Grand Gulch (Kane to Bullet) Water Availability

[JamesBur]

Howdy. In a week I’m doing a 4 day backpacking trip from Kane Gulch trailhead to Bullet Canyon trailhead in the Grand Gulch area of Utah. Has anyone stopped by recently and can give me an update on the water situation? I’ve heard that the Toadie Canyon, Coyote Canyon, and Sheikh’s Canyon springs are all pretty reliable, but I wanted to hear what your experience was so I know how much water to bring. Also, does Jail House spring have water? Cheers in advance

 

[Bob]

best to call ranger station...they are usually up to date on water

 

[IntrepidXJ]

I was there at the beginning of April. Todie was dry. We found one small nasty pool of water in Todie Canyon that I would have only used in an emergency, so we continued on and found a pool that was slightly better that the Pourover. Coyote Canyon was flowing and good. We didn't stop at Sheiks but heard from others that it was good. We found water at Jailhouse that was OK.

We ran into Alicia in Coyote Canyon, and she told us the rangers told her that there was plenty of water the entire way, which was not the case: https://www.girlonahike.com/backpacking-kane-gulch-to-bullet-canyon-cedar-mesa.html

...so don't completely trust the word of the rangers...

 

[Stickerbumper]

Just came thru the area two days ago. Most springs between Kane and Bullet were dry as of Sunday. We packed in 8L each and that was plenty for two days.

Upper Bullet has some, but very murky water. Upper Kane looked good, but I guess nobody would use either water source anyways?!

We heard from people that they found some water in Coyote and Sheiks, but I can't confirm that and I'm even less sure about the quality.

Have fun!

 

[LarryBoy]

Hey folks,

Headed down the Government Trail in a week or two. Anyone have intel on water within striking distance of there - say between Gov't Trail and the Big Man? Haven't heard much in the way of springs but was wondering if anyone's been down there recently and has a report on potholes.

Thanks!

 

[Bob]

Mouth of Pollys.... up canyon as well. But dont know current. There is a nice ruin in Pollys but its off trail creek bed hiking

 

[gnwatts]

I am going to be in the vicinity in a couple of weeks, so I called the BLM and they said to be prepared to bring water, she specifically said the spring at Polly's is dry. Maybe they are just trying to get people to be prepared. There is a pretty good pool a few miles down canyon from Polly's, who knows if it has water in it. Maybe @Bob can chime in as to it's location. Big pour off spring?

 

[LarryBoy]

Thanks @Bob and @gnwatts. Will probably play it safe and pack in water.

 

[Titans]

Hey folks,

Headed down the Government Trail in a week or two. Anyone have intel on water within striking distance of there - say between Gov't Trail and the Big Man? Haven't heard much in the way of springs but was wondering if anyone's been down there recently and has a report on potholes.

Thanks!

Talked with a ranger at Kane Gulch station about two weeks back about the water situation in the canyons. She said “all springs dried up in spring and they haven’t started running yet”.
Having said that, we saw a ton of water in pot holes and dry fall pools in Road canyon, also plenty of water in lower Grand Gulch. Didn’t make it down government trail. Lots of water in the canyons in Natural Bridges too.

And generally everywhere we hiked off trail in the desert in the past weeks the pot holes are full and the pools below dry falls are full, I can follow up more with a PM.

FYI : The Kane Gulch ranger station itself also didn’t have water, as their water well pump broke in august and hasn’t been repaired. The ranger was living with a 5 gallon water container, refilling at Natural Bridges (has a water spigot available year around outside the visitor center, valve is 6 ft down, so ok in the winter.)

 

[fossana]

Talked with a ranger at Kane Gulch station about two weeks back about the water situation in the canyons. She said “all springs dried up in spring and they haven’t started running yet”.
Having said that, we saw a ton of water in pot holes and dry fall pools in Road canyon, also plenty of water in lower Grand Gulch. Didn’t make it down government trail. Lots of water in the canyons in Natural Bridges too.

I did Bullet to Sheiks on the 5th. There was no shortage of water between potholes and the usual springs.