canyon. Link to story þ | |
| Woodchuck Canyon | Ram & Tom Jones | So named since it is a small side drainage of Woodruff Canyon. Woodchuck is a type of rodent. þ | |
| Hard Day Harvey | Steve Allen | Named after Harvey Halpern during a difficult, very muddy first descent. þ | |
| Good Day Jim | Steve Allen | Named after Jim Finch. þ | |
| Bun Fodder AKA Bunfodor | Dave Black | Link to story. (also known as PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE) | |
| Psychological (Psycho) Damage | Steve Brezovec | Named upon the (successful) third attempt at the canyon. The name is in reference to the experience of the party during the first attempt, in which Tom Jones, Ram, Doug Noel and Roylnn Serati spent the night in the canyon, with one member of the party injured, a flash flood, and a retreat the following day. During and after their bivy, they had referred to the canyon as ‘Silo Canyon.’ Link to story. (also known as BUN FODDER) þ | |
| Endless Eden | Steve Allen & Jim Finch | Steve Allen wrote: “The canyon was named for its endless beauty and difficult challenges. This canyon is a twin to nearby Lost Eden Canyon, a name both Katie Lee and Otis ‘Dock’ Marston attribute to the fact that famed river runner Harry Aleson and Dorothy Keyes were married there. They knew the rising waters of Lake Powell would inundate this wonderful place.“ þ | |
| East of Eden | Ram | A play on Lost Eden Canyon. þ | |
| Escalante & Capitol Reef | |||
| Rose Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for the profusion of cliff roses found in the canyon. †³ | |
| Bishop Canyon | The name appears on boater maps. Steve Allen wrote: “I would assume that it is named for Powell crew member Francis Marion Bishop.” þ | ||
| Don’t Do It (DDI) | Steve Allen | Was written on the map as a warning-to-self about poison ivy. Descent in 1997. Link to story. | |
| The Mud, the Blood, & the Fear | Ram | Link to story. (also known as DDI) | |
| PINTAC | Steve Allen | Acronym for ‘Pain in the Ass Crack’ Partial descent in 1996. Complete descent in 1997. Link to story part 1 • part 2 | |
| Sleepy Hollow | Tom Gillette | Bill Wolverton wrote: “Sleepy Hollow was named by Tom and Jennifer Gillette when Tom was the Escalante seasonal ranger, which was from about 1978–86. They made camp in there one night when they were both particularly sleepy for some reason, if I recall the story correctly.” Tom Gillette wrote: “The place name ‘Sleepy Hollow’ was born on an April day in l982. Ranger Glenn Sherrill, wife and volunteer Jennifer and myself spent the day constructing flood gates on the Coyote cattle fence. The wind howled down canyon all day, but we continued to work through the sandblaster till late afternoon. Seeking a break from the wind, we set up camp in an alcove a short ways up a side canyon on the left side. The wind took its toll as we laid out our ground sheet and sleeping bags, crawled in and fell asleep, too tired to even make dinner. What a relief! That’s my story.” þ | |
| Long Branch | Steve Allen | From Canyoneering 3 by Steve Allen: “I thought of the struggle my friend Rob and I had in the Long Branch of Sleepy Hollow—sixteen hours of danger and delight: the green room, the natural bridges, the swims, the rappels, our bloody hands and knees, and how we had hugged each other when it was over.” Descent by Steve Allen and Rob Roseen in 1992. †²†³ | |
| Big Tony Fork | Steve Allen | From Canyoneering 3, by Steve Allen: “Tony Merten died on his farm in New Mexico in February 1996. His gargantuan size, unlimited physical strength, and unbridled persona perfectly match this slot canyon’s character. With his wild red–blond hair and beard, Tony was instantly recognizable to all who encountered him in the canyons or along the windswept desert slickrock he loved so much and worked so hard to preserve. Perhaps all who pass will pay silent homage to Big Tony and to others who have cared about canyon country but can no longer be here to enjoy and be enthralled by it.” †³ Allen’s descent in 1996.Tom Jones obscured this canyon with the name ‘Frosted Flakes’, a reference to the cereal’s mascot. | |
| Headless Hen | Steve Allen | Named for a large brown tower that looks like a headless hen on the rim of the canyon. Descent in 1996. | |
| Raven | Steve Allen | Named because three dead ravens were found in the canyon. Descent in 1996. | |
| Foxhole AKA Fox Hole | Ryan Cornia, Larry Halford Ram Roy Serati | Named as the party found a fox trapped in a pothole, and Ryan Cornia’s attempt to rescue. Link to story. (also known as RAVEN) | |
| Ponderosa Canyon | Bill Wolverton | Named for an enormous Ponderosa tree in the canyon. þ | |
| Box Elder Canyon | Bill Wolverton | Named for a profusion of Box Elder trees in the canyon. þ | |
| The Beast | Ram | Refers to the extremely tight sections of Brimstone Canyon. Named circa early 90’s. Link to story. | |
| Spooky Gulch Peek-a-boo Gulch & Brimstone Gulch | Edson Alvey | Steve Allen wrote: “Shortly before his death in 1993, Escalante historian and schoolteacher Edson Alvey told me that they were suggested while he was exploring the [three] slot canyons with a group of schoolchildren on Halloween day in 1935.” þ †³ | |
| Hydra Canyon | Harvey Halpern | Hydra is a many–headed snake from Greek Mythology whose heads grew back after they were cut off. It was named so because of difficulties heading the canyon due to its many side drainages. þ †³ | |
| Shofar Canyon | Steve Allen, Harvey Halpern, & Ginger Harmon | Hebrew for horn, accurately describing many of the canyon’s pinnacles, especially one in particular that looks like a horn. þ †³ | |
| Ichabod Canyon | Steve Allen | Named for Washington Irvine’s Ichabod Crane who was chased by the Headless Horseman in the ‘Legend of Sleepy Hollow.’ Similar to Hydra, it was a difficult canyon to head due to its side drainages. þ †³ | |
| Beryl Canyon | Harvey Halpern | Beryl has 3–fold meaning. First, Beryl is a mineral, one of whose varieties is aquamarine. Second, the lady Beryl of myth was a laughing, loving beauty full of innocence and sunshine. Both accurately describe this lavishly watered canyon lined with large colorful pools. Additionally, Beryl honors Harvey Halpern’s Father’s Hebrew name. þ †³ | |
| Nasty Ass | Mike Bogart, Ken Gronseth, & Dennis Turville | Dennis Turville wrote: “Acronym for ‘Not Another Squeeze Thank You, Another Squeeze Sucker.’ ” Descent in April 1979. Link to account. (also know as WEST BAKER CANYON) | |
| Tight Ass | Mike Bogart & Jenny Hall | Baker theme, as it is an tight slot canyon through much of its extent, requiring much “worming” (chimneying). Descent in June 1982. Link to account. (also know as EAST BAKER CANYON) | |
| Baker Canyon | Steve Allen | The canyon sits between Baker Bench and East Baker Bench. Unnamed on the maps, it was published as Baker Canyon in Steve Allen’s Canyoneering 3. Steve Allen wrote: “The bench was named for Boulder stockman George Baker. He started pushing cows into the area in 1889. I’ve always called them the Bakers: Baker Canyon and the Alternate Fork. Don’t know if others were using the names or not.” þ | |
| Ringtail Canyon | Steve Allen | Steve Allen wrote: “Ringtail cats are rarely seen in the Escalante, but they have been observed in the pitch–black depths of this canyon.” †³ | |
| Edge of the Earth Canyon | Mike Bogart, Janice Hansen, & Dennis Turville | Neon Canyon ‡² | Dennis Turville wrote: “When we were on an early reconnaissance of the canyon, I looked back at my friends walking along the rim and thought they looked like they were walking on the edge of the earth. It stuck.” Descent in October 1977. Link to account. (also known as NEON CANYON ) þ |
| Neon Canyon | Steve Allen wrote: “Named for it’s shimmering iridescently varnished walls. Photographer Jack Dykinga thinks that John Telford named it.” The name Neon first appeared in a guidebook in Steve Allen’s Canyoneering 3. (also known as EDGE OF THE EARTH CANYON) þ | ||
| Choprock Canyon | Steve Allen wrote: “Burns Ormand from Boulder ran cattle extensively in the area starting in the early 1920s (his name is etched in a wall in Choprock Canyon from 1927). He helped build the trail from Choprock to Neon, but again had no name [for Neon Canyon]. He was familiar with the Golden Cathedral, but as a stock watering place and a darn good place to corral his cows! (And Choprock, called Widemouth by the cowboys, was named because Burns and others had to ‘Chop the Rock’ to make the stock trail out of the canyon.)” þ | ||
| Kaleidoscope Canyon | Jenny Hall & Mike Bogart | South Fk Choprock Canyon ¹ | Dennis Turville wrote: “Jenny Hall and Mike Bogart named it Kaleidoscope, since the canyon seemed different at every turn.” Descent in 1982. Link to account. (also known as SOUTH FORK CHOPROCK CANYON) þ |
| Choprock Slot AKA South Fk of Choprock | South Fk Choprock Canyon ¹ | (also known as KALEIDOSCOPE CANYON, MOE SLOT, CHOPSLOT, EAST FORK CHOPROCK CANYON) þ | |
| Beaver Dam | Scott Patterson | Named as it was near a beaver dam which is apparently gone. (also known as EGYPT 5) þ | |
| Zebra Slot | Scott Patterson | Scott Patterson wrote: “We found Zebra in the early 90’s while looking for slot canyons. The first time we went there the stripes made it look zebra–like. On a sunny day it looks more like a Candy Cane and that name is more appropriate. I wish we would have named it Peppermint, but the name Zebra is the one that stuck.” Though the canyon appeared in Steve Allen’s Canyoneering 3, it was left unnamed in the book. The canyon was subsequently published in 1998 under the name Zebra in Kelsey’s 4th Edition Canyon Hiking Guide. þ ‡² | |
| Tunnel Slot | Michael R. Kelsey | Named in Kelsey’s 4th Edition Canyon Hiking Guide. þ ‡² | |
| Center & Main | Rick Green | Spencer Canyon ° | Rick Green wrote: “I named it because of its obvious intersection, which comes in at right angles to each other as well as running N and S. All Mormon towns use a grid system for its street names and I thought it was appropriate to carry on the tradition.” Named circa 1993. þ |
| Secret Passage | Bill Wolverton | Big West Fork Red Breaks Canyon ° | A play on Hidden Passage Canyon, since it’s a relatively hidden slot. Named circa 1990. þ |
| Moonshadow Canyon | Steve Allen | Steve Allen’s friend Joe Breddan frequently enjoyed midnight walks in moonlight. On one trip in Death Hollow he had walked up this particular canyon during the moonlight, and the canyon was so named to recognize his propensity for such walks. þ | |
| Little Death Hollow | Rudi Lambrechtse | On the USGS maps this canyon is named Death Hollow, sharing the identical name to the long, entrenched canyon descending from Boulder Mountain. The alteration in Rudi Lambrechtse’s Hiking the Escalante likely is the origin of the name. Rudi Lambrechtse wrote: “Although this canyon is named Death Hollow, it’s name has been altered to differentiate it from the longer more, strenuous canyon ...” £ | |
| Micro Death Hollow | Tom Jones | A play on ‘Little Death Hollow’ þ | |
| S Canyon | Mike Bogart Mary Dern Janice Hansen & Dennis Turville | Dennis Turville wrote: “Named for its obvious S-shape on the map.” Descent in May 1978. Link to account. (also known as HAPPY DOG) þ | |
| O Canyon | Mike Bogart & Dennis Turville | Dennis Turville Wrote: “‘O’ Canyon which was named for the ‘O’ in ‘Waterpocket Fold’ on the [topo map].” Descent in October 1978. Link to account. (also known as BABOON LAUGHS) þ | |
| L Canyon AKA Poe Canyon | Mike Bogart & Jenny Hall | The Pit and the Pendulum — A short story written by Edgar Allen Poe, in which a prisoner, during the Spanish Inquisition, finds himself in a dark room, with blade–like pendulum slowly descending towards his chest. Though he escapes the pendulum, the walls of the room close in on him, pushing him closer to falling into a deep pit in the middle of the room. Dennis Turville wrote: “Originally called ‘L’ Canyon for the ‘L’ in ‘Fold’ on the map, it was later called ‘Poe’ Canyon because of its pits and pendulums ...” Descent in August 1981. Link to account. (also known as SMILING CRICKET) þ | |
| Happy Dog Baboon Laughs & Smiling Cricket | Jason Pease | Jason Pease wrote: “I love the blank spots, the places I have heard nothing or next to nothing about. Last year I was getting tired of canyons and wanted to just wander somewhere. [The Waterpocket Fold] caught my eye somehow, as well as, 3 canyons along it. I walked the rim of all 3, getting into [the first canyon] in 2 different places (seeing bolts) and seeing both from the bottom of their final drops. [The third canyon] I walked the south rim, but I got no good view down in, only a chasm with no bottom. Once back at camp the final night, I was laying on the sand in my bag, wondering what to call them for my own personal record keeping: ‘That First Canyon South That Actually Starts Midway Up’ didn't have much panache. Nor did ‘That Second Canyon South’ or ‘Third Canyon South’ have a nice ring to it. So I'm laying there watching clouds shape–shift by and light upon one that looks just like a dog’s head, big floppy ears, tongue wagging—a ‘Happy Dog.’ So it was written so shall it be done. Then I decided to keep that theme for the trio—creatures and joyful emotion (at least in word). I thought ‘Baboon Laughs’ because, as anyone who ever has visited a zoo knows, those damn things sit up in their trees and laugh or howl or whatever it is they are doing, making a ruckus of it all, but you can't always see them. You know they’re there, but only in furtive glimpses. And that was how that canyon seemed—furtive glimpses laughing at me and an element of danger in the broken, jointed landscape of its rim and head. And ‘Smiling Cricket’ cause you NEVER see those things, but you hear them, soft and steady and infuriatingly undiscoverable. Try as you might you can’t find it, until you get down and dirty and on its level and finally come eye to antennae. But, if you’re like me, even though it is only a little insect, it creeps me out and my hand jerks away even as it darts out to silence the bugger so i can sleep. But that’s only if I am in a room with a lone cricket; sleeping outside I love their cacophony.” (also known as S CANYON, O CANYON, L/POE CANYON, respectively) þ | |
| Cassidy Canyon | Malia McIlvenna | Named as it descends below Cassidy Arch. ω | |
| The Wives | Malia McIlvenna | Malia McIlvenna wrote: “The Wives are located on the south side of Cohab canyon in Capitol Reef NP. Cohab was said to be a hide–out for ‘cohabitators’ (polygamists) in the early 1900s, thus my nick–names for the canyons, ‘The Wives.’” ω | |
| Pandora’s Box | Steve Brezovec & Ryan Cornia | Pandora’s Box—the large jar that was carried by Pandora, the first woman in Greek Mythology. A gift from Zeus, the jar was not to be opened under any circumstance; alas, Pandora’s curiosity led to her opening of the jar, unleashing all the evils on the earth. However, hastily closing the lid, she was able to contain the one thing which lay at the bottom—hope. ‘Pandora’s Box’, a working title during project mode originating from Steve Brezovec’s Father’s Mother’s Name, was a reference to the potential difficulties of the canyon. The canyon was first published on Climb–Utah under the name Pandora’s Box. (also known as WIGGUM GULCH) þ | |
| Wiggum Gulch AKA Bigg Spyre | Steve Brezovec, Scott Holley, & Hank Moon | Wiggum is a Simpsons reference. Bigg Spyre, based on a Strongbad cartoon, refers to the magnificent spire above the exit rappel. (also known as PANDORA’S BOX) þ | |
| Zion & Grand Staircase | |||
| Das Boot | Dave Pitney | Link to story | |
| Battle Creek | Jonathan Zambella & Kirk Brodie | Oak Creek ¹ | Jonathan Zambella wrote: “Main fork of Oak was named Battle Creek in 1997 after I fell and broke my ankle while carrying a 70lb pack on what was known as the first recorded descent, which we completed despite the ankle issue.” (also known as MAIN\NORTH FORK OAK CREEK) þ |
| The Chute | Jonathan Zambella & Kirk Brodie | Named during the 1997 exploration. (also known as MIDDLE FORK OAK CREEK) þ | |
| Chimney Rock AKA Cave Creek | Jonathan Zambella & Kirk Brodie | Name during the 1997 exploration. Jonathan Zambella wrote: “Later that week we went down the South Fork but called it Chimney Rock. It was renamed Cave Creek the following season under the guise of myself and Hauk Reed.” (also known as EYE OF THE NEEDLE, SOUTH FORK OAK CREEK) þ | |
| Eye of the Needle | Shane Burrows | Published under the under the name Eye of the Needle in June 2003. (also known as CHIMNEY ROCK, SOUTH FORK OAK CREEK) ω | |
| Four Fire Canyon AKA Main Fk Kolob Creek | Mike Bogart, Mary Dern, Janice Hansen, & Dennis Turville | Kolob Creek Canyon ¹ | Dennis Turville wrote: “Named for the four fires we made, while bolting, to stay warm.” Descent in September 1978. Link to account. (also known as KOLOB CREEK CANYON, MAIN FORK KOLOB CREEK) ω |
| Dry Fork of Kolob Creek | Mark Freed, Scott Bowen, & Dennis Turville | Descent in May 1977. Link to account. (also known as BOUNDARY CANYON ) þ | |
| Boundary Canyon | Named since its technical section starts at the edge of the Zion Nat’l Park boundary. (also known as DRY FORK KOLOB CREEK) þ | ||
| Troll’s Treat AKA Imlay Canyon | Mike Bogart, Mary Dern, & Dennis Turville | Imlay Canyon ¹ | Dennis Turville wrote: “We called it Troll’s Treat since we felt like trolls ferrying our packs through all of the obstacles, especially with that damned 300–foot rope ...” Descent in June 1978. Link to account. (also known as IMLAY CANYON) ω |
| Secret Falls Canyon | Scott Patterson | The next canyon complex east of Icebox. Descended and named in 1992. þ | |
| Icebox Canyon AKA Waterfalls Cyn | From Scott Patterson: “Icebox was known as Waterfalls, and I don’t know which name came first. Here’s the story: I led the WMC trip through the canyon several years ago. In researching the area, we had the NPS search by phone all the previous ‘Black Book’ entries. One very old one, said that there was a route to the rim from Lee Pass and it said you could look down into the ‘Eye Slots,’ or at least that’s what I heard. When we did the canyon, it was partially filled with snow and the water was very cold (41 degrees to be exact). After the swim, Janet Curry asked, “Scott are you sure that the ranger said ‘Eye Slots’; it should be Icebox,” or something to that effect. Later, Stu Addler wrote or trip up in the Black Book as Icebox Canyon. Still later, we learned that the name Waterfalls Canyon has already been tagged to the canyon. We tried to find the old entry that was read over the phone to find out if it was Icebox or Eye Slots, but after that it was lost. None of the rangers could find it after that. Strange, I know. So, the question still remains, is the canyon Eye Slots, Icebox, or Waterfalls Canyon?” ω | ||
| Fat Mans Misery | A fork of Misery canyon. From Tom Jones: “Legend has it, one of the rappels could be avoided by worming down a narrow passage between boulders—thus the name ‘Fat Man’s Misery.’ §¹ | ||
| Checkerboard Canyon | Kip Marshall | Named for a wall in the canyon which bears a resemblance to a checkerboard. þ | |
| The Hammerhead | Brian Cabe | Tom Jones wrote: “Brian commented that the canyon looked like a hammerhead, so it became ‘The Hammerhead.’” þ | |
| Hook Canyon | Brian Cabe | Because the canyon hooks around. þ | |
| Spearhead Canyon | Tom Jones | Tom Jones wrote: “There is a prominent formation labeled The Spearhead, which the canyon passes behind. We discussed other names (Majestic-Cathedral Canyon, etc.) but Spearhead made more sense.” þ §¹ | |
| Issac Canyon | Ram & Tom Jones | Tom Jones wrote: “People were calling the canyon between Moroni and Jacob, ‘Jacob.’ So the next one would be Issac.” þ §¹ | |
| Employee Canyon | Named because it ends up in the employee housing area behind the Lodge. (also known as LODGE CANYON) ω §¹ | ||
| Lodge Canyon | Tom Jones et al. | Tom Jones wrote: “Lodge had developed several names — ‘Lodge’ because it ends up at the Lodge, ‘Employee’ because it ends up in the employee housing area behind the Lodge. Three years ago, the backcountry desk wanted to add it to their standard canyon database, so were looking to standardize the name. Together, we decided Lodge was more elegant than Employee, so went with that.” (also known as EMPLOYEE CANYON) þ §¹ | |
| Starfish Canyon | Keyhole Canyon | Dennis Turville wrote: “Named by locals who thought it looked like a starfish on the Zion map.” (also known as KEYHOLE CANYON, THE JUGHANDLE) þ | |
| Keyhole Canyon AKA The Jughandle | Rick Praetzel | Jonathan Zambella wrote: “The Jughandle—first descended by Royce Trapier some time in the late 70’s—was renamed the Keyhole, by Rick Praetzel in 1996 due to its entry wall formation at the first rappel which looks like a skeleton key hole. The park service adopted that name into the books because we created a ‘trip product’ called the Keyhole and, when they started authorizing permits, our students would go to the counter and ask for a keyhole permit.” (also known as STARFISH CANYON) þ | |
| Shelf Canyon | Ram | Named for the many shelf–like rock layers. ω | |
| Yankee Doodle | Eric Kermeier | Likely named as it is a tributary of Yankee Doodle Hollow Creek. | |
| Boltergeist | Steve Brezovec & Dick Shear | Dick Shear wrote: “I discovered ‘Boltergeist’ but only did the top portion solo. I invited Brezovec and others to do the first decent. He led the team and IMHO should get top billing. Remember the movie Poltergeist? I named it Boltergeist because if anyone bolted this canyon the ghosts would certainly get them.” þ | |
| Shear Canyon | Dick Shear | Dick Shear wrote: “The last drop is very steep and ‘Shear,’ thus the name.” þ | |
| Stone Donkey Canyon | Steve Allen wrote: “Ralph Chynoweth, who ran stock in the Paria for more than 50 years: ‘There’s a rock down there that somebody thought looked like a head of a donkey.’ Ralph also noted that it was called Big Canyon.” þ | ||
| Booker Canyon | Michael R. Kelsey wrote: “The locals never had a name for this canyon, but people at the BLM once referred to it as Booker Canyon, after one of their staff, Bill Booker.” þ | ||
| Moab Area | |||
| Medieval Chamber | Fred Wilkinson & Matt Moore | Matt Moore wrote: “In 1994, I moved to Moab and became friends with another freshly transplanted dreamer, mountain bike legend–to–be Fred Wilkinson from Ontario Canada. One of our first hikes together found us following a sandy wash on a hot summer day. Abruptly, the wash dropped out of sight into a most bizarre sandstone abyss. As Fred squinted his sweat-stung eyes trying to see down into the dark depths, he casually remarked that, “It looks like some sort of medieval torture chamber down there.” How irresistible! So we returned early the next day with ropes to have a closer look. The setting at the bottom of the chamber was more amazing than we could have ever imagined! In the years that followed we led visiting friends, locals—anyone, really—into this wild place, somehow luring them with tales of the ‘Medieval Torture Chamber.’ Despite our name, it proved to be a most enjoyable hike. Well, we eventually became responsible citizens; Fred became a founder of the Chile Pepper Bike Shop and I founded Desert Highlights. Of course, now that I had turned pro I realized that some may not be as charmed by our canyon’s name as our friends, so I reluctantly abbreviated the name. Fred understood, but still it was sad for us both.” ω | |
| Lomatium Canyon | Matt Moore | Named for the Slickrock Desert Parsley (Lomatium latilobum) which is primarily found in and around Lomatium canyon. (also known as SKULL HALL CANYON) ω | |
| Skull Hall Canyon | Ram | Named for the skull shaped arch in its lower end. Named in 1979. (also known as LOMATIUM CANYON) þ | |
| Krill Canyon | Matt Moore | Matt Moore wrote: “This [first] rappel descends through a very tight gap between the canyon walls as it enters a cavernous setting. Most people squirm a little bit at the start of any rappel, but this one requires us to do so as we contort our bodies through the narrow crevice. You’ll feel especially like krill as you filter your way through into a cavern called ‘The Belly of the Whale’, hence the name.” (also known as HANGER HALL CANYON) ω þ | |
| Hanger Hall Canyon | Ram | Named after the blimp shaped alcove in one of its spurs. Named in 1982. (also known as KRILL CANYON) þ | |
| Tierdrop Canyon | Matt Moore | Named for the 4 tiers that one drops while descending the canyon. ω | |
| Not Tierdrop Canyon | Ryan Cornia | A play on Tierdrop, which is a neighboring canyon. Ryan Cornia wrote: “Ram, Tom Jones, and I were looking for Tierdrop, but didn’t find it.” þ | |
| Pleiades Canyon | Matt Moore | From Greek mythology, the Pleiades were the seven daughters of the titan Atlas and sea–nymph Pleione. This appellation compares the seven waterfalls in the canyon to these seven heavenly sisters of mythology. ω | |
| Entrajo Canyon | Matt Moore | Matt Moore wrote: “Entrajo is named for the rock layers. The upper canyon section is Entrada and the lower section is Navajo. You pass through a very distinct boundary line between these layers while hiking down the canyon.” þ | |
| Dipper Creek Canyon | Matt Moore | Matt Moore wrote: “Soon enough, the canyon walls close in shrouding us from the rising sun and creating splendid acoustics which echo every little riffle of the flowing water. The sharp ‘chirps’ of the American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), for which the canyon is named, also begin to resound off the walls complementing the tranquility of the water. The bird’s constant ‘dipping’ and diving antics never fail to entertain and amaze. Several of their nests are found along the waterway, clinging within pockets in the convoluted walls—reminiscent of the Anasazi’s cliff dwellings. ” ω | |
| Dragonfly Canyon | Matt Moore | The canyon’s name comes from the squadrons of playful, red ‘Flame Skimmer’ dragonflies (Libellula saturata) populating the canyon from spring through fall. ω | |
| Granary Canyon | Matt Moore | Named for a granary found in the canyon. ω | |
| Odonata Canyon | Matt Moore | Odonata — the order of insects comprising dragonflies and damselflies. Matt Moore wrote: “We first went into that canyon in 2000 and guided it infrequently for a couple years. It has no official name with the USGS. Many locals call it Culvert Canyon. It's also called Dragonfly Canyon by many locals. We spun off the Dragonfly theme and called it Odonata Canyon. Of course we didn't call it Dragonfly because we had already used that name for the canyon in Arches many years earlier.” (also known as DRAGONFLY CANYON, CULVERT CANYON, CAMELTOE CANYON) ω | |
| Cameltoe | Shane Burrows & Justin Eatchel | Named for a feature that looks like the toe of a camel. (also known as ODONATA CANYON, DRAGONFLY CANYON, CULVERT CANYON) ω | |
| Big Horn | Jason Price, March Schnupp, Justin Eatchel, Alex Korkishko, Shane Burrows | Shane Burrows wrote: “Big Horn has this really cool little hanging garden in the middle of a huge sandstone wall. A skilled climber or big horn sheep can actual climb to an overhanging ledge just above the hanging garden. The problem is if you jump into the hanging garden from the ledge you are not getting out unless you use ropes. This became obvious to us when we discover the horns of a Big Horn Sheep who had become trapped in the hanging garden/prison and perished.” ω | |
| Cedar Mesa | |||
| The Black Hole of White Canyon | Michael R. Kelsey | First appeared in Kelsey’s 1st Edition Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau in April 1986. He named it the Black Hole because it was one of the darkest canyons he had been in at the time. However, he has since been through much darker and finds the name quite silly now. (also known as CASS CANYON) þ ‡¹ | |
| Horse Tanks Canyon | Michael R. Kelsey | Named so because it is near a place on the map labeled ‘horse tanks.’ ° | |
| The Bluffettes | Dave Black | Dave Black wrote: “I was doing them back in 1999 and 2000 and didn’t have names for them. They were so short and all led to Bluff, so I called them the Bluffettes and gave them numbers. Jared Hillhouse started doing them a couple of years later and gave them individual names.” þ | |
| Dinosaur Nat’l Monument & Vicinity | |||
| Outlaw Canyon & Outlaw Arch Canyon | Scott Patterson | Scott Patterson wrote: “In 2006, I named the Outlaw Canyons in Dinosaur National Monument. Since the canyons were near Outlaw Park I just used those names. The northern one was tagged Outlaw Arch Canyon because of the arch in there. I tagged the name plain old ‘Outlaw Canyon’ on the southern system.” cf. Scoggin Draw for an earlier name of Outlaw Arch Canyon. þ | |
| Scoggin Draw | Scott Patterson wrote: “I found out from a local rafter that some of the river rafters refered to what I called ‘Outlaw Arch Canyon’ as ‘Scoggin Draw’ after the 1941 Scoggin inscription near the mouth of the canyon. It was made by Charles Scoggin, a researcher from the University of Colorado who contributed substantially to the Dinosaur National Monument archeology in the years just prior to World War II. Since the Scoggin Draw name preceeds ours, I changed the name on the webpages I made for the canyon.” (also known as OUTLAW ARCH CANYON) þ | ||
| Carcass Canyon | A.J. & Scott Patterson | Scott Patterson wrote: “Carcass Canyon was named in 2006 because we found a few carcasses of a porcupine and deer in the canyon. The canyon is west of Mantle Cave in Dinosaur National Monument. I think it was AJ who suggested the name.” þ | |
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Information here has been contributed by Steve Allen, Kent Beverly, Dave Black, Steve Brezovec, Shane Burrows, Lloyd Bush, Ryan Cornia, Tom & Jennifer Gillette, Rick Green, Harvey Halpern, Tom Jones, Michael R. Kelsey, Penny Martens, Hank Moon, Matt Moore, Scott Patterson, Jason Pease, Dave Pimental, Steve (Ram) Ramras, Dick Shear, Nat Smale, Dennis Turville, Bill Wolverton, Jonathan Zambella, and others. | |||
| REFERENCES: †¹ Allen, Steve. Canyoneering 1: The San Rafael Swell. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1992. †² Allen, Steve. Canyoneering 2: Technical Loop Hikes in Southern Utah. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1995. †³ Allen, Steve. Canyoneering 3: Loop Hikes in Utah’s Escalante. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1997. §¹ Jones, Tom Zion Canyoneering. Mt Carmel, UT: CanyoneeringUSA, 2006. ‡¹ Kelsey, Michael R. Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau. 1st Ed. Provo, UT: Kelsey Publishing, 1986. ‡² Kelsey, Michael R. Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau. 4th Ed. Provo, UT: Kelsey Publishing, 1998. S Kelsey, Michael R. Hiking and Exploring Utah’s San Rafael Swell. 3rd Ed. Provo, UT: Kelsey Publishing, 1999. ° Kelsey, Michael R. Non–Technical Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau. 5th Ed. Provo, UT: Kelsey Publishing, 2006. ¹ Kelsey, Michael R. Technical Slot Canyon Guide to the Colorado Plateau. 1st Ed. Provo, UT: Kelsey Publishing, 2003. £ Lambrechtse, Rudi. Hiking the Escalante. Salt Lake City: Wasatch Publishers, 1985. ω Collected from website or webforum. þ Personal communication. | |||
| CANYON NAME DATABASE: compiled by Stefan Folias | |||