Information courtesy CanyoneeringUSA.com ©2011 Imlay Canyon Gear All Rights Reserved  

Middle  Narrows  of  Gravel  Canyon  •  Cedar  Mesa    

Rating: Narrows: 3B III , Lower Section and Cool Exit: 2A III Best Season: Spring, Summer or Fall. Time: Narrows: 6 to 10 hours; Lower: 4 to 8 hours; Combined: 8 to 12 hours. Access: Route starts and ends at a pass on the Cheesebox Road. USGS 7.5’ Map: The Cheesebox Permit: Not Required. Equipment: Narrows: 100’ rope and rappelling gear, a few extra slings, dry bags for

your gear. Summer-level wetsuit will be wanted by the warm blooded. A GPS is helpful for navigation.

Lower Section: good navigation skills, 200’ rope and slings needed for optional rappel.

Drinking Water: Bring plenty. Potholes can be pumped, though water quality is not so hot.

Flash Flood Risk: High—Gravel Canyon has a fairly large collection zone above this section of narrows.

Skills Required: Narrows: A few short rappels off of natural anchors. Two short swims. The canyon floor is often blocked by boulder piles that require strenuous scrambling to surmount, especially if hoisting a full size pack.

Lower: Quite a bit of scrambling, including one short 5.6 move, not exposed.

Local Ethics: This is a no-bolt, natural anchor area. Natural anchors abound for the few short rappels. Don’t bolt.

 

Doesn't  Suck  Too  Bad.  Gravel  Canyon  is  one  of  the  great  ones  -­‐  not  for  the  technical  difficulties,  but  for  the  outstanding  scenery  and  scattered  remnants  of  ancient  peoples.  The  two  short  trips  outlined  here  are  a  delightful  taste  of  the  delicacies  available  in  Gravel,  provoked  by  an  interesting  comment  in  Steve  Allens  #2  guidebook.  While  the  promised  difficulties  failed  to  materialize,  the  fabulous  location  negated  any  dissapointment  felt.  

Middle  Narrows:  The  surprisingly  good  2WD  Cheesebox  road  accesses  this  remote  area.  A  side  canyon  allows  entrance  to  the  North  Fork  of  Gravel  Canyon,  which  is  followed  to  the  Main  Fork.  We  follow  the  canyon  around,  through  and  under  several  incredible  boulder  piles,  negotiate  a  few  obstacles,  visit  a  nice  ruin,  then  find  a  reasonable  way  out  of  the  canyon  and  return  to  the  car.  While  possible  to  do  in  one  day,  this  also  makes  a  nice  2  day  trip,  which  allows  for  time  to  explore  and  have  fun.  Marking  your  car  with  a  GPS  will  prove  useful.  

More  Fun  Narrows  and  Cool  Exit  Canyon:  Alternatively,  from  the  same  parking  spot,  hike  across  the  top  to  the  Middle  Narrows  exit,  and  drop  into  the  canyon  here.  Hike  downcanyon  through  some  cool  (and  easy)  narrows,  then  cut  left  up  a  very  cool  exit  canyon.  Eventually,  the  way  is  blocked  by  a  dryfall.  Backtracking  and  climbing  around  

Information courtesy CanyoneeringUSA.com ©2011 Imlay Canyon Gear All Rights Reserved  

requires  surmounting  a  short  rock  wall,  5.6,  6  feet,  not  scary.  Hike  back  through  the  Junipers  to  the  car.  Optionally,  the  blocking  dryfall  can  be  rapped,  revealing  a  cool  pool  and  chamber.  

Double  the  Fun:  Or  do  both  together.  It  takes  a  competent,  small  party  about  12  hours  total.  

This  is  a  rarely  visited  and  pristine  wilderness  canyon.  Please  keep  it  that  way.  Pick  up  any  trash  you  find,  and  leave  as  little  sign  of  your  passage  as  possible.  The  two  rappels  are  off  natural  features  -­‐  keep  it  that  way.  This  is  a  no-­‐bolt  area.  

For  more  information  on  this  fabulous  canyon,  check  out  Canyoneering  2,  pages  158-­‐165.  

Getting  There:  The  Cheesebox  Road  (San  Juan  County  Road  227a)  is  found  off  Highway  95,  at  milepost  66.8,  5.1  miles  west  of  the  Frye  Canyon  Inn.  When  heading  east,  it  is  2.8  miles  east  of  the  "Jacob's  Chair"  sign.  Follow  the  Cheesebox  Road  12.0  miles  (50  minutes)  to  a  non-­‐descript  spot  in  a  Pinon-­‐Juniper  forest  on  the  pass  between  Found  Mesa  and  Ram  Mesa,  and  park.  (UTM  12S  0582681mE  4174593mN)  The  roughest  part  of  the  road  is  in  the  first  mile,  where  it  crosses  White  Canyon.  This  is  a  very  rough  2WD  road.  If  you  wish  to  camp,  the  first  few  miles  of  the  road  offer  the  best  spots.  

MIDDLE  NARROWS    Getting  Started:  access  to  Gravel  is  via  a  small  side  canyon  north  of  the  pass.  The  entrance  is  near  UTM  12S  0582862mE  4175370mN.      Follow  the  road  NE  for  1/4  mile,  then  cut  into  the  woods.  Avoid  stepping  on  the  healthy  cryptogamic  soil  by  following  micro-­‐washes  NW  toward  the  canyon.  Find  the  head  of  the  side  canyon  where  it  drops  10  feet  and  is  choked  with  vegetation.  Follow  it's  north  edge  100  yards  to  avoid  the  brambles,  and  drop  in  where  convenient.  Follow  the  canyon,  avoiding  drops  with  steep  hiking  to  the  sides.  Eventually,  a  small  path  down  the  final  drop  leads  into  the  North  Fork  of  Gravel  Canyon  (About  1  hour  to  NF).    The  North  Fork  is  nice,  and  soon  leads  to  the  main  canyon.  The  peculiar  nature  of  Cedar  Mesa  Sandstone  drops  huge  boulders  into  the  bottom  of  the  canyon,  making  for  strenuous  scrambling  around,  over  and  under.  Tedious  with  a  big  pack,  but  great  fun  anyway.  The  tiers  and  winding  nature  of  the  canyon  make  for  outstanding  scenery.  Follow  the  canyon  -­‐  enjoy  the  scenery.  

The  first  technical  problem  is  a  20  foot  drop  into  a  pool.  A  sling  and  rap  ring  on  the  left  side,  tied  off  to  a  boulder  pinch,  allows  one  to  rap  30  feet  to  the  edge  of  the  pool.  

The  second  problem  is  a  20  foot  drop  into  a  slot.  I  lowered  my  pack  with  the  rope,  then  downclimbed  (5.6).  Not  much  of  a  problem.  

The  third  problem  is  a  25  foot  drop  into  a  dark  pool.  This  is  an  important  landmark.  To  the  right,  a  side  canyon  comes  in  via  a  short  dryfall,  which  can  be  slab  climbed  past  on  the  right  (5.4).  This  leads  to  a  beautiful  round  room  with  a  50  foot  dryfall  above.  If  you  need  or  will  need  water,  this  is  your  best  place  to  pump.  (Water  in  the  main  canyon  potholes  can  be  too  alkaline  to  be  thirst  quenching).  

Rappel  off  a  slung  horn  35  feet  into  a  deep  pothole,  for  a  full  floating  disconnect.  Swim  across  the  pool,  and  squeeze  through  some  interesting  narrows.  

The  next  section  of  canyon  offers  a  few  interesting  difficulties,  but  no  real  problems.  Somewhat  further  downcanyon,  look  up  -­‐  a  nice  ruin  is  visible  100'  above  the  canyon  floor.  A  few  wading  sections  and  the  difficulties  cease.  About  a  mile  downcanyon  from  the  ruin,  the  canyon  opens  up  into  a  glen,  with  about  a  half-­‐dozen  trees.  Access  to  both  sides  of  the  canyon  is  available.  If  overnighting,  this  is  a  good  place  to  camp  (6-­‐8  hours  to  this  point).  

Information courtesy CanyoneeringUSA.com ©2011 Imlay Canyon Gear All Rights Reserved  

To  visit  the  ruin,  climb  a  weakness  in  the  wall  on  the  right.  Work  your  way  up  and  down  the  tiers  to  the  vicinity  of  the  ruin.  To  get  to  the  actual  ruin,  go  past  100  yards,  and  traverse  in  (5.4).  The  ruin  is  in  good  shape,  though  thoroughly  cleaned  out  -­‐  please  follow  proper  etiquette  and  be  careful  not  to  disturb  the  walls.  (1  hour  round  trip).  Do  not  touch,  climb  or  take  from  ruins.  

The  Glen  is  also  the  Exit  Point.  Notice  a  shallow  sidecanyon  coming  in  on  the  North  Side,  with  big  undercuts  and  some  seeps.  Climb  with  moderate  difficulty  through  various  weaknesses  on  the  right  side  of  the  sidecanyon,  to  a  wide  slickrock  bench  a  couple  hundred  feet  above  the  canyon  bottom.  Traverse  left  (upcanyon),  staying  low  on  the  bench,  about  1  mile  until  across  from  the  ruin.  Continuing  upcanyon,  work  your  way  up  broken  ground  through  the  cliffbands  until  the  top  is  reached.  (1  hour  to  canyon  rim).  Hike  left  of  a  small  red  butte,  and  left  of  the  escarpment  behind  it,  to  the  pass  and  your  vehicle.  Easier  walking  can  be  had  by  staying  left  (1  hour  back  to  road).  

Alternative  Exit,  probably  harder:  Climb  with  moderate  difficulty  through  various  weaknesses  on  the  right  side  of  the  sidecanyon,  to  the  base  of  the  upper  layer.  Unfortunately,  the  upper  layer  does  not  allow  an  exit.  Traverse  left  (upcanyon)  1/2  mile,  staying  as  high  as  possible  to  a  point  opposite  a  corner  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  canyon  (past  the  alcove)  to  low  angle  slabs  that  allow  access  upward.  Follow  the  bench  back  to  the  side  canyon  which  allows  escape  to  the  top  of  the  final  layer  (1  hour  to  canyon  rim).  When  you  get  a  view,  you  can  see  a  small  red  butte  ahead.  Hike  left  of  the  butte  back  to  your  car.    MORE  FUN  NARROWS  and  A  COOL  EXIT  CANYON    Getting  Started:  This  adventure  requires  some  decent  map  reading  skills.  Park  close  to  the  south  (west)  end  of  the  pass.  Hike  into  the  brush,  away  from  the  road,  following  little  washes  to  avoid  trampling  the  crypto  soil,  cutting  close  to  the  detached,  red  spire  at  the  north  end  of  Found  Mesa.  Hike  due  west  for  about  20  minutes,  then  start  working  your  way  south.  Easier  walking  is  found  on  the  slickrock  near  Gravel  Canyon,  but  this  also  requires  walking  in  and  out  of  many,  many  washes.  Follow  until  at  the  mouth  of  the  drainage  opposite  the  ruin,  as  shown  on  the  

Information courtesy CanyoneeringUSA.com ©2011 Imlay Canyon Gear All Rights Reserved  

map,  also  across  the  canyon  from  6011AT.  (UTM  12S  0579253mE  41737770mN)      Work  your  way  down  into  the  canyon,  winding  back  and  forth  to  find  the  easy  path,  until  on  the  bench  above  the  inner  gorge.  Follow  the  bench  downcanyon  about  1  mile,  past  the  next  drainage  (impressive  undercuts  and  dryfalls)  then  down  to  the  canyon  floor  at  a  small  glen  with  a  few  trees.  (About  1  hour  to  rim,  then  1  hour  to  canyon  floor).    Zip  downcanyon.  Narrows  and  wetness  can  be  easily  avoided  by  walking  the  benches,  if  desired.  The  canyon  is  delightful,  especially  if  the  weather  is  cool  and  pleasant.  A  variety  of  narrows  alternates  with  more  open  areas.  Follow  the  canyon  1.6  miles  (about  1  hour),  until  an  obvious  canyon  comes  in  on  the  left,  shortly  before  the  main  canyon  turns  right  to  avoid  the  looming  wall  of  Found  Mesa.  Avoid  the  dryfall  by  climbing  the  sand  to  the  left.    Slickrock  is  the  start  of  the  Cool  Exit  Canyon,  and  slickrock  continues,  first  wide,  then  narrower  and  narrower.  Excellent!  Keep  going.  After  a  very  cool  narrows  (some  wading  may  be  required),  the  canyon  stops  at  a  short  dryfall.  Climb  directly,  burrowing  up  under  the  boulders,  or  backtrack  a  few  score  of  meters  and  climb  steep  dirt  on  canyon  right.  Continue  upcanyon.  More  cool  narrows  soon  leads  to  another,  taller  dryfall.  Backtrack  50  meters  or  so,  then  climb  the  dirt  on  canyon  right,  to  a  single,  steep  move  (5.6,  on  the  right  side  of  a  huge  boulder)  allowing  escape  to  the  slickrock  above.  This  move  is  not  exposed,  and  can  be  boosted  from  below  or  belayed  from  above  with  a  short  piece  of  rope.    Optional  Stunt  Rappel:  the  second  dryfall  can  be  rappelled  off  a  nearby  boulder,  into  a  dark,  fluted  chamber  and  (most  often)  a  chilly  pool.  Practice  your  ACA/CEC  style  Rappel  Guidé  so  only  the  first  victim  need  get  soaked  in  the  pool.  Or  practice  your  packtoss  skills,  and  even  the  first  person  can  escape  a  dousing.  A  few  slings  and  a  200'  rope  will  be  required  to  set  up  a  double  rope  rappel,  of  whatever  style.  Follow  the  drainage  up-­‐stream,  staying  on  the  slickrock  for  easier  walking  as  much  as  possible,  to  the  end  of  Found  Mesa  and  your  vehicle.