Red Reef Canyon and Prospector Loop in Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, UT

Hike Red Reef Canyon and Prospector Loop Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, UT

Class 3 9.2 miles 900 gain 4-6 hrs Loop May 23, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Red Reef Canyon and Prospector Loop GPX Track

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Starting along the fairly popular Red Reef Trail, continue to the small waterfall that had no water during my visit. Cotinue past the waterfall through a pretty canyon, avoiding small potholes, until you get to a single easy Class 3 move to get through a crevase to escape the narrow section of the canyon. Walk through wide open desert for a while, heading southwest, until you enter a windy wash/canyon with a few interesting rock formations before intersecting with the Prospector Trail. This is a mostly mountain biking trail, but I didn't see anyone. Follow it back to the main Red Cliffs Recreation Area entrance road and continue north to get back to the trailhead. Overall a nice loop, although not super eventful for the last half.

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There is an obvious trail leading to the popular swimming hole.
There is an obvious trail leading to the popular swimming hole.
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Random water hole along the way.
Random water hole along the way.
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Most people stop here.
Most people stop here.
Looking back the way I came, from above the falls.
Looking back the way I came, from above the falls.
Pretty narrows past the falls.
Pretty narrows past the falls.
Small pothole obstacles in the canyon above the falls.
Small pothole obstacles in the canyon above the falls.
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Approaching the Class 3- scramble section. There was a rope to assist, but you don't really need it.
Approaching the Class 3- scramble section. There was a rope to assist, but you don't really need it.
Looking down the scrambling section back into the narrow section of canyon I came out of.
Looking down the scrambling section back into the narrow section of canyon I came out of.
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The canyon opens up for a bit, with nice views of the Red Cliffs.
The canyon opens up for a bit, with nice views of the Red Cliffs.
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Looking back the way I came.
Looking back the way I came.
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Looking back the way I came.
Looking back the way I came.
The wider space closes in to become another canyon.
The wider space closes in to become another canyon.
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The route leads out of the canyon. This is looking back the way I came.
The route leads out of the canyon. This is looking back the way I came.
And onto the Prospector Trail.
And onto the Prospector Trail.
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The Prospector Trail brings you back to the road, which you take for a mile back to the trailhead.
The Prospector Trail brings you back to the road, which you take for a mile back to the trailhead.

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!