Fat Man’s Misery (East Fork) in Zion National Park, UT

Canyoneer Fat Man’s Misery (East Fork) Zion National Park, UT

Class 3 3B (40 ft max) 10.8 miles 2400 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Jun 3, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Fat Man’s Misery (East Fork) 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.

Fat Man's Misery is located just outside Zion National Park, and therefore doesn't require a permit. It's more remote and takes more work that most of the Zion canyons, but it's a great trip. I also completed the West Fork of Fat Man's Misery, a slightly shorter but more popular route than the one described here. However, both canyons are great and both see the most interesting stuff so you can't go wrong either way, really.

Head through the canyon to the west of Checkerboard Mesa to a notch at the top of a sandy slope, and descend into the Zion backcountry ahead. Follow cairns on a decently well-traveled social trail to the head of the West Fork of Fat Man's Misery. The trail regularly crosses slickrock, so you may need to keep your eyes peeled for cairns. Don't descend into the west Fork, but instead locate a bowl and ascend another slickrock hump, only to descend on the other side into the East Fork of Fat Man's Misery. There's a bunch of obstacles and a few rappels, and ithe canyon is super fun overall. One of the bolts was loose when we did the canyon, so check your anchors in case it hasn't been replaced.

Once you reach the beautiful grotto before entering The Barracks (a section in Parunuweap Canyon), the rappeling is over and you can follow the East Fork of the Virgin River west for a short time through the incredible lesser-known Barracks, similar to the Narrows. Look for the Class 3 scramble to escape The Barracks on the right, marked poorly and easy to miss since it's tempting to walk forever down The Barracks.

Above the Barracks, we were at the southern reaches of a wide ridge, which would eventually lead to the slickrock wonderland that we left to drop into the canyon earlier. We followed a good social trail supported by cairns that lead along some slickrock for a bit, then the trail continues traversing on sandy terrain. Paralleling Fat Man's Misery, the trail is in great shape for a time, but it fades away a bit and gets tricky to follow. Eventually after traversing pretty far away from the wide ridge, the faint trail finally ascends to the left and up to the wide ridge. It's likely we could have continued directly north along this wide ridge straight from the Barracks rather than do the bench traverse, but the more prominent social trail leading out of the Barracks  tooks us this way. Once on the ridge, we managed to stick to a slightly better social trail as it continues north and merges with the aproach route from earlier in the day.

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From the trailhead, head directly for the obvious canyon next to Checkerboard Mesa.
From the trailhead, head directly for the obvious canyon next to Checkerboard Mesa.
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After a mile or so, and a sandy slope, you get to the saddle. This is looking back the way we came.
After a mile or so, and a sandy slope, you get to the saddle. This is looking back the way we came.
Looknig forward, toward Paranuweap Canyon (our turnaround point).
Looknig forward, toward Paranuweap Canyon (our turnaround point).
Looking back toward the canyon we came through.
Looking back toward the canyon we came through.
Zion backcountry.
Zion backcountry.
Lots of routes, and many hills to go up and over, but pretty straightforward to get to the canyon.
Lots of routes, and many hills to go up and over, but pretty straightforward to get to the canyon.
Looking back the way we came, the first canyon traverse well behind us.
Looking back the way we came, the first canyon traverse well behind us.
West Fork of Misery Canyon (the more popular route with more rappels) to the right. We went over the ridge to get to the East Fork.
West Fork of Misery Canyon (the more popular route with more rappels) to the right. We went over the ridge to get to the East Fork.
Looking back the way we came, West Fork of Misery Canyon behind us.
Looking back the way we came, West Fork of Misery Canyon behind us.
Once over the ridge, heading down into the East Fork of Misery Canyon.
Once over the ridge, heading down into the East Fork of Misery Canyon.
East Fork. The narrows start shortly.
East Fork. The narrows start shortly.
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Some futile stemming. We will end up getting wet regardless.
Some futile stemming. We will end up getting wet regardless.
Smooth, beautiful slot.
Smooth, beautiful slot.
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The slot opens and closes a few times with no rappels in sight until the very end. What a tease.
The slot opens and closes a few times with no rappels in sight until the very end. What a tease.
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Entering the final section of slot of the East Fork, where the single rappel is.
Entering the final section of slot of the East Fork, where the single rappel is.
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Shawn (right) at the first rappel. We approached from the left.
Shawn (right) at the first rappel. We approached from the left.
Looking down the rappel.
Looking down the rappel.
The East Fork opens up to the confluence with the West Fork, and soon approaches more rappels.
The East Fork opens up to the confluence with the West Fork, and soon approaches more rappels.
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Misery Canyon really starts to get interesting around here.
Misery Canyon really starts to get interesting around here.
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The double arch we were so excited to see! The other one is above me.
The double arch we were so excited to see! The other one is above me.
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ridiculously lush section near the canyon exit.
ridiculously lush section near the canyon exit.
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Looking out toward The Barracks (Parunuweap Canyon), East Fork of the Virgin River.
Looking out toward The Barracks (Parunuweap Canyon), East Fork of the Virgin River.
Looking back up Misery Canyon.
Looking back up Misery Canyon.
The Barracks, Upper Parunuweap Canyon.
The Barracks, Upper Parunuweap Canyon.
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The escape scramble on the right.
The escape scramble on the right.
Class 3 section.
Class 3 section.
Looking down from the top of the escape scramble into Parunuweap Canyon.
Looking down from the top of the escape scramble into Parunuweap Canyon.
Very pretty escape route.
Very pretty escape route.
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Looking back the way we came.
Looking back the way we came.
The route meets back up with our way in. Follow your tracks back through the Checkboard Mesa canyon to return.
The route meets back up with our way in. Follow your tracks back through the Checkboard Mesa canyon to return.

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!