Dark Canyon/Gypsum Loop

Joe Hall

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Messages
8
I'm looking for some beta on a loop I'm contemplating in the Dark Canyon area. We were thinking of starting at Sundance (we only have 2WD rental car, if there's a better 2WD access, please let me know) Drop down into Dark Canyon, up to Youngs into Fable followed by Gypsum down to the river (lake). From there we would packraft back to Dark and out Sundance back to the car. Hoping for a non-technical route and have a few points of concern:

-Haven't seen much beta on Gypsum to the river. How doable is it? Seems like it's possible?

-Connecting Youngs to Fable. Sounds like you have to hike entirely out of the canyon at some point in Youngs to avoid a pour off. But doable?

-Based on some trip reports, it seems like floating that section of Cataract can be pretty challenging (miserable) based on water levels. Any ideas what it's doing these days.

Hoping to do this trip in about a week. Thanks for anything!
 
-Based on some trip reports, it seems like floating that section of Cataract can be pretty challenging (miserable) based on water levels. Any ideas what it's doing these days.

What have you heard that makes it miserable? From Dark down to Hite it's a free flowing river with no rapids with the reservoir in its current state. Easy floating. I'm not sure what there is between Gypsum and Dark but you have me curious.
 
I'm looking for some beta on a loop I'm contemplating in the Dark Canyon area. We were thinking of starting at Sundance (we only have 2WD rental car, if there's a better 2WD access, please let me know) Drop down into Dark Canyon, up to Youngs into Fable followed by Gypsum down to the river (lake). From there we would packraft back to Dark and out Sundance back to the car. Hoping for a non-technical route and have a few points of concern:

-Haven't seen much beta on Gypsum to the river. How doable is it? Seems like it's possible?

-Connecting Youngs to Fable. Sounds like you have to hike entirely out of the canyon at some point in Youngs to avoid a pour off. But doable?

-Based on some trip reports, it seems like floating that section of Cataract can be pretty challenging (miserable) based on water levels. Any ideas what it's doing these days.

Hoping to do this trip in about a week. Thanks for anything!
Yeah lake level is way below dark. Only thing that could make it "miserable" is a strong headwind since it's slow water. Rest of the trip is doable. Some rope is a good idea for pack hauling in a couple spots. Have fun.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ben
Beautiful, thank you both. Nick, your trip looks wonderful! I'll report back on how this goes for us if you are interested. And here's hoping for no 50mph winds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ben
We did a similar loop a year or so ago. We came up Dark and went out Youngs to Fable, dropping into Gypsum via the Powell route, back to the river and then back to waterhole flat via Easter Pasture. You do have to climb completely out of Youngs and then find a spot to drop back into the canyon from the rim before finally exiting out to Fable. Its not too bad but the drop in point back into Youngs is open to interpretation. We used Allen's guide and found the drop in point further north than where he has it marked. Its a great scrappy canyon though! Have fun and can't wait to see the TR!
 
Is there a better two wheel drive access point for this loop?
That's probably the best bet for 2wd and what you're wanting to do.

One other thing worth mentioning on the river section is the silt from the lake does make campsites mostly nonexistent so I'd try to plan to do the entire river section all at once.

Edit: actually lower Clearwater and bowdie are both worth checking out and would be good camping. both you'd have to hike up a bit.
 
We hiked down Fable Valley, into Gypsum Cyn, floated down to Bowdie and hiked out of Bowdie.... Can give you info on that way. All I don't know is the additional float on down to Dark Cyn. Fable is piece of cake, really nice ruins. Dropping into Gypsum easy, one spot getting around Gypsum Falls is interesting but not bad..... hike to river from Gysum Falls no problem. We parked at site at top of Bowdie, could probably ease a 2wd drive to it.

We floated it in Walmart vinyl rafts.....

Look in the resource section here, I have info on Fable Valley/Bowdie Loop
 
We hiked down Fable Valley, into Gypsum Cyn, floated down to Bowdie and hiked out of Bowdie.... Can give you info on that way. All I don't know is the additional float on down to Dark Cyn. Fable is piece of cake, really nice ruins. Dropping into Gypsum easy, one spot getting around Gypsum Falls is interesting but not bad..... hike to river from Gysum Falls no problem. We parked at site at top of Bowdie, could probably ease a 2wd drive to it.

We floated it in Walmart vinyl rafts.....

Look in the resource section here, I have info on Fable Valley/Bowdie Loop

Am I right in thinking that water isn't much of an issue of this route?
 
Last edited:
Fable thru Bowdie, don't think so, but changes by the year. But I am a camel.... Water at Sweet Alice Spr, Fable spring should be reliable, pouroff pool down from it, water at Gypsum Falls...but pain to get to. Water at Colorado. Bowdie is pretty wet most of the way, both forks, till you get to the upper third.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ben
We hiked down Fable Valley, into Gypsum Cyn, floated down to Bowdie and hiked out of Bowdie.... Can give you info on that way. All I don't know is the additional float on down to Dark Cyn. Fable is piece of cake, really nice ruins. Dropping into Gypsum easy, one spot getting around Gypsum Falls is interesting but not bad..... hike to river from Gysum Falls no problem. We parked at site at top of Bowdie, could probably ease a 2wd drive to it.

We floated it in Walmart vinyl rafts.....

Look in the resource section here, I have info on Fable Valley/Bowdie Loop
@Bob, I'd dig any info on Gypsum. We will be doing Dark to Youngs, Fable, Gypsum then float back to Dark. Thanks.
 
When are you planning.. can pm me with more info
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Gregg B. Dark Canyon/Gypsum Canyon/Cataract Canyon Loop Trip Planning 17
Nethos Into Dark Canyon Backpacking 12
SeanIsADesertRat Old guys backpacking in Dark Canyon Backpacking 17
B Dark Canyon - Young's to Lean-to Traverse Trip Planning 3
M Dark Canyon Complex Water Data Trip Planning 4
fossana An Allen inspired trip to Dark Canyon Backpacking 32
JBPHXAZ Dark Canyon Backpacking Help Trip Planning 9
Mikjik86 8 Days Backpacking Dark Canyon Wilderness Backpacking 3
Mikjik86 Short Video: Backpacking/Packrafting Dark Canyon Wilderness, Utah. April 2019 Backpacking 0
regehr Allen-ish dark canyon loop video Backpacking 5
Stephanie B Behind the Rocks, Ken's Lake Faux Falls, U-Turn Canyon, Seven Mile Canyon, and Dark Angel Hiking & Camping 4
T Dark canyon - lower blm portion with pack goats?? Canyoneering 2
Kullaberg63 Allen's Dark Canyon route Trip Planning 18
MarkintheHV Dark Canyon Trip Planning 4
George_Washington_Hayduke Clearwater Canyon, Black Hole of White Canyon, Dark Canyon, Swett Canyon "Packraftoneering" Canyoneering 6
BJett Dark Canyon Wilderness - Wilderness Volunteers Backpacking 12
cmgz Dark Canyon-Woodenshoe to Sundance Backpacking 4
J Dark Canyon Trip Planning 3
Cody Dark Canyon Backpacking 6
Bob Dark Canyon - Dry Mesa Area Backpacking 3
Rockskipper Interesting article about dark sky parks General Discussion 12
dug Dark Cyn/Fable Valley approach roads Trip Planning 5
Nick Poll: Dark vs. Light - 2018 Edition General Discussion 9
Dave Afraid of the Dark Backpacking 12
Nick Dark to Cataract to Hite Backpacking 27
Artemus Dark skies for naked eye astronomers and photographers Photography 16
Nick Poll: BCP Dark & Light? Questions, Suggestions & Support 26
Bob Dark Sky Finder Resource Discussions 5
Backcountry Post BCP - Dark or Light? General Discussion 2
Archbishop I've joined the dark side........ And I LIKE IT! General Discussion 3
Nick Poll: Light vs. Dark Theme Questions, Suggestions & Support 11
J Reflection Canyon Trip Planning 3
fossana Found: prescription glasses near the top of the Flipoff Canyon approach General Discussion 5
Spud Salt Creek Canyon question Trip Planning 11
B Buckskin gulch/Pariah canyon Carpool Trip Planning 0
TractorDoc Paintbrush Canyon / Cascade Canyon Loop -- Grand Teton NP September 11, 2023 Hiking & Camping 9
Kullaberg63 15 day canyon route Backpacking 13
Titans Tricked in the canyon! Hiking & Camping 5
TrailScot Dayhiking the Under-the-Rim Trail - Bryce Canyon NP - October 2023 Hiking & Camping 4
Janice Such a GRAND Canyon - Deer Creek / Tapeats / Thunder River Backpacking 21
M Mee/Knowles Canyon Loop, Grand Junction Colorado Backpacking 4
OldBill Short hike at the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania Hiking & Camping 1
S Paria Canyon- Whitehouse to Lees Ferry, Oct 18 to 21, 2023 Trip Reports 0
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 7 through 10 Backpacking 34
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 1 through 6 Backpacking 56
A Bowdie Canyon Trip Planning 10
TheMountainRabbit Silas Canyon (Popo Agie Wilderness) - August 2023 Backpacking 3
J Paria Canyon - One Day Trail Trip Planning 10
Bob The New Grand Canyon Trip Planning 1
WhozWutz Invite Horse Canyon Needles Meet Up (Members Only) 1

Similar threads

Back
Top