Bullet Canyon/Sheiks Canyon loop (Bears Ears NM)

fossana

Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2018
Messages
855
Logistics
Start/end: Bullet Canyon parking lot (with a shuttle ends at Sheiks trailhead)
Mileage: ~17 miles
Elevation gain: not much
Navigation: helpful to have a GPS to make sure you don't miss Sheiks Canyon
Filterable water: seasonal, but don't count on it
Permits: self-service permit for day trips, overnight permits reservable
Dogs: allowed on a leash
Nearest town/gas: Mexican Hat, UT
Date hiked: 03 Feb 2018

Approximate Route (dotted line = optional shuttle, green dots= ruins/pictograph sites mentioned )
map.png

With the (arguably illegal) executive order to downsize Bears Ears and Escalante National Monuments I decided to focus on hitting the highlights before they were no longer protected. Like much of Cedar Mesa, Bullet Canyon is known for its high density of Anasazi archeological sites. I neglected to bring a bike, so I parked at Sheiks and got the road slog out of the way first.

I passed Rim Ruin and scrambled down the short water chute, careful to avoid the ice.
DSC04598.JPG

The canyon opened up with towering striated walls.
DSC04610.JPG

DSC04623.JPG

The next major ruin was Perfect Kiva and one of the few, which the BLM encourages entry into.
DSC04625.JPG

Another 20 minutes down canyon was multi-level Jailhouse Ruin (my favorite of the lot).
DSC04637.JPG

After Jailhouse, Bullet Canyon empties into Grand Gulch.
DSC04652.JPG

Some of the minor ruins along Grand Gulch had pottery shards.
DSC04657.JPG

Just before the Sheiks turnoff pictographs filled the walls.
DSC04666.JPG

I headed up Sheiks and encountered one of the few remaining pools on the hike. The canyon followed an interesting water course until opening up again into a shallow sandy canyon.
DSC04697.JPG

Near the top of Sheiks was Yellow House Ruin, which still had an intact roof.
DSC04690.JPG

I drove over to the Citadel parking lot and caught the final light on Road Canyon before calling it a day.
DSC04720.JPG
 

Attachments

  • map.png
    map.png
    2.4 MB · Views: 111
  • DSC04606.JPG
    DSC04606.JPG
    521.8 KB · Views: 122
Thanks! The number of sights (and sites) in Bears Ears is overwhelming, but this one is definitely a classic. I also quite enjoyed the Fish/Owl loop, but there were fewer ruins.
 
My favorite loop hike.
I agree with Ann Zwinger in Wind and the Rock. The site is cool but creepy.
Thanks for sharing.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
IntrepidXJ Kane Gulch to Bullet Canyon Backpacking 1
IntrepidXJ Bullet Canyon Hiking & Camping 8
alene Bullet Canyon Trip Planning 16
J Grand Gulch (Kane to Bullet) Water Availability Trip Planning 9
futurafree Muddy Creek and Kane/Bullet Trip Planning 10
RyanP Kane to Bullet in 4 days? Trip Planning 8
Nick Bullet to Polly's in 4 days Trip Planning 27
Jackson Sheiks and Bullet Canyons Backpacking 30
Kyle P Biting the Bullet on a GPS Gear 44
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
BJett Part 3 - Tour de Canyon Country. Lower Escalante Loop Hiking & Camping 0
BJett Part 2 - Tour de Canyon Country. Swell Times Hiking & Camping 0
BJett Part 1 - Tour de Canyon Country. Cedar Mesa. Hiking & Camping 8
Gretchen Millward Trachyte Creek via Woodruff Canyon, April 2023 Backpacking 9
F Grand Canyon hermits rest to granite rapids to bright angel Trip Planning 10
gnwatts Stillwater Canyon On The Water 11
shredhiker Kings Canyon July 2022 Kearsarge, Rae, & Sixty Lakes Backpacking 8
J Info needed: Bown's Canyon, Long Canyon Trip Planning 8
Gretchen Millward Cheesebox Canyon, Oct. 2022 Backpacking 14
Stickerbumper Fold Canyon Middle Exit Trip Planning 9
Janice Professor Creek / Mary Jane Canyon - mid April? Trip Planning 0
D Horseshoe Canyon or San Rafael Swell? Trip Planning 9
scatman North Ridge of City Creek Canyon - February 4, 2023 Hiking & Camping 17
scatman South Ridge of City Creek Canyon - January 28, 2023 Hiking & Camping 4
NorthwestWanderer 8 Day High Sierra trek : Humphreys Basin, Star Col, Granite Park, Lake Italy & Piute Canyon 6/25-7/2/22 Backpacking 7
T Amazing Discovery in Utah-Glen Canyon Trip Planning 65
Titans What’s your unfinished business? Hard canyon access, mtn peak, you name it! General Discussion 54
SteveR Big Spring-Elephant Canyon dayhike. With free bonus vacation pix! Hiking & Camping 13
Stephanie B Dirty Devil River Impassible at Poison Springs Canyon Off Road 0
LarryBoy Is there anything technical in White Canyon above the Black Hole? Trip Planning 16
dennisrodman A week in the Grand Canyon / Boucher / Hermit / Tonto Trail Trip Planning 4
XID_AZ Kanab Creek Wilderness - Sowats Canyon - Mountain Sheep Spring Trip Planning 6

Similar threads

Back
Top