Buckeyes Canyon in San Rafael Swell BLM, UT

Canyoneer Buckeyes Canyon San Rafael Swell BLM, UT

Class 3 4A/B (180 ft max) 3.4 miles 1300 gain 6-8 hrs Loop May 21, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Buckeyes Canyon 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.

Our group of five set out for Buckeyes Canyon, an advanced anchor-building obstacle course. Due to the many multi-stage rappels in Buckeyes, the key to safety in this canyon is making sure you can build an anchor for each consecutive drop before pulling the rope. Also expect to build every anchor since most rappels had been ghosted on our visit, so we followed suit for the most part. We used a sandtrap and a couple of retrievable anchors, but we set one small piece of webbing for the final rappel. Many obstacles can be bypassed, downclimbed, or partner-assisted. Please do not use the natural arches as anchors. Buckeyes Canyon's short length takes a surprising amount of time to complete since the problem-solving is significant, though absurdly fun.

Somehow it's legal to exit from I-70 without a signed exit in order to reach the trailhead. If coming from the east, the dirt road is here (38.92506, -110.41676), and from the west it's here (38.92438, -110.41852). Both lead to an overall good road, but I'd recommend some clearance. Thanks to Bob Allan for finding this canyon and Ryan Cornia for providing detailed beta. I'm using the rappel sequence from Road Trip Ryan's site for consistency, though we deviated a bit, chopping some of the multi-stage rappels into shorter ones. Descriptions of the raps with photos seen below.

We started from a pull-out and took an old road toward the eastern San Rafael Swell, ultimately leading into a short section of gorgeous narrows known as Little Spotted Wolf Canyon, which cuts conveniently through the Swell. Little Spotted Wolf Canyon widens a bit and we walked through the wash before locating the ascent route above. We needed to ascend to a shoulder separating Little Spotted Wolf Canyon from Buckeyes Canyon. Using a Class 2/3 bouldery gully, we reached the top of a sandstone ramp forming a cliff. After a few hundred feet of Class 2/3 on this steep sandstone slab ramp, we reached the base of an extended headwall. We followed its base until locating a reasonable Class 3 ascent option to overcome it. This brought us to the shoulder, where we could start the descent into Buckeyes Canyon.

Buckeyes Canyon is comprised of an upper technical section, a short walkable middle section, and then a lower technical section. The first portion of Buckeyes Canyon is a slow process due to the significant number of obstacles. All anchors used natural features, but we managed to help each other down shorter problems with handlines and shoulders rather than set up lengthy multi-stage rappels.

We finished Rap 6, the last rappel in the upper technical portion, and then Buckeyes Canyon widened for a brief time before reaching the second technical section. During this portion of the canyon, don't forget to look back far above to see Eagle Arch, a majestic sandstone feature that I may have overreacted to with excitement. You can also see the complex-looking first technical section behind, a cool perspective.

The lower technical section we found to be much more straightforward, though anchor-building skills are still certainly required here. Once out of Buckeyes Canyon, we located a social/animal trail leading through cryptobiotic soil and down into a wash. We followed the wash back to the approach trail we used to reach the mouth of Little Spotted Wolf Canyon earlier, then took the old road back to the trailhead.

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Following an old road toward the reef.
Following an old road toward the reef.
Little Spotted Wolf Canyon seen ahead, which leads through the reef. A social trail takes us there.
Little Spotted Wolf Canyon seen ahead, which leads through the reef. A social trail takes us there.
Entering the impressive Little Spotted Wolf Canyon, though the narrows are short-lived.
Entering the impressive Little Spotted Wolf Canyon, though the narrows are short-lived.
Little Spotted Wolf Canyon.
Little Spotted Wolf Canyon.
View back into the narrows of Little Spotted Wolf Canyon.
View back into the narrows of Little Spotted Wolf Canyon.
In the center is the ascent to reach Buckeyes Canyon. Use a bouldery gully to reach the layer of sandstone forming a cliff.
In the center is the ascent to reach Buckeyes Canyon. Use a bouldery gully to reach the layer of sandstone forming a cliff.
Class 2/3 bouldery gully.
Class 2/3 bouldery gully.
View back into the canyon.
View back into the canyon.
The sandstone ramps lead higher, view looking back down.
The sandstone ramps lead higher, view looking back down.
Ascending to a small headwall obstacle seen ahead.
Ascending to a small headwall obstacle seen ahead.
We followed the base of the headwall until we could find a reasonable way up.
We followed the base of the headwall until we could find a reasonable way up.
Class 3 to get over the headwall.
Class 3 to get over the headwall.
At the shoulder separating our ascent canyon from Buckeyes Canyon.
At the shoulder separating our ascent canyon from Buckeyes Canyon.
Descending into Buckeyes Canyon.
Descending into Buckeyes Canyon.
At the top of Rap 1.
At the top of Rap 1.
Rap 1, a short drop, but the anchor is very far back.
Rap 1, a short drop, but the anchor is very far back.
Looking back at Rap 1.
Looking back at Rap 1.
We were able to avoid what Road Trip Ryan called the 2nd Rap by partner-assisting. This Rap 2 for us, which Ryan called a multi-stage rappel to the natural bridge. We broke this long rappel into two shorter ones.
We were able to avoid what Road Trip Ryan called the 2nd Rap by partner-assisting. This Rap 2 for us, which Ryan called a multi-stage rappel to the natural bridge. We broke this long rappel into two shorter ones.
Looking back at our short Rap 2.
Looking back at our short Rap 2.
A handline we set up between Rap 2 and Rap 3, but some managed to down-climb without the rope.
A handline we set up between Rap 2 and Rap 3, but some managed to down-climb without the rope.
We set up a sand trap for Rap 3, making this a shorter rappel through a natural bridge.
We set up a sand trap for Rap 3, making this a shorter rappel through a natural bridge.
Top of our Rap 3, which leads through a natural bridge.
Top of our Rap 3, which leads through a natural bridge.
Bottom of Rap 3, amazing natural bridge.
Bottom of Rap 3, amazing natural bridge.
Continuing through the natural bridge.
Continuing through the natural bridge.
View back at the natural bridge.
View back at the natural bridge.
Rap 4 was low-angle, but required a short rappel. or handline.
Rap 4 was low-angle, but required a short rappel. or handline.
Onward through the canyon, top of Rap 5.
Onward through the canyon, top of Rap 5.
Some friends skipped Rap 5 by using this Class 4/5 slab on the left. I didn't like it and stayed in the water course. Karson gave me a handline.
Some friends skipped Rap 5 by using this Class 4/5 slab on the left. I didn't like it and stayed in the water course. Karson gave me a handline.
Most of Rap 5 can be downclimbed, but the last drop was big enough to warrant a rappel. View back up at the bottom of Rap 5.
Most of Rap 5 can be downclimbed, but the last drop was big enough to warrant a rappel. View back up at the bottom of Rap 5.
We used some webbing that was already tied to a big log for an obstacle between Rap 5 and Rap 6.
We used some webbing that was already tied to a big log for an obstacle between Rap 5 and Rap 6.
Top of Rap 6, which we just used a handline for.
Top of Rap 6, which we just used a handline for.
Rap 6, leading out of the upper portion of the canyon.
Rap 6, leading out of the upper portion of the canyon.
View back toward the upper portion of the canyon (right). You can see Eagle Arch top left.
View back toward the upper portion of the canyon (right). You can see Eagle Arch top left.
Heading down toward the lower portion of the technical section.
Heading down toward the lower portion of the technical section.
Class 2 bypass on the right of a steep obstacle on the way. Lower section seen ahead.
Class 2 bypass on the right of a steep obstacle on the way. Lower section seen ahead.
View back toward the upper section. The impressive Eagle Arch is seen up top.
View back toward the upper section. The impressive Eagle Arch is seen up top.
Descending into the second section of narrows.
Descending into the second section of narrows.
Rap 7, a high-angle slab.
Rap 7, a high-angle slab.
Rap 8, a short drop, but the anchor was set far back.
Rap 8, a short drop, but the anchor was set far back.
View back before dropping down Rap 8, the anchor seen way back.
View back before dropping down Rap 8, the anchor seen way back.
Rap 8 drop.
Rap 8 drop.
View back at Rap 8.
View back at Rap 8.
Through some narrows.
Through some narrows.
Rap 9, a short drop leading down to the arch. Past the second pool seen here was an optional extension of Rap 9 that we down-climbed on the right.
Rap 9, a short drop leading down to the arch. Past the second pool seen here was an optional extension of Rap 9 that we down-climbed on the right.
View back at the arch and Rap 9.
View back at the arch and Rap 9.
Rap 10, the longest of the day. The first drop leads to an arch, where Chris is seen in yellow. Then the second drop is down a vertical wall.
Rap 10, the longest of the day. The first drop leads to an arch, where Chris is seen in yellow. Then the second drop is down a vertical wall.
Close-up down toward the arch at Rap 10.
Close-up down toward the arch at Rap 10.
View back up at Rap 10's second drop.
View back up at Rap 10's second drop.
Top of Rap 11 within a crack.
Top of Rap 11 within a crack.
View back up at Rap 11.
View back up at Rap 11.
Leaving Buckeyes Canyon.
Leaving Buckeyes Canyon.
A well-worn animal trail led through the crypto and down from the Swell.
A well-worn animal trail led through the crypto and down from the Swell.
The terrain opened up, led us to a wash, and then back to our approach trail.
The terrain opened up, led us to a wash, and then back to our approach trail.

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