The Wives (Wife 1) in Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Canyoneer The Wives (Wife 1) Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Class 2 3A II (70 ft max) 2.2 miles 900 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Nov 3, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

The Wives (Wife 1) 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.

The Wives are a series of very short "canyons" off a cliff face. Really, they're more just cracks in the rock that you rappel down, or at least Wife 1 was, the one we decided to do. Maybe we'll come back for more of them, but this one made for a nice short rappel with great scenery.

Starting from the Cohab Canyon Trailhead, follow the trail until you pass Wife 6's exit, or rather just until you can start to work your way up the southern side of Cohab Canyon (see map). Head past a bunch of slits in the rock (other Wives) and eventually you'll get to the dark entrance rappel of Wife 1. A few rappels lead to the canyon floor, and there was definitely at least one sketchy downclimb to the last rappel. From the bottom of the last rap, scramble down Class 2+ stuff back to Cohab Canyon.

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Starting up the Cohab Canyon Trail.
Starting up the Cohab Canyon Trail.
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Enter Cohab Canyon.
Enter Cohab Canyon.
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Cohab Canyon below as we head up the south side of the canyon.
Cohab Canyon below as we head up the south side of the canyon.
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Heading up to the Wives. You can see the first five of them appear on the right. We stayed high to avoid random dropoffs.
Heading up to the Wives. You can see the first five of them appear on the right. We stayed high to avoid random dropoffs.
Looking back, at least one of the Wives on the left in this phoot.
Looking back, at least one of the Wives on the left in this phoot.
Head of Wife 1.
Head of Wife 1.
View down Wife 1, and Fruita below.
View down Wife 1, and Fruita below.
Cave feature upon Entering Wife 1.
Cave feature upon Entering Wife 1.
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Looking down the last rappel of Wife 1.
Looking down the last rappel of Wife 1.
Looking up the last rappel.
Looking up the last rappel.
Image 16 from gallery
A random natural arch.
A random natural arch.
Image 18 from gallery
Heading down Wife 1, after the last rappel.
Heading down Wife 1, after the last rappel.
Drop into the crack and climb out the other side.
Drop into the crack and climb out the other side.
Looking back toward the last rappel of Wife 1 as we come back out of the crack.
Looking back toward the last rappel of Wife 1 as we come back out of the crack.
Final down-scramble back into Cohab Canyon.
Final down-scramble back into Cohab Canyon.

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!