Backpacking Canyonlands The Maze, April 2025

[RyanP]

I looked at that too. I knew getting to the overlook was going to be pushing it in terms of time, but seeing that sealed the deal and dropped it from consideration. My son the climber would have been fine, but I've gotten a bit more cautious these days!

Even if you don't think you'll have the time or desire to climb all the way up to the top, I will say the bottom part of the Overlook hike is still super fun (we had a blast doing it even though we ended up turning back at that point).

Regarding which canyon to exit out of--all of the options are scenic and of kind of similar difficulty (I haven't done the Plug yet--we were planning on it last time, but had to cut a day off our trip due to incoming weather for the drive home). I don't recall the S. Fork Horse Canyon exit being harder than the SE Fork of Pictograph Canyon--in fact, I think it was probably a little easier. All of them are probably enough to feel a little exciting for you but all of them are way easier than the Maze Overlook in my opinion. It's a way longer hike through S. Fork though from the Harvest Scene. S. Fork has more water and has a more serene/pristine feel (really feels like nobody goes there), as TrailScot said, but I think it's also less spectacular (the walls aren't as tall, etc--although that's of course a matter of opinion). If you're pressed for time, the SE Fork Of Picto Canyon would be a great choice to consider--that's what I'd do if I had a short amount of time.

 

[napatony13]

Even if you don't think you'll have the time or desire to climb all the way up to the top, I will say the bottom part of the Overlook hike is still super fun (we had a blast doing it even though we ended up turning back at that point).

Regarding which canyon to exit out of--all of the options are scenic and of kind of similar difficulty (I haven't done the Plug yet--we were planning on it last time, but had to cut a day off our trip due to incoming weather for the drive home). I don't recall the S. Fork Horse Canyon exit being harder than the SE Fork of Pictograph Canyon--in fact, I think it was probably a little easier. All of them are probably enough to feel a little exciting for you but all of them are way easier than the Maze Overlook in my opinion. It's a way longer hike through S. Fork though from the Harvest Scene. S. Fork has more water and has a more serene/pristine feel (really feels like nobody goes there), as TrailScot said, but I think it's also less spectacular (the walls aren't as tall, etc--although that's of course a matter of opinion). If you're pressed for time, the SE Fork Of Picto Canyon would be a great choice to consider--that's what I'd do if I had a short amount of time.

Thanks for the great info Ryan and for the recommendations. Perhaps biting off some of the overlook trail and then exiting via Picto would be a good alternative...plenty scenic but not as many miles as Horse. Don't know if I'll ever make it back there, so trying to make the most of the time we'll have.