San Rafael Reef Wilderness. Rambling on the Reef March 30-31, 2021

John Morrow

Member
Joined
May 22, 2015
Messages
1,060
After 24 months, I finally arrived back in Southern Utah! I landed at one of the campsites inside the canyon narrows of N. Temple Wash which has some great camps if not full of RVers and motortoys. With skis off for the season I needed to get my hiking legs going. Goal was to walk up on the Reef, create loops, find a bit of rock art and hit the summits between canyons. Maps/photos (more on Flickr) can do the talking:

March 30: Loop hike from campsite up/down Temple Wash, crossing the backside chinle to N. Temple Wash, side trip up Peak 6200' between T. Temple and farnsworth Canyons.


Pks 6080'; and 6200';
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Up through Temple Wash
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Distant Henry Mountains
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Around into N. Temple Wash
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Above N. Temple Wash
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Back to camp in canyon
by John Morrow, on Flickr

March 31: Drive to Eardley Canyon. Check out canyon then ascend canyon rim to the south for two scrambles. Return through unknown Navajo domeland that, fortunately, went but with some difficult scrambling. That created the loop.

Pks 5810'; and 5875'; by John Morrow, on Flickr


Heading up onto Reef
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Behind the Reef
by John Morrow, on Flickr


The unknown canyon
by John Morrow, on Flickr


can't get back into canyon
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Kelsey's 4 Way Junction
by John Morrow, on Flickr

Then off to find camping west of Grand Junction.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
J Moving down to Southern San Rafael Reef Wilderness for two more loop hikes April 13-14 2021 Hiking & Camping 1
kansas San Rafael Reef Trip Planning 2
Udink San Rafael Reef Hiking & Camping 2
Udink San Rafael Reef Exploration Hiking & Camping 7
Udink San Rafael Reef between LWH and Chute Hiking & Camping 3
Michael Black Dragon Slickrock 'Trail' - San Rafael Reef, 6-2011 Hiking & Camping 5
Udink San Rafael Reef above Spring Canyon Hiking & Camping 3
Udink San Rafael Reef Rock Art Hiking & Camping 3
Udink San Rafael Reef between Iron Wash and Mormon Tanks Hiking & Camping 10
Udink Old Woman Wash, San Rafael Reef Hiking & Camping 4
Tyler San Rafael Reef March 2011; Day 2 Hiking & Camping 0
Tyler San Rafael Reef March 2011; Day 1 Hiking & Camping 0
M Lost a drone in the San Rafael River area/below the wedge. No time to hike in to retrieve. General Discussion 0
D Horseshoe Canyon or San Rafael Swell? Trip Planning 9
D San Rafael Swell Recommendations Trip Planning 9
J Bunch O' N. San Rafael Swell summit scrambles April 10-12, 2021 (now w/rock art) Hiking & Camping 3
fossana San Rafael Swell MTB and salvaged packraft weekend Everything Else 13
Stephanie B Old Woman Wash, Three Finger Petroglyphs, and Wild Horse Canyon (Backcountry Fest in the San Rafael Swell) Hiking & Camping 6
Mikjik86 Video Hiking/Camping San Rafael Swell/Goblin Valley/Horseshoe Canyon - Feb 2019 Hiking & Camping 2
J San Rafael Swell Wilderness Designations General Discussion 13
Nick Invite Backcountry Fest! - April 5-7, 2019, San Rafael Swell Meet Up (Members Only) 274
Jackson Jurassic National Monument and San Rafael Swell Conservation Area General Discussion 9
TrektheWorld The San Rafael Sure is.....Swell Hiking & Camping 1
Jackson Return to the San Rafael River Gorge Backpacking 17
fiber Invite Late March 3-4 day San Rafael Swell Backpacking Loop Meet Up (Members Only) 1
Devin Ashby Nate’s Canyon/ Spring Canyon San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 2
George_Washington_Hayduke Packrafting and Bikepacking from the San Rafael River to Muddy Creek On The Water 0
Jackson San Rafael River Backpacking 7
S Moab/San Rafael Swell Trip advice-family Trip Planning 6
Artemus Help Requested - Conserving the San Rafael Swell Wilderness - Interested? General Discussion 16
SwimsWithTrout Best time of year for San Rafael Swell/Cedar Mesa ? Trip Planning 4
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell: South Fork Eagle Canyon Off Road 2
Udink San Rafael Fall 2015 Hiking & Camping 4
Artemus Conserving the San Rafael Swell - Interested? General Discussion 13
P Noob looking for solitary beauty in canyon lands, san rafael, escalante Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
IntrepidXJ Legislative resolution: Drilling is ‘best use’ for Cedar Mesa and San Rafael Swell General Discussion 13
kansas Sunsets in the San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 13
kansas Hunting in San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 2
steve San Rafael River Float On The Water 5
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell - Cane Wash Off Road 4
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell - Swaseys Leap (2006) Hiking & Camping 4
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell - The Western Slope - Slaughter Slopes Off Road 4
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell - The Western Slope and Lone Tree Wedge Off Road 0
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell - The Western Slope and Mesa Butte Off Road 2
Udink San Rafael Spring 2014 Hiking & Camping 11
Scott Chandler Easter Weekend Day 3: The Upper San Rafael Hiking & Camping 2
steve Invite San Rafael Swell River Float - dates TBD depending on water levels Meet Up (Members Only) 73
steve Floating the San Rafael General Discussion 9
K This weekend: San Rafael Swell or Moab? Trip Planning 4
steve San Rafael Swell Quickie Off Road 8

Similar threads

Back
Top