Kane to Bullet in 4 days?

RyanP

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2015
Messages
578
I'm doing some last-minute planning for a Grand Gulch trip (Kane to Bullet) that will take place a few days from now, and I am trying to figure out the best places to camp. Most accounts that I have read seem to split the trip into three days (two nights), spending one night near the Todie junction (near the spring there) and one night near the Bullet junction (near one of the springs there). However, we would like to spend three nights for this trip if possible, with a short first day. How would you recommend splitting up the days? I was thinking on Day 1 we could hike in four miles from the Kane Gulch ranger station and camp the first night near the "Junction Spring"/"Junction Ruin", and on the last night we will camp near the Jailhouse Spring in Bullet Canyon. If we did that, we would prefer to camp somewhere on Night 2 that is roughly in-between those two campsites, yet not too far from a water source. Should I expect to find good campsite availability in that stretch? If that stretch of canyon between Todie and Shieks isn't very good for camping, then we may do a 3-day trip instead.

Thanks in advance for any feedback! Also, if anyone has recent water/springs beta or tips on must-see sites along this route, that would be appreciated as well.
 
Do it in four. More time for explorations. Can't really remember much regarding camping wise between Sheiks and Todie but I suppose there are many camps to choose. Todie Junction has a big sand bar area, and several nice camps, upcanyon, within 1/2 mile of the junction with GG. There are camps near Green mask.
 
If I remember correctly, there is a nice camp spot where Bullet meets The Grand Gulch. In some trees, by the creek bed.

2 years ago we did Bullet to Kane Gulch in 2 nights. We started at Bullet and camped prior to Jailhouse Ruin. Our second night we made it to Junction Spring. It was a big second day. Good luck on the trip!
 
Also, if anyone has recent water/springs beta or tips on must-see sites along this route, that would be appreciated as well.

I was just in this part of Grand Gulch on Saturday (came down Sheiks) and there is water running right now. Green Mask spring was good like usual. Plenty of water in potholes and side canyons.
 
Awesome, thanks everyone! We want to limit Day 1 since we'll be starting on the late side and two of us (me and the other dad) will have very heavy packs, so I don't think we'll push all the way to Todie on Day 1 (although otherwise I definitely would). Hiking to Todie on Day 2 is probably too short for that day, though, so we'll most likely fill up our water there and do a few more miles that day. If we're feeling good, maybe we'll make it all the way to Green Mask (although that would be a long and rushed day with the two 11-year-olds).

Randy---thanks for the water info. Were bugs an issue for you guys?
 
Awesome, thanks everyone! We want to limit Day 1 since we'll be starting on the late side and two of us (me and the other dad) will have very heavy packs, so I don't think we'll push all the way to Todie on Day 1 (although otherwise I definitely would). Hiking to Todie on Day 2 is probably too short for that day, though, so we'll most likely fill up our water there and do a few more miles that day. If we're feeling good, maybe we'll make it all the way to Green Mask (although that would be a long and rushed day with the two 11-year-olds).

Randy---thanks for the water info. Were bugs an issue for you guys?

Up on top of the mesa in the evenings the cedar gnats (no-see-ums) were out this past weekend and very annoying. We didn't notice them in the canyons during the day, but it was also a bit windy out.
 
Thanks Randy; sounds like I'll take repellent and bug netting (tent, headnet). You said there was plenty of water around... is the water generally clear enough that a Sawyer Squeeze filter is sufficient? I've done a number of desert trips now, but somehow I have never needed to filter silty/murky water like the kind I always hear about, and I'm always worried that my filter will get clogged when I'm deep in the wilderness. If it's pretty clear in general, then I won't worry about it. Also, does it taste funny? I've never brought any drink mix to help with the taste, but it seems like I read somewhere that the water in Grand Gulch can taste kind of funny sometimes.

Also, I'll be driving my Subaru Outback. If we get there too late the first day to start hiking the first day (thus turning this into a 3-day trip), we might try to drive over to the Citadel and do that as a day-hike our first evening instead. Will my Outback likely be good enough for that drive?
 
The water from the springs is good and the water flowing in the wash looked pretty clear to, so I wouldn't worry about clogging up your filter. I've never had any water in Grand Gulch that tasted funny after being filtered, and I've been there during some pretty dry times when water was scarce.

Haven't been on the road to the Citadel in a while, but I know I've seen Subarus at the trailhead before.

Thanks Randy; sounds like I'll take repellent and bug netting (tent, headnet). You said there was plenty of water around... is the water generally clear enough that a Sawyer Squeeze filter is sufficient? I've done a number of desert trips now, but somehow I have never needed to filter silty/murky water like the kind I always hear about, and I'm always worried that my filter will get clogged when I'm deep in the wilderness. If it's pretty clear in general, then I won't worry about it. Also, does it taste funny? I've never brought any drink mix to help with the taste, but it seems like I read somewhere that the water in Grand Gulch can taste kind of funny sometimes.

Also, I'll be driving my Subaru Outback. If we get there too late the first day to start hiking the first day (thus turning this into a 3-day trip), we might try to drive over to the Citadel and do that as a day-hike our first evening instead. Will my Outback likely be good enough for that drive?
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
J Grand Gulch (Kane to Bullet) Water Availability Trip Planning 9
futurafree Muddy Creek and Kane/Bullet Trip Planning 10
IntrepidXJ Kane Gulch to Bullet Canyon Backpacking 1
Udink Kane Creek and Sevenmile Canyon Hiking & Camping 7
Kullaberg63 The rim of Kane Creek, Moab. Hiking & Camping 9
IntrepidXJ Kane Gulch Hiking & Camping 5
fossana Bullet Canyon/Sheiks Canyon loop (Bears Ears NM) Hiking & Camping 5
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
IntrepidXJ Bullet Canyon Hiking & Camping 8
alene Bullet Canyon Trip Planning 16
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
B 5 Days in the Sawtooths Backpacking 2
M Backpacking 50 miles in the Uinta Mountains for 5 days with ~50 pound pack Backpacking 4
Bob The Thorofare to Brooks Lake - 9 Days in Pictures Backpacking 10
RyanP Four Days in the IPW (8/9 - 8/12) Backpacking 17
D Four Days in the Maze, April 17-20 2023 Backpacking 7
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 9 of 9, 7-29 & 30, /2022 Backpacking 5
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 8 of 9, 7/28/2022 Backpacking 5
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 7 of 9, July 26-27, 2022 Backpacking 13
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 6, 7/25/2022 Backpacking 17
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 5 of 9, 7/23-24, 2022 Backpacking 10
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 4 of 9, 7/22, 2022 Backpacking 4
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 3 of 9, 7/20-21, 2022 Backpacking 2
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 2, 7/19/2022 Backpacking 4
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 1, 7/15-18, 2022 Backpacking 13
norwegianxplorer 6 days Backpacking Norway in the Fall (Part 2) Backpacking 4
norwegianxplorer 6 days backpacking Jotunheimen in the fall Trip Reports 4
regehr King's in two days Hiking & Camping 5
Desertratgal 5 Days Solo Packrafting Canyonlands On The Water 4
norwegianxplorer 7 days backpacking Breheimen/Glacier Home National Park in Norway Backpacking 2
Bob Slickhorn Canyon System - 6 days Backpacking 22
Mikjik86 4 Days Backpacking Grand Teton Wilderness/Teton Crest Trail - Wyoming, July, 2021 Backpacking 0
J Death Valley Natl. Pk. 6 Days hiking. Nov 14-19, 2021 Hiking & Camping 1
norwegianxplorer Finding Hidden Glacier, 9 days backpacking Jotunheimen National Park Pt3, Norway. Trip Reports 0
norwegianxplorer 5 days Backpacking Rondane National Park, Norway Backpacking 3
norwegianxplorer 10 days Backpacking Femundsmarka National Park and Rogen Nature Reserve, Norway and Sweden Backpacking 8
napatony13 1100 Miles, 43 Days, Summits All 58 14ers in Colorado General Discussion 4
Titans Reflections in ponds: 4 days in The Adirondacks, Sept 1-4, 2021 Hiking & Camping 5
Janice 7 Breathtaking Days in the Winds Trip Reports 15
2eez4life 4 days 3 nights in the Uintas Trip Planning 9
Bob Bob Marshall - 7 days Backpacking 7
norwegianxplorer Backpacking Norway, Lysefjorden/Kjerag/Kjerag Waterfall/Kjeragbolten, 4 days Solo Hiking high above the Norwegian Fjords Trip Reports 2
Laura V. Four Days in Salt Creek Canyon, April 2021 Backpacking 31
NorthwestWanderer 4 Days Backpacking Capitol Reef : Spring Canyon & Various side canyons Backpacking 5
norwegianxplorer Ski Dogs, Norway, fun days off piste ski touring amazing conditions Winter Sports 0
WasatchWill The High Uintas 4-4-4: Four Basins, Four Passes, Four Days Backpacking 20
J A few days in Mojave National Preserve Dec. 5-7, 2020 Hiking & Camping 9

Similar threads

Back
Top