fossana
Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2018
- Messages
- 934
Logistics
Start/end: Todie Canyon trailhead / Sheiks Canyon trailhead (could be done in either direction, with or without a shuttle)
Mileage: ~19 miles
Difficulty: class 3
Navigation: Map/GPS may be useful. No signage in the canyons.
Filterable water: seasonal in Grand Gulch other than the intermittent springs
Designation: Grand Gulch Wilderness Area
Fees: $2 per person per day, or $5 for 7 days (self-service day use permits)
Nearest town/gas: Mexican Hat or Blanding, UT
Date hiked: 12 May 2019
Audio accompaniment: Preet Bharara's Doing Justice
Notes: The ~7 miles of dirt road connecting the trailheads were mind-numbingly dull. Bike shuttle recommended. The old two-track main road bypass is not suitable for anything wider than an ATV. The road damage just before the Sheiks trailhead is significant, and impassible to most vehicles.
Approximate Route
![map.png map.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78127-1b524db387680e13163676fbe48ddb5d.jpg)
Trip Report
After my Slickhorn loop and a decent night's sleep, I felt up to a longer hike. I had previously done Bullet Canyon to Sheiks Canyon loop; this time I decided to check out the northern section of Grand Gulch by linking up Todie Canyon to Sheiks. I parked just before the Sheiks trailhead and made the long walk through the skiddish cow herds to the Todie trailhead.
The Todie Canyon trail follows the rim a ways before dropping down a third class boulder field into the canyon.
![DSC01183.jpg DSC01183.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78107-e04dab4c8905a41f3f74dde013f7a1b4.jpg)
Todie quickly made up for the scarcity of ruins on yesterday's hike. A complex set of granaries sat high above the canyon bottom. A few were accessible with a bit of exposed scrambling, but the bulk were out of reach without some 5.7+ moves on sketchy rock. I opted out.
![DSC01200.jpg DSC01200.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78110-4642087e398be99022affce63e1304e3.jpg)
There were a few more isolated ruins in lower Todie. Once in Grand Gulch proper I headed down canyon and stopped by some of the multi-level ruins.
![DSC01231.jpg DSC01231.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78114-215c1af7117909262c5662992a2d068d.jpg)
The vegetation was thick with the recent rains. The canyon was relatively quiet given the number of cars I saw at the Kane Gulch trailhead the prior day.
I passed Coyote Canyon and turned up Sheiks. Near the mouth of the canyon is the extensive pictograph panel that contains the "Green Man". At the nearby spring-fed stream I stocked up on water in preparation for the steep climb out.
![DSC01251.jpg DSC01251.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78121-d4522e641872ecf8c01762dbb4bbc1eb.jpg)
The trail climbed through some chossy third class sections and bypassed a water chute before leveling out.
![DSC01275.jpg DSC01275.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78124-2fbfd8681fc003d201bc65fc033375c3.jpg)
Near the top of the canyon I stopped by Yellow House ruin with its well-preserved roof. Before long I was back at my car. I made it to Stan's in Hanksville just in time to grab a coffee shake before driving the rest of the way home.
![DSC01286.jpg DSC01286.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78126-af1c19cfb430e316b703bcfc786691bb.jpg)
Start/end: Todie Canyon trailhead / Sheiks Canyon trailhead (could be done in either direction, with or without a shuttle)
Mileage: ~19 miles
Difficulty: class 3
Navigation: Map/GPS may be useful. No signage in the canyons.
Filterable water: seasonal in Grand Gulch other than the intermittent springs
Designation: Grand Gulch Wilderness Area
Fees: $2 per person per day, or $5 for 7 days (self-service day use permits)
Nearest town/gas: Mexican Hat or Blanding, UT
Date hiked: 12 May 2019
Audio accompaniment: Preet Bharara's Doing Justice
Notes: The ~7 miles of dirt road connecting the trailheads were mind-numbingly dull. Bike shuttle recommended. The old two-track main road bypass is not suitable for anything wider than an ATV. The road damage just before the Sheiks trailhead is significant, and impassible to most vehicles.
Approximate Route
![map.png map.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78127-1b524db387680e13163676fbe48ddb5d.jpg)
Trip Report
After my Slickhorn loop and a decent night's sleep, I felt up to a longer hike. I had previously done Bullet Canyon to Sheiks Canyon loop; this time I decided to check out the northern section of Grand Gulch by linking up Todie Canyon to Sheiks. I parked just before the Sheiks trailhead and made the long walk through the skiddish cow herds to the Todie trailhead.
![DSC01168.jpg DSC01168.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78103-526ef7ddf84643aadb02fce683877e9f.jpg)
![DSC01170.jpg DSC01170.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78104-7b53993b300814fe2766e9fee76a0358.jpg)
The Todie Canyon trail follows the rim a ways before dropping down a third class boulder field into the canyon.
![DSC01175.jpg DSC01175.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78105-64641a5f769bbdb8bbab1aa791fb362a.jpg)
![DSC01178.jpg DSC01178.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78106-9313d8a6973bbbed89fc3c8bdc9856dd.jpg)
![DSC01183.jpg DSC01183.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78107-e04dab4c8905a41f3f74dde013f7a1b4.jpg)
Todie quickly made up for the scarcity of ruins on yesterday's hike. A complex set of granaries sat high above the canyon bottom. A few were accessible with a bit of exposed scrambling, but the bulk were out of reach without some 5.7+ moves on sketchy rock. I opted out.
![DSC01186.png DSC01186.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78108-4ac851c079857dbe76a7cff4010eaed3.jpg)
![DSC01189.jpg DSC01189.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78109-56ab8b83c8348d797caa446da15a519f.jpg)
![DSC01200.jpg DSC01200.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78110-4642087e398be99022affce63e1304e3.jpg)
There were a few more isolated ruins in lower Todie. Once in Grand Gulch proper I headed down canyon and stopped by some of the multi-level ruins.
![DSC01210.jpg DSC01210.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78111-bcf377ba5fe5c1ca24ca12ba0ec4ec71.jpg)
![DSC01218.jpg DSC01218.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78112-7ad6ac2c10fa88516a448aeb2d6ff6b1.jpg)
![DSC01222.jpg DSC01222.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78113-46681c927db01d25c20af950b4be2f16.jpg)
![DSC01231.jpg DSC01231.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78114-215c1af7117909262c5662992a2d068d.jpg)
The vegetation was thick with the recent rains. The canyon was relatively quiet given the number of cars I saw at the Kane Gulch trailhead the prior day.
![DSC01232.jpg DSC01232.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78115-544be44e2e2cd2430a00f35a88b950db.jpg)
![DSC01237.jpg DSC01237.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78116-75e7278f6a562b5b5a55f2d9287a22bd.jpg)
![DSC01241.jpg DSC01241.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78117-b0a380013da5397d0deab5fc0e09d4c5.jpg)
![DSC01237.jpg DSC01237.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78116-75e7278f6a562b5b5a55f2d9287a22bd.jpg)
I passed Coyote Canyon and turned up Sheiks. Near the mouth of the canyon is the extensive pictograph panel that contains the "Green Man". At the nearby spring-fed stream I stocked up on water in preparation for the steep climb out.
![DSC01245.jpg DSC01245.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78119-bd663513cc9184feca6f78f8cca406b6.jpg)
![DSC01247.jpg DSC01247.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78120-40254fa1f9e681a6ad80b6d52dfa0455.jpg)
![DSC01251.jpg DSC01251.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78121-d4522e641872ecf8c01762dbb4bbc1eb.jpg)
The trail climbed through some chossy third class sections and bypassed a water chute before leveling out.
![DSC01258.jpg DSC01258.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78122-3a5543d9ee766dfdb41deb3cf758ec6c.jpg)
![DSC01272.jpg DSC01272.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78123-00bf931ea12165693fced7c60ab41d3a.jpg)
![DSC01275.jpg DSC01275.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78124-2fbfd8681fc003d201bc65fc033375c3.jpg)
Near the top of the canyon I stopped by Yellow House ruin with its well-preserved roof. Before long I was back at my car. I made it to Stan's in Hanksville just in time to grab a coffee shake before driving the rest of the way home.
![DSC01284.jpg DSC01284.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78125-cd9692feee90175cfa79b550023a0a02.jpg)
![DSC01286.jpg DSC01286.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/78/78126-af1c19cfb430e316b703bcfc786691bb.jpg)
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