A Hidden Gem
Bluejohn is a great canyon across the street from the Swell. A bit of sandy wash slogging is the penalty for a couple miles of really fun narrows. This loop descends the cool narrows of the East Fork and ascends the Main Fork, through a spectacular tall narrows section, and then requiring a moderate degree of climbing skill to bypass some chockstones and short drops. None of the climbing problems are particularly exposed, and all can be belayed.
Rumors of some bolting-up required are highly exagerated. After the second rappel in the East Fork, a short drop is passed by "sequencing" people down (rappeling off a braced canyoneer), then carefully spotting the last person down. Soloing this drop would be difficult.
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| Great narrows in the East Fork of Bluejohn Canyon |
GETTING THERE: From the junction of Utah Highway 24 and the Goblin Valley Road, drive south on Rte 24 about 1/4 mile to a signed dirt road on the ledt that heads south and east toward Hans Flat, The Maze, and Horseshoe Canyon. Follow this road 23.8 miles to a prominent junction with a sign. Turn right (south), saving Horseshoe Canyon for another day. Continue south 7.1 miles to a fork. Go Left toward Hans Flat Ranger Station, and continue another 2.7 miles to a small dirt road on the left (east). Follow this .2 miles to 2 scrappy buildings and a cowed up yard. Park here. All roads are suitable for 2WD cars.
(UTM: 561823mE, 4243944mN)
AND WE'RE OFF: from the carpark, head east into the canyon. On the right side of the canyon is a ridge with a flat top, and a notch in the ridge about 1/2 mile north of the carpark. Climb onto the ridge and follow it north. From the notch, descend the other side east into a flat grassy basin. The East Fork is on the far side of the basin. Cross the basin, sighting on the La Sal Mountains in the distance. Do not head too far north toward the exposed Navajo sandstone visible at the north end of the basin. We'll get there eventually.
(UTM: 563927mE, 4244610mN)
When you reach it, descend into the canyon and meander downcanyon. A nice slot is downclimbed with ease, and then a large drop is encountered. Rappel 40' or so off a log or other natural anchor into the narrows. (This rappel is easily avoided by walking around on the right).
The canyon is interesting and narrow for quite a ways - climb, clamber, stem and squeeze downcanyon. One bolted drop requires a 30' rappel. Soon after, the canyon runs into a big wall, and a small drop marks the junction. Sequence most of the party down, then spot the last person from below - no anchor required. (Sequencing is where folks rappel off the braced body weight of the canyoneers above - leaving the last person in the sequence to downclimb into the waiting arms of the grateful masses below).
And what a nice bunch of narrows it is. Twisty, pretty, interesting, but never really tight or difficult. Just fun.
After not too long, the narrows end, and the slogging begins. An hour of slogging in loose sand leads to the Junction with the Main Fork.
(UTM: 564508mE, 4249854mN)
Turn left and slog upcanyon. After another hour or so, just as you are wondering if this is really worth it, the canyon narrows spectacularly. The sandstone walls sweep upward in virtual cathedrals. It's really nice. Somewhere in here, the canyon forks - stay left with the main canyon.
The narrows leads to a series of climbing obstacles, your penalty for doing the loop this way. Stem, chimney and offwidth up the various obstacles, passing packs as you go, and make your way to the top of the narrows. While reasonably difficult (5.6?, 5.8?), the climbing is never exposed, not too strenuous, and weaker members of the party can be belayed from above.
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| Big Narrows in the Main Fork |
