Class 2 3A I (60 ft max) 1.2 miles Minimal gain 1-2 hr Loop Jun 18, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Catstair 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.

A short canyon that parallels UT-89, Catstair Canyon has some interesting rock features and colors, vintage cars, as well as small pictographs toward its mouth. We parked in a small pullout where a dirt road continued away from the canyon. A social trail leads down into the drainage, where we found roughly 25 cars from the 1950s (maybe?) being used as erosion support for the highway. Catstair Canyon then continued with a few minor obstacles before reaching the only mandatory rappel. Another downclimb (or rappel) met us shortly after, and then the canyon widened to its mouth. Just as the walls fell away on either side, we found a register and pictographs with heavy graffiti around them. We headed up the slope and followed the highway back to the car.

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Starting from UT-89 and dropping south into the drainage.
Starting from UT-89 and dropping south into the drainage.
Within Catstair Canyon.
Within Catstair Canyon.
We passed some old cars used as highway stabilizers.
We passed some old cars used as highway stabilizers.
Image 3 from gallery
Some short obstacles.
Some short obstacles.
Pretty narrows.
Pretty narrows.
Image 6 from gallery
The first and only required rappel.
The first and only required rappel.
Looking back up at the rappel.
Looking back up at the rappel.
Image 9 from gallery
An optional rappel, likely can be down-climbed.
An optional rappel, likely can be down-climbed.
Catstair Canyon opens up after the optional second rappel.
Catstair Canyon opens up after the optional second rappel.
Image 12 from gallery
Looking back up Catstair Canyon toward the mouth. The big wall on the left is where we found the pictographs.
Looking back up Catstair Canyon toward the mouth. The big wall on the left is where we found the pictographs.
Pictographs.
Pictographs.
At the exit of Catstair Canyon, following the road back to our cars.
At the exit of Catstair Canyon, following the road back to our cars.

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!