Farnsworth Canyon in San Rafael Swell BLM, UT

Canyoneer Farnsworth Canyon San Rafael Swell BLM, UT

Class 2 3A II (200 ft max) 6.8 miles 900 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Jun 2, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Farnsworth Canyon GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

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.

Trailhead coordinates listed are located on roads not recognized on Google Maps. Turn off the paved road here (38.652285,-110.6534277) and follow the dirt road to the trailhead.

A hike up Farnsworth Canyon with a short section of narrows and a mini side-trip to view some petroglyphs is otherwise an unremarkable sandy wash. Eventually after a long walk, head right around a massive rock butte and find a defunct mining road that leads up on the butte's north side to a chute to gain the rim of the butte. From here, stay close to the north rim and descend to the third of the three canyons that you pass. Take the ridge between the second and third to find the rappel that goes through a really pretty arch. After this big rappel, there's an optional rappel (can be downclimbed easily on the left) and continue back down Farnsworth Canyon.

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!

Starting into Farnsworth Canyon.
Starting into Farnsworth Canyon.
Image 1 from gallery
Narrow section at the start of Farnsworth Canyon. There aren't any more narrows until the rappel.
Narrow section at the start of Farnsworth Canyon. There aren't any more narrows until the rappel.
Image 3 from gallery
The wash leading through Farnsworth Canyon.
The wash leading through Farnsworth Canyon.
Image 5 from gallery
Heading up on a short detour to some petroglyphs.
Heading up on a short detour to some petroglyphs.
Petroglyphs in Farnsworth Canyon.
Petroglyphs in Farnsworth Canyon.
Image 8 from gallery
Continuing up Farnsworth Canyon.
Continuing up Farnsworth Canyon.
The big rock butte that we will eventually circle completely around.
The big rock butte that we will eventually circle completely around.
On the north side of the big rock butte, following a deteriorated mining road.
On the north side of the big rock butte, following a deteriorated mining road.
You can see the gully to scramble up in the center of this phoot.
You can see the gully to scramble up in the center of this phoot.
Toward the top of the gully, looking down.
Toward the top of the gully, looking down.
Image 14 from gallery
Follow the rim.
Follow the rim.
Head of our chosen canyon to rappel (the third of the three). Head down the ridge between two and three to get to the rappel station.
Head of our chosen canyon to rappel (the third of the three). Head down the ridge between two and three to get to the rappel station.
The rappel.
The rappel.
A mini rappel before starting the big rappel, both use the same anchor. Our rope got stuck and took five of us to pull it, so be really careful with rope placement.
A mini rappel before starting the big rappel, both use the same anchor. Our rope got stuck and took five of us to pull it, so be really careful with rope placement.
The arch!
The arch!
Close-up of the arch, just before doing the big rappel.
Close-up of the arch, just before doing the big rappel.
Looking up toward the rappel.
Looking up toward the rappel.
Image 22 from gallery
Some narrow obstacles on the way down from the rappel.
Some narrow obstacles on the way down from the rappel.
Optional rappel, but a gully on the left is an easy Class 3 downclimb.
Optional rappel, but a gully on the left is an easy Class 3 downclimb.
Looking back at the optional rappel (left), downclimb alternative (right).
Looking back at the optional rappel (left), downclimb alternative (right).
Heading out of the canyon we rappelled into.
Heading out of the canyon we rappelled into.
Looking back toward our canyon (left).
Looking back toward our canyon (left).
Back into Farnsworth Canyon proper.
Back into Farnsworth Canyon proper.

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!