Dothraki Canyon in Canaan Mountain Wilderness Area BLM, UT

Canyoneer Dothraki Canyon Canaan Mountain Wilderness Area BLM, UT

Class 3 3A III (180 ft max) 4.6 miles 2400 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Apr 7, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Dothraki 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.

After such a wet winter, most of the canyons in the Zion area were still cold, so we set out to look for a viable dry canyon that didn't require wet suits. The fact that we're all particularly excited for Game of Thrones' new season was only about 20% of the reason why we chose this one, though unfortunately we didn't make enough memorably awful GoT puns… Anyway, this canyon itself wasn't particularly gorgeous, but it was a fun time and had some interesting rappels. The approach was actually one of the highlights, in my opinion. More efficient canyoneers could likely do the technical sections in less time, but we were being silly as usual and had two absurdly and unnecessarily long ropes we failed miserably at managing.

From the Squirrel Canyon Trailhead, locate a sandy road just south and follow it west to the cliff base. A social trail leads along the cliffs and wraps around a hill and into a gully. There are two gullies – don't take the one on the right. The social trail was well-traveled enough to be clearly human-impacted, but not enough to be totally obvious. Sandy and fun Class 2/3 scrambling leads up the unlikely cliff face to the crest of what's known as the Dragon's Back. We were pleasantly surprised to find that it was a long, narrow ridge with sheer drops on either side. There were only a couple of spots that required some care, but overall it's just a slow-moving, fun Class 2/3 sandstone ridgeline. The Dragon's Back led us to the head of Dothraki Canyon – take the right fork, the main canyon.

Dothraki Canyon consists of over a dozen rappels, many of which can be down-climbed, but apparently a recent rescue meant that ample bolted anchors were in place, making the going safe and easy. The canyon isn't so much a slot in the traditional sense when you think of slots, but rather more of a narrow crevasse that looks like it was sliced with a cleaver a bunch of times. There aren't any particularly sketchy sections, and anything that might be has the option to set up a handline or rappel. Toward the middle of Dothraki, the canyon narrows significantly, but anyone could likely fit through. The final rappel has a second rappel station, but we were happy to do the full rappel as one since we had enough rope and the rope pull was easy. A series of social trails leads out of the dirty, muddy gully and back up to the sandy approach, where we followed it back to our car. Running down the sandy slope was far superior to trudging up.

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Heading up the sandy road toward Dothraki Canyon's approach. The canyon drains from the right in this photo, and the approach is the break in the cliffs on the left.
Heading up the sandy road toward Dothraki Canyon's approach. The canyon drains from the right in this photo, and the approach is the break in the cliffs on the left.
The dirt road gives way to a sandy slope. The approach canyon is visible on the left. As you can see, there are two gullies - keep to the left one that hugs the cliff face. The route leads up that gully for a while before spitting you onto the hump separating the two gullies.
The dirt road gives way to a sandy slope. The approach canyon is visible on the left. As you can see, there are two gullies - keep to the left one that hugs the cliff face. The route leads up that gully for a while before spitting you onto the hump separating the two gullies.
Close-up of Dothraki's last rappel.
Close-up of Dothraki's last rappel.
Social trail leading south along the cliff base.
Social trail leading south along the cliff base.
Heading up the sandy gully, lots of loose rock and steep sections requiring roots to be used as holds.
Heading up the sandy gully, lots of loose rock and steep sections requiring roots to be used as holds.
Looking down as we enter the gully.
Looking down as we enter the gully.
Hugging the cliff face and following the gully until we were stopped by the cliffs.
Hugging the cliff face and following the gully until we were stopped by the cliffs.
The route leaves the gully once we were stopped by the cliff visible on the left, and instead heads onto the hump separating the two gullies mentioned earlier.
The route leaves the gully once we were stopped by the cliff visible on the left, and instead heads onto the hump separating the two gullies mentioned earlier.
On the hump between the two gullies.
On the hump between the two gullies.
Class 2/3 scrambling on somewhat loose sandstone.
Class 2/3 scrambling on somewhat loose sandstone.
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Approaching the crest of the Dragon's Back.
Approaching the crest of the Dragon's Back.
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Drop down to the saddle below and work up to the high point pictured here. Class 2+.
Drop down to the saddle below and work up to the high point pictured here. Class 2+.
Looking back from the high point back the way we came.
Looking back from the high point back the way we came.
Dragon's Back, a really pretty ridge.
Dragon's Back, a really pretty ridge.
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Narrow section along the Dragon's Back.
Narrow section along the Dragon's Back.
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Dothraki Canyon on the right as we continue along the ridge.
Dothraki Canyon on the right as we continue along the ridge.
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Above Dothraki Canyon.
Above Dothraki Canyon.
Looking back toward the Dragon's Back, Dothraki Canyon on the left.
Looking back toward the Dragon's Back, Dothraki Canyon on the left.
Eventually, the ridge ends and we were led into a forest of hoodoos.
Eventually, the ridge ends and we were led into a forest of hoodoos.
Those weird cleaved-looking hoodoos found frequently in the Zion area.
Those weird cleaved-looking hoodoos found frequently in the Zion area.
Left fork of Dothraki Canyon. Don't enter here.
Left fork of Dothraki Canyon. Don't enter here.
Right fork (main canyon). The rappel was off a tree on the left side of the canyon.
Right fork (main canyon). The rappel was off a tree on the left side of the canyon.
Looking back up from the first rappel.
Looking back up from the first rappel.
Through the narrow start of Dothraki Canyon.
Through the narrow start of Dothraki Canyon.
A handline early on.
A handline early on.
One of many downclimbs.
One of many downclimbs.
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In my opinion, the most interesting rappel - the 150 foot second rap. We emerged from the narrows and were hit with a sheer face on the right.
In my opinion, the most interesting rappel - the 150 foot second rap. We emerged from the narrows and were hit with a sheer face on the right.
At the rap station for rap 2, looking up toward the narrows. I thought it was a cool rap.
At the rap station for rap 2, looking up toward the narrows. I thought it was a cool rap.
At the bottom of rap 2.
At the bottom of rap 2.
More fun, short rappels within Dothraki Canyon.
More fun, short rappels within Dothraki Canyon.
Narrow section, Josh being silly.
Narrow section, Josh being silly.
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Usually narrow enough to walk through, but we had to take off our packs a couple of times.
Usually narrow enough to walk through, but we had to take off our packs a couple of times.
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Yoshi also being silly.
Yoshi also being silly.
A really scenic rappel. The walls were glowing.
A really scenic rappel. The walls were glowing.
Looking back up the scenic rappel.
Looking back up the scenic rappel.
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A few downclimbs that had webbing set up. Rap if you're uncomfortable.
A few downclimbs that had webbing set up. Rap if you're uncomfortable.
Yoshi downclimbing a thing that had a rap option.
Yoshi downclimbing a thing that had a rap option.
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Image 54 from gallery
More of the cleaved-looking rock, forming interesting rappel setups. Dothraki could be a really efficient canyon if you had multiple short ropes and a group willing to be faster-paced because the last stretch has back-to-back rappels.
More of the cleaved-looking rock, forming interesting rappel setups. Dothraki could be a really efficient canyon if you had multiple short ropes and a group willing to be faster-paced because the last stretch has back-to-back rappels.
The final rappel.
The final rappel.
Looking back up the final rappel.
Looking back up the final rappel.
Entering the dirty gully. A social trail leads up (which you can sort of see in this photo) to the sandy hill in the center.
Entering the dirty gully. A social trail leads up (which you can sort of see in this photo) to the sandy hill in the center.
Along the social trail, looking back toward Dothraki Canyon.
Along the social trail, looking back toward Dothraki Canyon.

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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!