Surprise Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Hike Surprise Canyon Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Class 2 2.4 miles 400 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back May 28, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Surprise Canyon GPX Track

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Surprise Canyon begins off a well-maintained dirt road and leads west through the desert on a nice trail toward the reef. A sandy wash leads into the mouth of Surprise Canyon, where a short walk up through the narrowing  sandstone walls continues deeper. There's really no particular destination, and we found ourselves a little disheartened by how quickly the narrow section ended. There is a Class 2/3 section of scrambling past the prettiest narrows, but the canyon is much wider and more steep above this and really once you see the narrows that's not the worst time to just turn around.

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Looking toward Surprise Canyon from the trailhead.
Looking toward Surprise Canyon from the trailhead.
Looking back toward the trailhead.
Looking back toward the trailhead.
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The most narrow Surprise Canyon gets.
The most narrow Surprise Canyon gets.
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One section of scrambling.
One section of scrambling.
Looking down at the scramble from above.
Looking down at the scramble from above.
Continuing up the canyon.
Continuing up the canyon.
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Looking toward the scramble ending at a big cliff face that marks the end of the canyon.
Looking toward the scramble ending at a big cliff face that marks the end of the canyon.
Looking back down-canyon from the canyon head.
Looking back down-canyon from the canyon head.

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!