Canyoneer White Roost Canyon (West Fork) Robbers Roost Canyon BLM, UT

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White Roost Canyon (West Fork) 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.

White Roost Canyon has two forks, east and west. We chose the west and likely won't be returning for the east. It's a nice canyon, but too short to be particualrly worthwhile, in my opinion. That being said, it's got some unique landscapes and a pretty section of narrows toward the end. Google will have no trouble navigting you here (38.58764, -110.55614). Continue south along this road, continuing east at this bend (38.52958, -110.54093). Bear right here (38.54186, -110.46531), then bear right here (38.49943, -110.41448) and pass through a ranch. Continue along this main road heading generally south and keep going straight through this junction (38.40638, -110.45137). Continue along this road to the trailhead. If setting up a shuttle, the second car goes here (38.38515, -110.46907). Hiking the road if you don't have a shuttle adds an extra mile.

We set out along a social trail that wandered around ample cryptobiotic soil until making its way to the head of the canyon. Some loose Class 2 brought us into the drainage and we continued through some interesting white slickrock with cool formations on either side. We were able to downclimb a few obstacles, but partner assists are helpful in the upper portion of the canyon. Even so, I'd say these down-climbs are a little tricky (Class 3). Too quickly we reached the only big-ish rappel in the canyon, which plopped us in a wide open section. This narrowed into a beautiful slot with some short down-climbs and stemming. We were surprised when the canyon abruptly ended in a sandy wash.

We followed the wash as it passed the mouth of White Roost Canyon's east fork and enjoyed the pretty cliffs on either side and relative lushness of the drainage. The exit ramp appeared on the right, which required some Class 2 scrambling up a narrow gully. Cairns mark the way, leading us out of the gully and onto slickrock where it was easygoing up to the rim above. We followed animal trails through the cryptobiotic soil back to our second car, which we used to shuttle back.

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Hiking down along the social trail, avoiding the cryptobiotic soil.

Along the rim of White Roost Canyon.

Descending into the West Fork on a short, loose Class 2 section.

Entering White Roost Canyon (West Fork).

Interesting landscape.

A tricky downclimb obstacle.

An optional rappel that we down-climbed.

The biggest rappel of the canyon.

View up toward the biggest rappel of the canyon.

White Roost Canyon opens up briefly into a sandy wash.

And then narrows for a bit.

This section is really pretty, but it's short.

Fun stemming and squeezing. The walls are slanted and very cool.

White Roost Canyon (West Fork) opens up again into a wash.

View back toward the junction of White Roost Canyon's east and west forks.

Continuing down the pretty canyon.

The ramp used as the escape from White Roost Canyon (left).

Ascending a Class 2 gully. Just above the hump in the center cairns mark a spot to continue out of the gully and onto the slickrock above.

Cairns marking the route along the slickrock.

View back along the slickrock as we ascend to higher ground.

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!