Baptist Draw in San Rafael Swell BLM, UT

Canyoneer Baptist Draw San Rafael Swell BLM, UT

Class 3 3A/B (80 ft max) 4.6 miles 700 gain 3-5 hrs Loop May 23, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Baptist Draw GPX Track

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This is a technical canyon. If you are unfamiliar with how to build anchors or the gear required for canyoneering do not attempt this route.

Baptist Draw seems to get a lot of hype. Of course all canyons are beautiful, but none of us really seemed to understand this one's highly-rated appeal. Maybe if there was water? Whatever the case, it was a cute beginner-friendly canyon. Any car can make it to the trailhead, the last mile being slightly more rocky. We followed a social trail all the way to the head of Baptist Draw, where some short rappels (or down-climbs) lead to the final rappel, bringing you into Chute Canyon. There's apparently a longer route leading south, but we decided to take the easy way back and head north (left) after the big rappel. We scrambled over a few bouldery obstacles (Class 3, or partner assists) as we progressed up the canyon.

An easier option exists for exting the canyon, which I marked on my attached map. However, we wanted to get some scrambling/fun in for the day since we were so underwhelmed, and instead headed up a Class 3 route we determined seemed doable. We joined a social trail above and headed back to the trailhead.

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Heading down to a social trail, which led us to the head of Baptist Draw.
Heading down to a social trail, which led us to the head of Baptist Draw.
Along the social trail.
Along the social trail.
Entering the Baptist Draw drainage.
Entering the Baptist Draw drainage.
Image 3 from gallery
Baptist Draw narrows up.
Baptist Draw narrows up.
It's pretty, but really short.
It's pretty, but really short.
An obstacle we opted to downclimb rather than rappel.
An obstacle we opted to downclimb rather than rappel.
Image 7 from gallery
Image 8 from gallery
Narrow section of Baptist Draw.
Narrow section of Baptist Draw.
Image 10 from gallery
Image 11 from gallery
Another obstacle we opted to down-climb instead of rappel.
Another obstacle we opted to down-climb instead of rappel.
Open section before the final rappel.
Open section before the final rappel.
The final rappel.
The final rappel.
Looking back up at the final rappel.
Looking back up at the final rappel.
Heading north within Chute Canyon.
Heading north within Chute Canyon.
Some fun boulder obstacles.
Some fun boulder obstacles.
Image 18 from gallery
Image 19 from gallery
More obstacles.
More obstacles.
Image 21 from gallery
Image 22 from gallery
Image 23 from gallery
Our chosen Class 3 escape route. You can make it easier by continuing through the canyon farther.
Our chosen Class 3 escape route. You can make it easier by continuing through the canyon farther.
View down our chosen escape route.
View down our chosen escape route.
Chute Canyon below.
Chute Canyon below.
We rejoined the social trail, Chute Canyon on the left.
We rejoined the social trail, Chute Canyon on the left.
Close-up into the bend in Chute Canyon that we ascended out of.
Close-up into the bend in Chute Canyon that we ascended out of.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!