Sand Wash (Red Cave) Loop in Elkheart Cliffs BLM, UT

Hike Sand Wash (Red Cave) Loop Elkheart Cliffs BLM, UT

Class 2 7.2 miles 1400 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Mar 5, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Sand Wash (Red Cave) Loop 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.

Contact the Tait family for permission to enter their private property to access Sand Wash. The canyons are on BLM land, but part of the approach is not.

This great little loop through two pretty parallel canyons (Lower Sand Wash and Upper Sand Wash) have the option to rappel, but it's not necessary to do so. We started from within the Tait family property (they were very nice) after getting permission, but there's likely a way to get in from the west without having to park on private property. We followed a dirt road down into the wash coming out of Upper Sand Wash, but headed southwest, first intending to go up Lower Sand Wash. A bunch of sand slogging later brought us to the mouth of the narrows, where we explored until we got to a dryfall. We returned to the mouth and located a slope on the west side of the canyon, bypassing the dryfall. We found a way into Lower Sand Wash, then cotninued through the pretty canyon through a mossy section and fun obstacles to the head of the narrows. We located a good spot to head out of the canyon and trek north through the desert until we encountered Upper Sand Wash Canyon, where more fun little obstacles led to an optional rappel, bypassed on the right. We then continued through the gorgeous and sometimes dark Upper Sand Wash Canyon and returned the way we came.

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!

After entering the gate, don't follow the road on the left. Another one will appear that goes directly up the mined hills.
After entering the gate, don't follow the road on the left. Another one will appear that goes directly up the mined hills.
Follow the dirt road as it takes you over a hill, onto a mesa, and back down into the wash.
Follow the dirt road as it takes you over a hill, onto a mesa, and back down into the wash.
Go right after reaching the wash. Left is where you come back from later after completing the loop.
Go right after reaching the wash. Left is where you come back from later after completing the loop.
Image 3 from gallery
Image 4 from gallery
The wash gets narrow quickly.
The wash gets narrow quickly.
Entrance to the narrows. There is a spot shortly up the canyon that is impassable. To bypass it, before entering the slot, head to right up a muddy ramp on the the side of the slot.
Entrance to the narrows. There is a spot shortly up the canyon that is impassable. To bypass it, before entering the slot, head to right up a muddy ramp on the the side of the slot.
The slot is dark, but beautiful.
The slot is dark, but beautiful.
Friends looking up at the impassable dryfall (rappeling from the top is possible).
Friends looking up at the impassable dryfall (rappeling from the top is possible).
Heading up on the side of the narrows to bypass the dryfall.
Heading up on the side of the narrows to bypass the dryfall.
Image 10 from gallery
Find a spot to enter back into the canyon.
Find a spot to enter back into the canyon.
Image 12 from gallery
Shawn looking down the rappel that we just bypassed.
Shawn looking down the rappel that we just bypassed.
Image 14 from gallery
Image 15 from gallery
Image 16 from gallery
Image 17 from gallery
Image 18 from gallery
Image 19 from gallery
Some fun boulder obstacles along the way.
Some fun boulder obstacles along the way.
Image 21 from gallery
Image 22 from gallery
Image 23 from gallery
Image 24 from gallery
Image 25 from gallery
Image 26 from gallery
Image 27 from gallery
Image 28 from gallery
Image 29 from gallery
Image 30 from gallery
Image 31 from gallery
Image 32 from gallery
After the mossy section of narrows, the canyon opens up. Head left out of the wash and go cross-country to find the next canyon (the descent).
After the mossy section of narrows, the canyon opens up. Head left out of the wash and go cross-country to find the next canyon (the descent).
Gorgeous cliff in the distance as we go cross-country.
Gorgeous cliff in the distance as we go cross-country.
Image 35 from gallery
Entering into the northern canyon to complete the loop.
Entering into the northern canyon to complete the loop.
Image 37 from gallery
Image 38 from gallery
Quick sand, Shawn was unhappy to realize, after jumping mindlessly into the dark sand.
Quick sand, Shawn was unhappy to realize, after jumping mindlessly into the dark sand.
The rappel. You can bypass this by entering the wash nearby and following the canyon into the narrows.
The rappel. You can bypass this by entering the wash nearby and following the canyon into the narrows.
Image 41 from gallery
Image 42 from gallery
Image 43 from gallery
Image 44 from gallery
Soon the canyon gets really dark, and has pools, some of which aren't avoidable.
Soon the canyon gets really dark, and has pools, some of which aren't avoidable.
Image 46 from gallery
Image 47 from gallery
And then, all too soon, the canyon ends and you're back in Sand Wash, but now in the northern part.
And then, all too soon, the canyon ends and you're back in Sand Wash, but now in the northern part.
Follow Sand Wash until you get to the dirt road that led you into the wash and take it back to the trailhead.
Follow Sand Wash until you get to the dirt road that led you into the wash and take it 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!