Blue Pool Wash in Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, UT

Canyoneer Blue Pool Wash Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, UT

Class 3 3A I (50 ft max) 1.5 miles Minimal gain 1-2 hr Loop Jun 18, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
Directions
Route Map
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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.

After reading beta about Blue Pool Wash, Matt and I parked on the side of the road and entered the canyon expecting, well, a pool. I think maybe the canyon was completely washed out with sand, as all we encountered were some small obstacles and a single rappel, no water whatsoever. Blue Pool Wash was a pretty little excursion, but not really memorable. The mouth drains into Lake Powell, and a short Class 3 exit leads up the slickrock on the east bank of the canyon. Be careful to avoid the immense amount of cryptobiotic soil on the way out.

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We parked on a small dirt road blocked by a gate, went through the gate, and dropped into the canyon pictured ahead. It goes under the bridge (UT-89).
We parked on a small dirt road blocked by a gate, went through the gate, and dropped into the canyon pictured ahead. It goes under the bridge (UT-89).
Short section of narrows under the bridge.
Short section of narrows under the bridge.
Image 2 from gallery
Image 3 from gallery
Some webbing around an engine. No rap to be found - washed out, maybe?
Some webbing around an engine. No rap to be found - washed out, maybe?
Some short obstacles.
Some short obstacles.
Matt coming down an obstacle.
Matt coming down an obstacle.
Pretty narrows.
Pretty narrows.
Image 8 from gallery
Blue Pool Wash opens up for a bit before the only rappel we encountered.
Blue Pool Wash opens up for a bit before the only rappel we encountered.
Image 10 from gallery
Image 11 from gallery
Approaching the rappel.
Approaching the rappel.
Image 13 from gallery
Looking back up at the rappel.
Looking back up at the rappel.
Image 15 from gallery
Looking back up Blue Pool Wash.
Looking back up Blue Pool Wash.
Exiting the mouth of Blue Pool Wash. We turned right to find the exit.
Exiting the mouth of Blue Pool Wash. We turned right to find the exit.
A cairn marked the shallow notch in the rock (center) as the exit.
A cairn marked the shallow notch in the rock (center) as the exit.
Class 3 exit move.
Class 3 exit move.
We followed animal trails and washes back through the desert to avoid cryptobiotic soil.
We followed animal trails and washes back through the desert to avoid cryptobiotic soil.

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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!

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