Wonderland Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Canyoneer Wonderland Canyon Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Class 4 4B (200 ft max) 3.4 miles 1100 gain 4-6 hrs Loop May 23, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Wonderland Canyon 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.

Wonderland Canyon is sort of a sampler pack for the sport, lots packed in despite being a relatively short canyon. There's stemming and downclimbing, a couple of big rappels, potential anchor-building problems, and beautiful views. After getting a required canyoneering permit from the visitor center, we parked off UT-24 at the Grand Wash Trailhead within Capitol Reef National Park and followed it, along the way passing the exit of Wonderland Canyon. We located a wide drainage on the right, leaving the road to take this for a short time until a steep Class 2 gully ahead brought us about 200 feet up and away from the roadside and into the backcountry.

Now on the top of the initial layer of sandstone, we dropped a few feet toward a social trail that led into a minor wash. Above we could see the rim of the plateau we needed to reach, where the head of Wonderland Canyon begins. To gain the plateau's rim, we needed to navigate up to a wide ledge and ultimately top out at a point on the far left (east of us). To gain the ledge, we headed up a steep, Class 2 slope. After pulling a Class 3 move up this slope we sort of realized we were off-route, finding ourselves on a lower ledge than the standard route recommended. The correct route would have led to a lower-angled slope to our right, but we kept going anyway since there was a cairn and an animal trail, and this option actually seemed to be working well. Taking the ledge left (north), we found ourselves on the north side of the point we needed to reach, but still 200 feet below the rim. The steep sandstone slope ahead of us seemed daunting, but with only a low Class 4 move we were able to overcome the most difficult obstacle lower down, then a couple of Class 3 moves over small cliffies as we progressed.

Once we reached the top of the plateau, we followed its rim south, the views absolutely outstanding in the morning light. As we progressed, the peaks along the Waterpocket Fold monocline came into view to the west as well. After a quiet and enjoyable stroll, we reached the point along the rim where we needed to drop down to access the head of Wonderland Canyon, but it's not exactly a pleasant descent. Matt and Chris chose to downclimb on loose garbage scree (Class 4/5), but I decided to keep hiking and switchback below the rim's annoying little cliff. From here it was a steep Class 2 scree slope down to a well-formed animal trail. Short-lived, this trail brought us around a small dryfall and to the start of Wonderland Canyon.

We were first met with an avoidable drop, which we bypassed on the left to enter the narrows. The first section of Wonderland Canyon was nontechnical, but there were lots of fun stemming, chimneying, and downclimbing moves. We had wetsuits on, but the water only reached our waists. After the fun beginning, we reached the straightforward low-angle first rappel, and then the canyon opened up briefly.

There's an optional rappel that can be avoided on the right, leading into the next section of narrows. This narrow portion is short-lived, spitting us out at the top of the biggest rappel for the canyon. Chris had done this canyon in the past and used a large tuft of grass as an anchor. I was hesitant to even do Wonderland Canyon today after learning about this heinous anchor, especially since it was for the longest rappel, but seeing the grass tuft now I could see that it would have been a viable option. Fortunately, there was a deadman anchor pre-built for us that we used to get down. The two-stage 200-foot rappel is gorgeous, both the views to the surrounding landscape and the slotty canyon seen below.

Just past Rappel 2 we encountered a tricky downclimb that we partner-assisted. We then reached Rappel 3, a lengthy drop of 150 feet. We continued into some gorgeous narrows, fun downclimbing and stemming along the way. The canyon opens and closes into pretty narrows a couple of times before the final slot section. Here there was some more fun scrambling, followed by an interesting downclimb into a semi-keeper pothole, dry on our visit. The final rappel drops into a small chamber and then through a crack, about 100 feet total, scenic from both above and below. From the bottom of the final rappel we took our gear off and headed back to the highway just as rain started plummeting us.

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After leaving the road, we headed into this wash, taking the gully seen left of center.
After leaving the road, we headed into this wash, taking the gully seen left of center.
Looking back down the Class 2 steep gully.
Looking back down the Class 2 steep gully.
Above the gully, a view toward the rim we needed to reach. the point on the far left is where we want to get.
Above the gully, a view toward the rim we needed to reach. the point on the far left is where we want to get.
View back as we ascend toward the rim.
View back as we ascend toward the rim.
We took this steep slope to gain a ledge higher up.
We took this steep slope to gain a ledge higher up.
Class 3/4 move on the slope.
Class 3/4 move on the slope.
On our ledge after the slope.
On our ledge after the slope.
View back along the ledge. You can see the rim above where we'll be hiking to get to Wonderland Canyon.
View back along the ledge. You can see the rim above where we'll be hiking to get to Wonderland Canyon.
The ledge wrapped us around to the north side, where we found this steep sandstone slope. Picking our way up, we pulled a few Class 3 moves and one Class 4 move. Nothing felt scary or too exposed.
The ledge wrapped us around to the north side, where we found this steep sandstone slope. Picking our way up, we pulled a few Class 3 moves and one Class 4 move. Nothing felt scary or too exposed.
Class 3 move up a small cliffy.
Class 3 move up a small cliffy.
Final bit to the top.
Final bit to the top.
View along the rim as we head along the plateau.
View along the rim as we head along the plateau.
Gorgeous scenery from up here, view back along the rim.
Gorgeous scenery from up here, view back along the rim.
A social trail leads some of the way along the rim. Ferns Nipple and other peaks along the Waterpocket Fold seen in the distance.
A social trail leads some of the way along the rim. Ferns Nipple and other peaks along the Waterpocket Fold seen in the distance.
Another shot down at the crazy landscape within Capitol Reef National Park.
Another shot down at the crazy landscape within Capitol Reef National Park.
The spot where we needed to leave the rim and head down.
The spot where we needed to leave the rim and head down.
My chosen Class 2/3 descent from the rim. My friends took a harder, more direct downclimb option.
My chosen Class 2/3 descent from the rim. My friends took a harder, more direct downclimb option.
A social trail leads around this drop. View back up at the steep descent from the rim.
A social trail leads around this drop. View back up at the steep descent from the rim.
The head of Wonderland Canyon. This first drop was avoidable on the left.
The head of Wonderland Canyon. This first drop was avoidable on the left.
Within the narrows, a bunch of fun stemming and downclimbing.
Within the narrows, a bunch of fun stemming and downclimbing.
View back at one of the obstacles.
View back at one of the obstacles.
Image 21 from gallery
More fun obstacles within the first section without needing to rappel.
More fun obstacles within the first section without needing to rappel.
View back at the narrows.
View back at the narrows.
Image 24 from gallery
Image 25 from gallery
The pools were low, and although we had wetsuits only we only ended up being waist-deep.
The pools were low, and although we had wetsuits only we only ended up being waist-deep.
Image 27 from gallery
Just a bunch of canyon fun for the initial section.
Just a bunch of canyon fun for the initial section.
Then we got to our first rappel, a straightforward low-angle drop.
Then we got to our first rappel, a straightforward low-angle drop.
View back up at the first rappel.
View back up at the first rappel.
After a short walk, we reached this avoidable rappel. To skip it, walk around on the right and locate a low-angled section to get back into the narrows.
After a short walk, we reached this avoidable rappel. To skip it, walk around on the right and locate a low-angled section to get back into the narrows.
View back toward the avoidable rappel.
View back toward the avoidable rappel.
Still within the narrows after the avoidable rappel.
Still within the narrows after the avoidable rappel.
Image 34 from gallery
The narrows open to Rap 2. Historically, people use the tuft of grass on the left as an anchor. Fortunately someone had built a deadman anchor that we used instead.
The narrows open to Rap 2. Historically, people use the tuft of grass on the left as an anchor. Fortunately someone had built a deadman anchor that we used instead.
Top of Rap 2. Great views. It's a two-tiered rappel.
Top of Rap 2. Great views. It's a two-tiered rappel.
View down the first drop for Rap 2.
View down the first drop for Rap 2.
Second drop for Rap 2.
Second drop for Rap 2.
View back at Rap 2 from below.
View back at Rap 2 from below.
A tricky partner-assist downclimb shortly after Rap 2.
A tricky partner-assist downclimb shortly after Rap 2.
Tricky downclimb seen left, narrows continue on the right.
Tricky downclimb seen left, narrows continue on the right.
Rap 3.
Rap 3.
Bottom of Rap 3.
Bottom of Rap 3.
The start of beautiful narrows after Rap 3.
The start of beautiful narrows after Rap 3.
Fun down-climbing through this narrow section.
Fun down-climbing through this narrow section.
View back within the narrows.
View back within the narrows.
The narrows open up, a view back.
The narrows open up, a view back.
Open section before Wonderland Canyon slots up again briefly.
Open section before Wonderland Canyon slots up again briefly.
Fun stemming within another narrow section.
Fun stemming within another narrow section.
View back.
View back.
Final set of narrows.
Final set of narrows.
Lovely scrambling.
Lovely scrambling.
A very neat downclimb into this dry pothole.
A very neat downclimb into this dry pothole.
Rap 4, the last one.
Rap 4, the last one.
View back toward Rap 4.
View back toward Rap 4.
Close-up at Rap 4.
Close-up at Rap 4.
A short walk back to the highway.
A short walk back to the highway.

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