Lower Brimstone Gulch in Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, UT

Canyoneer Lower Brimstone Gulch Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, UT

Class 3 3A R (No raps) 9.2 miles 600 gain 6-8 hrs Out + Back May 3, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Lower Brimstone Gulch 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.

Sorry for the poor quality photos on this one. I decided to leave my DSLR in the car since Lower Brimsone Canyon required lots of high stemming that required my full attention and narrows that I was sure would break my camera.

We started from a different trailhead, but I recommend using the Spooky/Peekaboo Trailhead, which is what I've included in my attached map and stats. We entered Brimstone Canyon's sandy wash and headed north until we spotted a sandy weakness on the left, our escape from the canyon up to the west rim. We followed the rim north until we reached a Class 3 slab down climb to enter the head of the canyon. While Lower Brimstone Canyon required no rappels, it is certainly a technical canyon. It seems the consensus is to give it an R rating due to the inherent risk of the required high-stemming and sometimes sketchy downclimbs. This was our first true R-rated canyon, and while we thought it was incredibly fun, I really, really don't recommend attempting an R-rated canyon unless you're fully and rightfully confident in your ability to stem without issues.

While it's hard to give a play-by-play of the canyon's obstacles, I will note that it requires tight squeezes and some route-finding to navigate over or below tighter sections. 

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Photo by Matt of me as we head up the sandy mouth of Lower Brimstone Gulch.
Photo by Matt of me as we head up the sandy mouth of Lower Brimstone Gulch.
Along the west rim of Lower Brimstone Gulch.
Along the west rim of Lower Brimstone Gulch.
Lower Brimstone Gulch visible on the right. Pretty exciting-looking from up here.
Lower Brimstone Gulch visible on the right. Pretty exciting-looking from up here.
Dropping down on the Class 3 slab to the head of Lower Brimstone Gulch.
Dropping down on the Class 3 slab to the head of Lower Brimstone Gulch.
A bit of walking through a somewhat narrow section before the canyon gets crazy.
A bit of walking through a somewhat narrow section before the canyon gets crazy.
Very narrow.
Very narrow.
Hilariously narrow. We were giggling a lot.
Hilariously narrow. We were giggling a lot.
The high stemming begins in earnest.
The high stemming begins in earnest.
Matt dropping down to navigate around a narrower section.
Matt dropping down to navigate around a narrower section.
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More high stemming.
More high stemming.
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Photo by Matt of me high stemming.
Photo by Matt of me high stemming.
It me.
It me.
Shawn basking in the wonderful narrows.
Shawn basking in the wonderful narrows.
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A reprieve from the narrows, the hardest stuff over.
A reprieve from the narrows, the hardest stuff over.
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Exit of Lower Brimstone Gulch heading back.
Exit of Lower Brimstone Gulch heading back.

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!