Cottonwood Wash | Capitol Reef

Canyoneering Cottonwood Wash - Capitol Reef Canyoneering Cottonwood Wash

Capitol Reef

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Overview

Wed Sunny. High near 62, with temperatures falling to around 57 in the afternoon. North northeast wind 1 to 5 mph.
62° | na°
Thu Sunny. High near 60, with temperatures falling to around 55 in the afternoon. East wind 0 to 3 mph.
60° | 39°
Fri A chance of rain after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Southeast wind 0 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
59° | 39°
Sat Rain before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
53° | 42°
Sun Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
53° | 35°
View Full Forecast
RATING: 3B
SEASON: Spring, Summer, Fall
GEAR: Standard Technical Gear. Be sure to have quite a bit (10 m) of webbing.
RAPPELS: 3+ to 20 m ( 66 ft. )
WATER: Some pools. Wetsuit (3mm full) in all but the hottest conditions.
FLASHFLOOD: High
Wed Sunny. High near 62, with temperatures falling to around 57 in the afternoon. North northeast wind 1 to 5 mph.
62° | na°
Thu Sunny. High near 60, with temperatures falling to around 55 in the afternoon. East wind 0 to 3 mph.
60° | 39°
Fri A chance of rain after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Southeast wind 0 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
59° | 39°
Sat Rain before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
53° | 42°
Sun Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
53° | 35°
View Full Forecast
canyonwetsuit neededintermediateaccess: 2wd
Mark and Tyler early in Cottonwood.
Mark and Tyler early in Cottonwood.
Mark making the first rappel
Mark making the first rappel

Of the 3 canyons in this area (Burro Wash, Cottonwood Wash, and Five Mile), Cottonwood Wash is by far my favorite. With a shuttle, it is a very casual canyon, though will take a full day by the time the shuttle is done both ways. The narrow section is magnificent, and fairly continuous.

All drops are fairly short, with relatively straightforward anchors. That makes this a good choice for intermediate canyoneers, or even beginner groups with competent leadership. Some groups do 4+ rappels, though 3 seems to be the number of mandatory rappels with a few moderate downclimbs interspersed throughout the canyon as well.

Brrr - move fast!
Brrr - move fast!
Tyler downclimbing just below rappel 3.
Tyler downclimbing just below rappel 3.

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