Escalante Canyons - Ringtail, Choprock and Neon

Escalante Canyons - Ringtail, Choprock and Neon

May 25-27, 2024

Laura and I met Joshua and Kelsey at the Egypt parking in Escalante on Friday evening. We hung out and slept in cars that night, ready for an early start the following day, hoping to beat the heat to our camp where Fence Canyon meets the Escalante River. We hiked in, taking just under 2 hours and set up tents before heading along the trail to explore Ringtail canyon. 

Joshua, Kelsey and Justin leaving the Egypt parking lot headed toward the Escalante River

It didn't take long before we reached the Glen Canyon NRA boundary

Joshua in an interesting section of Ringtail Canyon

Justin providing an assist down a short drop in Ringtail Canyon

Cool narrow section of Ringtail Canyon.

Justin trying to navigate across the Escalante River on the return to camp

After Ringtail, we returned to camp and enjoyed the evening, chatting and making bets on if our friend Lin would make it to camp to join us as he had planned. Lin did arrive just as we all had began to retire to bed. He set up his tent and we all agreed to get an early start the following day, walking by 6 am. 

Sunday, we left camp at 6 am and made our way along the 5+ mile approach to Chop Rock Canyon. Upon entering the canyon, the scenery was amazing as we passed though a lush area that held a ton of poison ivy. 

The path away from the Escalante River up toward the head of Chop Rock

Justin, Joshua and Kelsey hiking up the mesa to get to Chop Rock

The next section of the canyon was scenic and beautiful before it slotted up and dropped down in elevation. 

Joshua and Kelsey making their way down canyon through a very lush section

Everyone enjoying the happy section of Chop Rock

Laura in an interesting section of Chop Rock

Joshua practicing some stemming in Chop Rock

The final areas of the canyon, the "grim section" was in low water, or easy mode and we were able to make our way through efficiently and actually really enjoyed the area many are so wary of. The swims were long and cold, but with heavy wetsuits we all stayed mostly warm. Round trip time camp to camp for Choprock was 11 hours.

The beginning of the grim section in Chop Rock Canyon

Lin working down into a crack in Chop Rock

Justin swimming through a long section of cold water in Chop Rock.  We were lucky the water was low enough to make this section easily passable.

Finally some light and the end of the canyon is approaching

At the end of the final rappel, everyone changed clothes and packed gear for the hike back to camp

Camp life; enjoying the company

Making use of the logs since we didn't pack in chairs

On our last day, we ran Neon Canyon. This is a beautiful canyon too and was very enjoyable. The final rappel into the Golden Cathedral was spectacular! Our group spent some time at the Golden Cathedral chatting and enjoying the special places we get to visit before hiking back toward camp. We made one more stop along the way to view the amazing petroglyphs on the canyon walls. 

Joshua setting up an escape from the pothole for the rest of us

Kelsey coming through a long swim in Neon

Justin having fun in Neon

Joshua and Lin in Neon Canyon

General shenanigans at the last pothole in Neon

Lin slides into the final pothole in Neon

The Golden Cathedral is impressive and rappelling through one of the arches is a fun experience

The canyon crew at the Golden Cathedral at the end of Neon Canyon

Joshua and Justin managing the rope after the final rappel in Neon

Kelsey, Justin and Josua debriefing the canyon in the Golden Cathedral

Justin and Lin checking out the petroglyphs near the end of Neon

On the hike back to camp, we passed some neat petroglyphs

Petroglyph near the end of Neon Canyon

We all packed up and hiked out of camp right around noon, staying cool by dumping cold water over our heads and clothes as we hiked back out of Fence canyon and to our cars, arriving at about 2 pm.

Everyone excited to be back at the trailhead after an amazing weekend