The Grand Staircase-Escalante NM. Paria-Hackberry 10 day backpack April 23-May 2, 2017 Part 3

John Morrow

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The Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM) in southern Utah has become a favorite. Previously, all my explorations (alone or with friends) have been in the eastern Escalante River drainage portion. This trip explored the western portion through "The Grand Staircase" and can be called the Paria River-Hackberry Canyon Loop. Within the National Monument is the Paria-Hackberry Wilderness Study Area and the majority of the hike took place in this 136,000 acre WSA. Kimberly (Rainie Too), who did the bulk of the research for the trip, was joined by and fellow Escalante explorers Linda, Jerry, Robert and myself. We are all becoming annual regulars down here. Gwen, diving head first into her first desert experience, joined us for week two!
Total mileage with side canyon trips added up to nearly 100 miles over 10 days.

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=Full Size

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=GSENM P-H Loop Overview Full Size




This is Part 3 of three parts:

Part 1 here: http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8024030

Part 2: http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8024088

Part 3: Round Valley Draw/Hackberry Canyon/Yellow Rock/Paria Box.


Part 3: The quick and dirty....

Day 7 we began by moving shuttling to a beginning at the Round Valley Draw Trailhead off the Cottonwood Road to save a few miles of dirt road and mesa walking. RVD is a well known slot with a few easy down scrambles through simple dryfalls. Gwen's first slot canyon experience!!!! It led us to Hackberry Canyon which is dry for the first few miles. Dry camp.

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A few of us trudged deep sand to the narrows of Booker Canyon as a quick sidetrip.

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Day 8 found us descending further through Hackberry Canyon, which changes scenes nicely as we went. Our sidetrip for the day was a fun exploration of the Stone Donkey Slot Canyon and an attempt at an aesthetic looking peak known as Cottonwood BM. Unfortunately, 5th Class rock stopped us 100 vertical feet short of the summit but the views were astounding. Then we moved on to the junction with Sam Pollock Arch Canyon for the night's camp. We also came across a neat petroglyph panel and settlers' signature panel none of us had known about.


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Day 9 took us down through the rest of Hackberry Canyon, with its' narrows at the mouth. Nice narrows and neat scenery throughout as it transitioned through the rock layers.

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At the mouth of Hackberry we left canyons all together and took the Yellow Rock Trail up onto the mesa bench for our only high camp. Yellow Rock was out of this world. Our high camp also yielded a fine sunset on the Grey Cliffs to the east. A very colorful afternoon!

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Day 10, time to end our journey and close the loop with a short hike descending to the Box or the Paria River (a low narrows at its mouth of the upper canyon). Upstream a mile were our cars waiting at the Movie Set Trailhead. Nicely done all! Fantastic scenery and company over the course of ten days!

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That part of GSENM is the most underrated IMO. I've been looking at piecing together a point to point from Willis or BVG, to Hackberry. I've got a few potential routes.

How was the Cottonwood Canyon road? I've seen it in varying degrees of (dis)repair over the years.
 
That part of GSENM is the most underrated IMO. I've been looking at piecing together a point to point from Willis or BVG, to Hackberry. I've got a few potential routes.

How was the Cottonwood Canyon road? I've seen it in varying degrees of (dis)repair over the years.

Hi Dan,
Cottonwood Road was "any vehicle" with care. No ruts too deep nor insane washboard (yet). It really surprised us. I took my Honda Civic as far as RVD turnoff.

Looks like your potential routes will cross some fantastic Navajo slickrock and domes, especially below Rock Springs Bench. I'd go back to join you! I'd like another shot from the north at Cottonwood BM and sugarloaf, twin buttes, Castle, etc.
 
Great report and photos John. Btw. Am I right in thinking you know Andrew W who lives in Argentina mainly? If you return I'm told there's some great hoodoos somewhere around Deer creek or Deer point. I've not seen them.
 
Great report and photos John. Btw. Am I right in thinking you know Andrew W who lives in Argentina mainly? If you return I'm told there's some great hoodoos somewhere around Deer creek or Deer point. I've not seen them.

Hi Ross, you must have me mixed up with another desert traveler. I don't think I know Andrew! Thanks for the hoodoos tip. One in our party was trying to head that way but didn't make it.
John
 
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