North Fork of Iron Wash in San Rafael Swell BLM, UT

Canyoneer North Fork of Iron Wash San Rafael Swell BLM, UT

Class 4 3B (40 ft max) 5.4 miles 700 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back May 20, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

North Fork of Iron Wash GPX Track

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We decided to descend this canyon to its end and then return the same way for added fun, and this trip report reflects that. The YDS rating drops to Class 2 if you decide not to reascend.

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.

The North Fork of Iron Wash is notorious for its particularly tricky keeper pothole, the final obstacle before exiting the slot. We were lucky the water was high, and were therefore able swim through it without issue, but that might not be the case on future visits. After completing the canyon, we decided we thought it would be more fun to re-ascend the canyon, so this route assumes you're doing the same. The added benefit of returning through the canyon is that you can avoid getting trapped if the keeper pothole is impassable. Of course, this requires setting a fixed line to ascend the trivial rappels. The canyon is beautiful and fun, but short-lived.

To reach the trailhead, leave pavement here (38.69983, -110.51272) and pass through a gate. A Crossover vehicle or better is required for clearance, mostly just for dipping in and out of eroded washes. We hiked along a closed mining road, which leads in and out of a wash before turning left and ascended onto the Swell. The road ends at an old drilling mechanism, where the route becomes cross-country. Continuing northwest along the slanted sandstone slabs, we reached an overlook into one of the forks of Iron Wash that would lead us to the canyon. Picking our way down Class 2 obstacles, we reached its sandy bottom and continued within the drainage. Along the way we overcame a couple of minor obstacles, as well as avoided a notably large dryfall on the right.

Now at the head of the North Fork of Iron Wash, we started into the narrows. The majority of the canyon is nontechnical, just requiring some Class 2/3 obstacles. We were even able to avoid much of the water by climbing on the heavily-pocketed canyon walls. Enjoying the obstacles and skipping the first set of wet sections, we only put on wetsuits when it was clear the canyon was getting deeper and getting dunked was likely inevitable.

The North Fork of Iron Wash narrowed into a stemmable section and soon we were at the top of the only rappel. A fixed line was already in place, so we just used it to drop into a swimmer below. I highly recommend making sure not to pull your line here in case you need to head back once you reach the tricky keeper pothole at the end. Of course, you should be sure you can up-climb everything in the canyon to this point as well. A couple more twists led us into a darker, deeper portion of the canyon, where fun stemming descended to the keeper pothole. Ryan explains the pothole is a serious endeavor, and while it was effortless due to the high water and since there was a bolted handline in place for us, it's never a good idea to assume this will be the case during your visit.

Past the keeper, the North Fork of Iron Wash opens for a short time before narrowing again for a few hundred more feet. Aside from some light scrambling, there's nothing else technical. We decided to just turn back here and enjoy the fun obstacles in reverse. You can continue down the canyon and locate an escape route back up to the sandstone slabs above, but it's rare to have a canyon this fun that can be re-ascended, so I recommend doing it this way. The stats and the Class 4 rating I gave this route assume you'll be returning, making this an out-and-back.

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Starting from the trailhead along a closed mining road.
Starting from the trailhead along a closed mining road.
The road passes over a wash a few times.
The road passes over a wash a few times.
View back after the road heads up into the Swell.
View back after the road heads up into the Swell.
Passing an old drilling mechanism. The route is cross-country from here.
Passing an old drilling mechanism. The route is cross-country from here.
We ascended slickrock and reached this overlook, where we dropped into a fork of North Wash below.
We ascended slickrock and reached this overlook, where we dropped into a fork of North Wash below.
Dropping into the wash.
Dropping into the wash.
Descending through the pretty wash.
Descending through the pretty wash.
One of a few obstacles.
One of a few obstacles.
A major dryfall that we avoided on the right.
A major dryfall that we avoided on the right.
Descending back into the wash after avoiding the dryfall.
Descending back into the wash after avoiding the dryfall.
Entering North Fork of Iron Wash.
Entering North Fork of Iron Wash.
Lots of fun obstacles.
Lots of fun obstacles.
Image 12 from gallery
Image 13 from gallery
Most of the pools could be avoided initially by using pockets in the wall.
Most of the pools could be avoided initially by using pockets in the wall.
Image 15 from gallery
Image 16 from gallery
View back at Matt avoiding one of the pools.
View back at Matt avoiding one of the pools.
Image 18 from gallery
A narrower section we could stem through without getting wet.
A narrower section we could stem through without getting wet.
A short rappel or handline.
A short rappel or handline.
View back at the short rappel/handline. There was webbing already placed here for us, but in case the last pothole is in keeper mode you may want to leave a handline if one doesn't exist.
View back at the short rappel/handline. There was webbing already placed here for us, but in case the last pothole is in keeper mode you may want to leave a handline if one doesn't exist.
Beautiful turns within the canyon.
Beautiful turns within the canyon.
Then North Fork of Iron Wash drops into a darker before the final keeper pothole.
Then North Fork of Iron Wash drops into a darker before the final keeper pothole.
At the keeper pothole, currently full.
At the keeper pothole, currently full.
View back at the keeper.
View back at the keeper.
We continued through the canyon for a time.
We continued through the canyon for a time.
The walls were still quite tall.
The walls were still quite tall.
A short section of narrows (nontechnical) leads out of North Fork of Iron Wash. We turned back shortly after, though you could look for a way out of the drainage and return to the trailhead instead.
A short section of narrows (nontechnical) leads out of North Fork of Iron Wash. We turned back shortly after, though you could look for a way out of the drainage and return to the trailhead instead.

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!